Recommitted Jack Darling

[BOND 007]

After closely watching his last 2 games at league level for West Perth, I can honestly say that in my 20 years of being in football circles the only other player I have seen to have such an instant impact at senior level was Chris Judd.
We all know Darling made AA U/18 and is too young to be drafted this year, but IMO he would be automatic choice for #1 next year and would have been #1 this year as well. His ability to find space in a crowded forward line is exceptional, his attack on the ball reminds me very much of Jonathon Brown and his ability to take a pack mark is reminiscent of Carey.
Make no mistake this kid is the real deal and will be someone you can build a team around. If his development continues, he will prove to be a genuine superstar of AFL.

The SERIOUS question I raise is what players would you offer from your club to prise Jack Darling away from GC ?

Please note it will take some serious quality to get the #1 pick and GC are certainly going to be playing dutch auction with clubs to "maximize their return". So perhaps you may also want to indicate what players from your club you consider may be offlimits as well.

 

[AFL LEGEND]

Dont rate 16 year old Luke Parker from the Dandenong Stingrays, wha by reports from Stingrays circles was very unlucky to miss out on selection for the TAC cup grand final last year as a 15 year old, has been best on, or in the best nearly every game he has played this year, and to think he still has two years left in the TAC system

 

[BOND 007]

Dont rate 16 year old Luke Parker from the Dandenong Stingrays, wha by reports from Stingrays circles was very unlucky to miss out on selection for the TAC cup grand final last year as a 15 year old, has been best on, or in the best nearly every game he has played this year, and to think he still has two years left in the TAC system

I cant comment on a kid I have never seen - and anyway the point of the thread was to question what a supporter would offer to get next years #1 pick. Unless you have your facts wrong this kid is not eligable until 2011.

 

[AFL LEGEND]

My apologies, depends what is thrown around, with most of the "superstars" being sewn up, you would think that the number one pick would not even be bandied around, and the first two or three picks would also be off limits for the other 16 teams.

 

[chinggis77]

Six goals in his second game in the WAFL is pretty good.

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=12&ContentID=159837

 

[shooters]

I have seen Darling play at least 6 games.

He is an exceptional talent, the most exciting player i have ever seen from a youngster.

He is the most ferocious and fearless tall forward you could imagine. When you talk about forward pressure Darling will give it a new definition.

From the Eagles i would give up Cox or Kerr, from Freo Palmer or Mayne plus picks.

Call me crazy but his impact cannot be underestimated.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

i would gladly give up kerr for the kid

 

[w00dy]

Won't he be picked up as one of the 17 year olds the GC can take outside the draft? In that case, you'd actually have to trade with the Gold Coast for him, rather than the number 1 draft pick... It would take something pretty special to snag him I would say... Not sure Melbourne would be willing to offer anything the Gold Coast would want to be honest...

 

[ChipDouglas]

Won't he be picked up as one of the 17 year olds the GC can take outside the draft? In that case, you'd actually have to trade with the Gold Coast for him, rather than the number 1 draft pick... It would take something pretty special to snag him I would say... Not sure Melbourne would be willing to offer anything the Gold Coast would want to be honest...

He's not eligible this year he'll be in next years pool of players and GC will snap him up. Explosive player who just keeps exploding and has a Luke Hodge type strut at the same age, a very exiting prospect.

 

[thedog]

none of you guys have obvisously seen dave swallow play then have you? he is 2 times better than darling

dave had 20 possies and a goal in league on saturday night from 3 quarters playing in the midfield

 

[wafootypsa]

swallow

 

[BOND 007]

none of you guys have obvisously seen dave swallow play then have you? he is 2 times better than darling

dave had 20 possies and a goal in league on saturday night from 3 quarters playing in the midfield

Yes I have seen Swallow play - many times in fact and he is a talent - no question about it (you cannot win a Larke medal at 17 without talent), but if you think he is even as good as Darling let alone twice as good you are simply deluded.
Darlings characteristics now along with normal development indicate something very very special indeed.

As good as Ablett is, you cannot build a team around a midfielder but you can around a Carey and Darling may get to this level.

From an Eagles position I believe only Naitanui is beyond trading and I would be willing to offer up a combination of Brown and Nicoski/Jones/Spangher/Schofield for a deal to be done. From a Dockers perspective I believe only Sandilands is exempt (and possibly Pavlich) but if I was list manager, quality players like McPharlin, Mayne, Johnson etc would be offered.

