- Apr 10, 2012
- 1,229
- 1,465
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Barely miss him and get why we should have traded him earlier.
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AFLW 2024 - Round 10 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Toast The Curious Case of Jack Darling
- Thread starter Mop
- Start date
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bunkyboy
Club Legend
- Jan 16, 2013
- 1,357
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Everything started to fall apart from the moment JD missed what would have been his seventh goal vs Richmond after the siren. Also would have been his 300th career goal. Big fella is still stuck on 299. God speed on your recovery and burning it up again soon King.
Should never have even used the draft pick we used to draft him.
Which we tanked for...
What a spud. Clearly McInnes is the future. A rock we can build our future on.
Tanked so hard we are changing the name of the club to the west coast m1 abrahms
Terry the tank will do a boglap around optus before driving into the middle and pointing its barrel at any of our players from vic whos heads have pointed east
Wanted to post specifically about Jack Darling and this thread seemed as apt as ever.
It's fair to say that Darling has been a polarising figure since even before he was drafting.
IIRC there was much made about his lack of height for a key forward, much made about his various adolescent indiscretions and his lack of domination at U18 level despite having some sensational hitouts as a bottom-ager in 2009.
Darling has now been with West Coast for almost 12 seasons.
Suffice to say there have been some ups and downs with him (as evidenced by this thread) as well as the handful of occasions when Darling developed a case of rubber chest (unfortunately, a few of those being on the biggest stage).
Darling now has played 254 games with us. His game this afternoon moves him ahead of Peter Matera into outright 8th position of all time.
If he plays the next three games, as expected, he will finish 2022 with 257 games.
Averaged over 12 seasons that comes to 21.4 games per seasons. He typically stays on the ground between 95%-100% of game time as well.
That means he is probably the most consistent and indestructible player in West Coast's history.
With this in mind when looking forward to 2023 I think we will see Darling achieve the following:
1. move into 4th of West Coast's all times games record behind only Hurn, Cox and Kennedy (about 277-278 games); and
2. move into 2nd of West Coast's all times goals record behind only Kennedy (needs 35 goals to equal Sumich in second place).
I've long been an ardent defender of Jack and I think that the fact that he will likely achieve the above on or around his 31st birthday is testament to somebody who, despite popular opinion, has been a valiant contributor which, at times, reached imperious heights. I also recall the purple patch during about 2015-2018 when he was arguably the most unselfish player in the AFL and would consistently hand goals to teammates off the back of his strong marking and bullocking work.
Looking at his draft selection (pick 26, 2010 draft) there is a strong argument that he should be the no. 1 rated player from that draft year.
The other two players in consideration would be Luke Parker (pick 40) and Tom Lynch (pick 11). Both, like Darling, have received All-Australian accolades and both have been part of premiership teams.
Tom Lynch is probably the best comparison.
On attributes he should rightly be the better player.
He, after all, has 8 cm and 5+ kg on Darling.
Despite this he has played 46 less games than Darling (i.e. 2 seasons worth of games) and kicked 52 less goals than Darling.
It's also worth noting that Darling is a far more respectable player than Lynch and some of his petulant behaviour over the years.
Anyway, I wanted to post in another thread that wasn't Darling's 250 games thread as we looked forward to Darling becoming one of the most decorated players in West Coast history. I really hope that he ends with our games record and achieves 600+ goals.
I think Darling is a great reminder that you can't simply quantify the sum of what a player will achieve based on physical attributes or assessments of juvenile behaviour. Sometimes a player can transcend these contrived limits. I, for one, am mighty glad that all other teams selecting before us in 2010 deemed Darling as not worthy and instead picked players like Gorringe, Cook, Tape, Smedts, Watson, Pitt, Lamb and Karnezis who appeared to have the better attributes/record. The combined total games played by these eights players selected before Darling is less than Darling has played in his career to date.
As we will hold similar picks in this years draft to 2010, here's hoping we get another diamond in the rough in the second round.
It's fair to say that Darling has been a polarising figure since even before he was drafting.
IIRC there was much made about his lack of height for a key forward, much made about his various adolescent indiscretions and his lack of domination at U18 level despite having some sensational hitouts as a bottom-ager in 2009.
Darling has now been with West Coast for almost 12 seasons.
Suffice to say there have been some ups and downs with him (as evidenced by this thread) as well as the handful of occasions when Darling developed a case of rubber chest (unfortunately, a few of those being on the biggest stage).
Darling now has played 254 games with us. His game this afternoon moves him ahead of Peter Matera into outright 8th position of all time.
If he plays the next three games, as expected, he will finish 2022 with 257 games.
Averaged over 12 seasons that comes to 21.4 games per seasons. He typically stays on the ground between 95%-100% of game time as well.
That means he is probably the most consistent and indestructible player in West Coast's history.
With this in mind when looking forward to 2023 I think we will see Darling achieve the following:
1. move into 4th of West Coast's all times games record behind only Hurn, Cox and Kennedy (about 277-278 games); and
2. move into 2nd of West Coast's all times goals record behind only Kennedy (needs 35 goals to equal Sumich in second place).
