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Jack Darling: West Coast Eagles forward on trade table as part of potential North Melbourne No.1 pick deal
Glen Quartermain
The West Australian
Fri, 13 October 2023
West Coast has made veteran forward Jack Darling available for trade if it helps the Eagles turn pick one into a life raft of early draft selections.
As North Melbourne, Melbourne and Hawthorn clamber to entice the Eagles to part with the coveted first selection in the November 20 AFL national draft.
The West Australian understands Darling is on the table, but only at the right price.
Complicating the matter is the 31-year-old has a young family and does not want to leave Perth.
The Eagles’ premiership player also has two years remaining on a five-year contract, worth about $800,000 per season, which will also come into salary cap calculations in any negotiations.
The Kangaroos have already shown interest and insiders suggest Melbourne would also be willing to take on Darling to help solve its forward line riddle.
The Demons, Kangaroos and Hawks are desperate to gain the No. 1 pick so they can draft gun Victorian youngster Harley Reid.
North Melbourne added pick 3 to have 2, 3, 15, 17, 18, 57, and 65 to its suite after Ben McKay’s free agency move to Essendon.
It gives the Roos the whip hand to package up a deal, which is where Darling may come into play.
The Kangaroos have already made an offer of picks 15, 18, 21, and a future end-of-first-round for No. 1 — an ambit claim that was quickly rejected by the Eagles – with stronger offers expected to come in the last three days of the AFL’s Trade Period which winds up on Wednesday.
Darling could be an ideal addition to the North Melbourne attack alongside Nick Larkey as the Kangaroos look to add experience and depth to the forward line.
But Melbourne is also poised for a play at Reid and entered the bidding war when it secured pick 11 from Gold Coast to No. 6 which it landed via Fremantle last year in the Luke Jackson deal.
The Demons have picks 6, 11, 42, and 47 at their disposal and view a player with Darling’s experience as crucial with their premiership window open.
The Demons have struggled to kick winning scores this season with key targets Ben Brown and Tom McDonald missing large chunks and forcing them to park Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn in the forward 50. Jake Melksham is also out for 12 months with an ACL and Grundy has now joined Sydney.
Harrison Petty has knocked back an offer to move to Adelaide, but may look at it again at the end of next season.
West Australian Demon Jacob van Rooyen is contracted til the end of 2025 and is seen as a key part of Melbourne’s future plans, but might be expendable if Reid is the reward.
An offer of six, 11 and van Rooyen would be hard for the Eagles to turn down, unless the Roos slap down a trump hand.
Hawthorn is not considered in play for Darling as it chases Mabior Chol from Gold Coast and is in negotiations with Brisbane for premiership player Jack Gunston to return to the club.
The Eagles are also keen on pick two or three so they can secure one of their prime draft targets, Claremont defender Daniel Curtin.
Apart from Darling’s reluctance to move, the Eagles are also keen to hang on to experience, following the retirement of veterans Luke Shuey, Shannon Hurn and Nic Naitanui.
Darling was firm in his belief he wanted to remain a one-club player when he re-signed in 2019.
“I grew up supporting the Eagles, so to be here for my entire career is something I’ll look back on proudly,” Darling told the West Coast website.
“I always thought I was going to be a one-club player. I’m just really excited that the club has backed me in like they have my whole career.”
Darling has played 277 games, including 20 this season.
He sits on 510 goals and 265 behinds over his AFL career, third on the Eagles’ all-time list behind Josh Kennedy (712) and needs only another four to equal Peter Sumich in second position.
Darling’s 26 goals in 2023 was his lowest tally since his debut season in 2011.
The West Australian
Fri, 13 October 2023
West Coast has made veteran forward Jack Darling available for trade if it helps the Eagles turn pick one into a life raft of early draft selections.
As North Melbourne, Melbourne and Hawthorn clamber to entice the Eagles to part with the coveted first selection in the November 20 AFL national draft.
The West Australian understands Darling is on the table, but only at the right price.
Complicating the matter is the 31-year-old has a young family and does not want to leave Perth.
The Eagles’ premiership player also has two years remaining on a five-year contract, worth about $800,000 per season, which will also come into salary cap calculations in any negotiations.
The Kangaroos have already shown interest and insiders suggest Melbourne would also be willing to take on Darling to help solve its forward line riddle.
The Demons, Kangaroos and Hawks are desperate to gain the No. 1 pick so they can draft gun Victorian youngster Harley Reid.
North Melbourne added pick 3 to have 2, 3, 15, 17, 18, 57, and 65 to its suite after Ben McKay’s free agency move to Essendon.
It gives the Roos the whip hand to package up a deal, which is where Darling may come into play.
The Kangaroos have already made an offer of picks 15, 18, 21, and a future end-of-first-round for No. 1 — an ambit claim that was quickly rejected by the Eagles – with stronger offers expected to come in the last three days of the AFL’s Trade Period which winds up on Wednesday.
Darling could be an ideal addition to the North Melbourne attack alongside Nick Larkey as the Kangaroos look to add experience and depth to the forward line.
But Melbourne is also poised for a play at Reid and entered the bidding war when it secured pick 11 from Gold Coast to No. 6 which it landed via Fremantle last year in the Luke Jackson deal.
The Demons have picks 6, 11, 42, and 47 at their disposal and view a player with Darling’s experience as crucial with their premiership window open.
The Demons have struggled to kick winning scores this season with key targets Ben Brown and Tom McDonald missing large chunks and forcing them to park Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn in the forward 50. Jake Melksham is also out for 12 months with an ACL and Grundy has now joined Sydney.
Harrison Petty has knocked back an offer to move to Adelaide, but may look at it again at the end of next season.
West Australian Demon Jacob van Rooyen is contracted til the end of 2025 and is seen as a key part of Melbourne’s future plans, but might be expendable if Reid is the reward.
An offer of six, 11 and van Rooyen would be hard for the Eagles to turn down, unless the Roos slap down a trump hand.
Hawthorn is not considered in play for Darling as it chases Mabior Chol from Gold Coast and is in negotiations with Brisbane for premiership player Jack Gunston to return to the club.
The Eagles are also keen on pick two or three so they can secure one of their prime draft targets, Claremont defender Daniel Curtin.
Apart from Darling’s reluctance to move, the Eagles are also keen to hang on to experience, following the retirement of veterans Luke Shuey, Shannon Hurn and Nic Naitanui.
Darling was firm in his belief he wanted to remain a one-club player when he re-signed in 2019.
“I grew up supporting the Eagles, so to be here for my entire career is something I’ll look back on proudly,” Darling told the West Coast website.
“I always thought I was going to be a one-club player. I’m just really excited that the club has backed me in like they have my whole career.”
Darling has played 277 games, including 20 this season.
He sits on 510 goals and 265 behinds over his AFL career, third on the Eagles’ all-time list behind Josh Kennedy (712) and needs only another four to equal Peter Sumich in second position.
Darling’s 26 goals in 2023 was his lowest tally since his debut season in 2011.
. It’s been a long time since Darling did any jumping in a game!