 

[BOND 007]

Won't he be picked up as one of the 17 year olds the GC can take outside the draft? In that case, you'd actually have to trade with the Gold Coast for him, rather than the number 1 draft pick... It would take something pretty special to snag him I would say... Not sure Melbourne would be willing to offer anything the Gold Coast would want to be honest...

Are you kidding ? If thats Melb's approach they deserve to keep ending up last. Quite honestly the only player off limits would be Watts, and I would offer up 2 out of Morton, Grimes, Blease etc.

You will have to offer players to get the higher draft picks as players are what GC will be chasing.

 

[thedog]

Yes I have seen Swallow play - many times in fact and he is a talent - no question about it (you cannot win a Larke medal at 17 without talent), but if you think he is even as good as Darling let alone twice as good you are simply deluded.
Darlings characteristics now along with normal development indicate something very very special indeed.

As good as Ablett is, you cannot build a team around a midfielder but you can around a Carey and Darling may get to this level.

if im right darling is 190cm which isnt big enough to hold down centre half forward at afl level. Apparently he had finished most of his growing by the age of 15/16. People have been saying that he needs to learn how to play in the midfield or another position besides KPP to be able to be infulential at afl level.

 

[Black Ball]

i would gladly give up kerr for the kid

And who do you think would be silly enough to fall for that?

He is going to Gold Coast it's already been arranged.

 

[Black Ball]

none of you guys have obvisously seen dave swallow play then have you? he is 2 times better than darling

You are away with the fairies if you think that.

 

[JohnnyMacIntyre]

Tough call between Swallow and Darling but I'm sorry to say that both will be Gold Coast almost no matter what. They're very different players so it's difficult to compare and both are the best of their kind in their age group by a mile. Swallow is the most complete mid I've seen in a very, very long time and Darling is one of, if not THE most exceptional talent I have ever seen. I think these two are a done deal and the Gold Coast would be mad to consider any trade. These two will be better than anything any club will offer IMO. For me its Swallow by a whisker on the basis of versatility and that only. Both will be absolutely elite.

 

[ROYAL EAGLE]

Tough call between Swallow and Darling but I'm sorry to say that both will be Gold Coast almost no matter what. They're very different players so it's difficult to compare and both are the best of their kind in their age group by a mile. Swallow is the most complete mid I've seen in a very, very long time and Darling is one of, if not THE most exceptional talent I have ever seen. I think these two are a done deal and the Gold Coast would be mad to consider any trade. These two will be better than anything any club will offer IMO. For me its Swallow by a whisker on the basis of versatility and that only. Both will be absolutely elite.

I said earlier in the year Darling is the best young key foward i have ever seen.

He is only 191cm's though, so playing AFL against bigger bodies he may be brought back to the pack a bit.

I pray to god the kid grows another 3 cm's could be as good as Wayne Carey if he does exceptional talent, and a great kid to.

Swallow will be the best mid produced from WA in 10 years, simply is a complete a player,works foward offensively and just as hard defensively.

He's a great size beautiful kick and good mark.

He would be just ahead of Darling (because of his size issue)

They are the best two talents WA have produced in a while.

And that includes the Rich's and Naitanui's of this world.

 

[wp25]

Dont rate 16 year old Luke Parker from the Dandenong Stingrays, wha by reports from Stingrays circles was very unlucky to miss out on selection for the TAC cup grand final last year as a 15 year old, has been best on, or in the best nearly every game he has played this year, and to think he still has two years left in the TAC system

When the kid makes all australian ctr half forward a month after he turns 17, and kicks 6 goals in 2nd game of senior football, at 17, then we will rate him.

Darling is exceptional and even if he doesn't grow will still dominate AFL.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

We shall see if Swallow has the tank to play in the midfield over his career for four quarters, hes one big boy who might end up playing in the defensive 50.

I dont think Darling needs to worry about his height, he's a pure footballer and a mature talent.

Funny enough i dont think either of these guys are that great athletes, both a very mature bodied but neither a very quick. Both are just great footballers.

Id be conservative in saying Swallow, Darling are better than other West Australian products over the last few years, they are very different players.

 

[j-ham]

From what I've seen of him I'd take Darling over anyone in this or next years draft easily. Would look great in navy blue.

 

[__aria__]

riggio + watt + 3rd rounder

 

[DCFCFAN84]

He is a rare talent one of the best shots on goal I have seen in a long time.

 

[folester41]

hes like 1 cm shorter then fev and 2 cm shorter then St.Nick

come on people, 2 or 3 cm is nothing, he will be a star.

 

[BOND 007]

Whilst jumping on the Darling bandwagon - few have actually answered the question I raised.

-- What players would you offer from your club to entice GC to release the #1 pick ???