I've long been an ardent defender of Jack and I think that the fact that he will likely achieve the above on or around his 31st birthday is testament to somebody who, despite popular opinion, has been a valiant contributor which, at times, reached imperious heights. I also recall the purple patch during about 2015-2018 when he was arguably the most unselfish player in the AFL and would consistently hand goals to teammates off the back of his strong marking and bullocking work.
Looking at his draft selection (pick 26, 2010 draft) there is a strong argument that he should be the no. 1 rated player from that draft year.
The other two players in consideration would be Luke Parker (pick 40) and Tom Lynch (pick 11). Both, like Darling, have received All-Australian accolades and both have been part of premiership teams.
Tom Lynch is probably the best comparison.
On attributes he should rightly be the better player.
He, after all, has 8 cm and 5+ kg on Darling.
Despite this he has played 46 less games than Darling (i.e. 2 seasons worth of games) and kicked 52 less goals than Darling.
It's also worth noting that Darling is a far more respectable player than Lynch and some of his petulant behaviour over the years.
Anyway, I wanted to post in another thread that wasn't Darling's 250 games thread as we looked forward to Darling becoming one of the most decorated players in West Coast history. I really hope that he ends with our games record and achieves 600+ goals.
I think Darling is a great reminder that you can't simply quantify the sum of what a player will achieve based on physical attributes or assessments of juvenile behaviour. Sometimes a player can transcend these contrived limits. I, for one, am mighty glad that all other teams selecting before us in 2010 deemed Darling as not worthy and instead picked players like Gorringe, Cook, Tape, Smedts, Watson, Pitt, Lamb and Karnezis who appeared to have the better attributes/record. The combined total games played by these eights players selected before Darling is less than Darling has played in his career to date.
As we will hold similar picks in this years draft to 2010, here's hoping we get another diamond in the rough in the second round.
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Well now he'll probably break both legs getting out of bed tomorrow and never play again.
18082015
Senior List
- May 25, 2022
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Has always appeared to be very durable
I suspect very professional when it comes to preparation, diet etc.
JD and Gaff - two players that were very much "set and forget" for the next 12 years after that 2010 draft
Not to mention Mcgovern, lycett,,... great draft for WCE
I suspect very professional when it comes to preparation, diet etc.
JD and Gaff - two players that were very much "set and forget" for the next 12 years after that 2010 draft
Not to mention Mcgovern, lycett,,... great draft for WCE
RookiePick
Brownlow Medallist
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Man. I remember thinking Karnezis was going to be a gun.
Has been a worthy wearer of the great number 27 guernsey.
Remember that Brisbane supporter on here who kept trolling and posting that they got the better player? I think it was about 2013 just before Karnezis was traded to Collingwood.
kane249
Wibble
- Oct 27, 2006
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Karnezis Vs. Darling
Who do you think is better at the end of the year? My mate firmly believes the Lions made a huge mistake for not taking Darling. I believe otherwise and think we have the best player from the draft. These 2 players have been in the system for 3 preseasons now. Karnezis was pick 25 and...
www.bigfooty.com
MWPP
Flying High
Now that you mention it, yes! That ended up going well for them..Karnezis Vs. Darling
Who do you think is better at the end of the year? My mate firmly believes the Lions made a huge mistake for not taking Darling. I believe otherwise and think we have the best player from the draft. These 2 players have been in the system for 3 preseasons now. Karnezis was pick 25 and...
Anyway, I love this thread and I love JD . Thanks for timely bump ep
That's the one. Wonder how SizeMatters is doing after that fallout.Now that you mention it, yes! That ended up going well for them..
Anyway, I love this thread and I love JD . Thanks for timely bump ep
Bender_
X
Karnezis Vs. Darling
Who do you think is better at the end of the year? My mate firmly believes the Lions made a huge mistake for not taking Darling. I believe otherwise and think we have the best player from the draft. These 2 players have been in the system for 3 preseasons now. Karnezis was pick 25 and...
8 votes to 71
RookiePick
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That thread is amazing.
Darling, Allen, Waterman, Cripps, Ryan, Rioli
As much as the post-JK world is gonna suck, our forward line is still our best line, and a lot of that is because of big dopey Ovaries Darling.
Still remember that draft as one I followed closely because of how crap we were, and seeing all the clubs overlook Darling (including us!) and then my elation when we took him after madly refreshing my browser over and over.
As much as the post-JK world is gonna suck, our forward line is still our best line, and a lot of that is because of big dopey Ovaries Darling.
Still remember that draft as one I followed closely because of how crap we were, and seeing all the clubs overlook Darling (including us!) and then my elation when we took him after madly refreshing my browser over and over.
Mad respect for everything he does. Hopefully Allen is fit and firing next year and can take some of those long kicks down the wing 2 on 1 and five Darling a break.
Imnotdeadyet
Debutant
- Oct 27, 2017
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So much this.
He may be frustrating, but kick 6 goals - and being available for every kick down the line, before running back to goal is a supreme effort.
Our game plan is so predictable, every other side knows if they cover him on those kicks we have no other avenue of transition.
Also consistently plays close to 100% of game time and has done for nearly all of his career.
Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk
- Sep 8, 2011
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My preference is Jack at FF from now on
I rekon we try Jack at half-back
