The Jack Darling Thread

[Freddy Fuschia 747]

Do you think this percieved dikcheadness will have a bearing on where he goes?

It won't be the perception that does him in but rather, the reality. The various clubs make it their business to know as much of the facts behind the incidents a particular player is involved in. Was it just a schoolboy's sex romp or was there alcohol involved? Has there been a pattern in his behaviour or were the incidents isolated? Was he really an innocent party in that bashing? There are many aspects to these young players that we don't know about but ultimately, clubs have to decide whether a player deserves the [censored] title and whether this rules him out of selection.

Given what we know about some of the AFL's major [censored] like Fev and Aker and of their capacity to disrupt and destroy a club's season, it's important for the recruiting people to get it right. I don't believe we're in the position to make a judgement on Jack Darling with our limited knowledge.

I suppose that's why some people have him going at #4 to West Coast and others as deep as #20 to Freo.

[jayceebee31 761]

Brendan Goddard anyone he is 191cm and could easily play CHF, FF, CHB, FB and anything in between. I am not saying he is or every will be as good as Goddard. But he was rated as a potential number 1 12 months or so ago! Reading the footydraft.com website he sounds pretty talented.

Having said all that he has a pretty horrid 12 months on and off the field,if his mind and attitude arn't in it than it's a NO.

He is the most interesting player in the draft as he really could go anywere from 4 - ??

For E25(Enforcer's) behalf, that is why our FD interviewed him.We had our pysch up there to check him out.

Edited October 23, 2010 by jayceebee31

[e25 5]

It won't be the perception that does him in but rather, the reality. The various clubs make it their business to know as much of the facts behind the incidents a particular player is involved in. Was it just a schoolboy's sex romp or was there alcohol involved? Has there been a pattern in his behaviour or were the incidents isolated? Was he really an innocent party in that bashing? There are many aspects to these young players that we don't know about but ultimately, clubs have to decide whether a player deserves the [censored] title and whether this rules him out of selection.

Given what we know about some of the AFL's major [censored] like Fev and Aker and of their capacity to disrupt and destroy a club's season, it's important for the recruiting people to get it right. I don't believe we're in the position to make a judgement on Jack Darling with our limited knowledge.

I suppose that's why some people have him going at #4 to West Coast and others as deep as #20 to Freo.

I think a big part of it would be "what has he taken away from this experience?"

re: either the sex romp or the bashing.

I mean, when they asked him about either incident, was he blaming others and misunderstandings, explaining the excuses, etc?

Or did he put his hand up & say "yeah, I shouldn't have put myself in that position in the first place."..?

Says a fair bit about a bloke's character.

[Strawbsodwyer 0]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/101751/default.aspx

the kid is not short on confidence, likens himself to buddy and browny!!

[Jarka 767]

Read somewhere that he's still growing and he's gone past the 190 mark and is currently about 191/192. Could end up around the 193 mark which is right up there for Key Forward size (and as an extra bonus it would make him taller than that dreaded 'inbetween' size of 190).

[daisycutter 29,711]

I think a big part of it would be "what has he taken away from this experience?"

re: either the sex romp or the bashing.

I mean, when they asked him about either incident, was he blaming others and misunderstandings, explaining the excuses, etc?

Or did he put his hand up & say "yeah, I shouldn't have put myself in that position in the first place."..?

Says a fair bit about a bloke's character.

C'mon E25

You don't really think a few questions about his indescretions will reveal anything do you?

He would have been "coached" on what to say by his manager and a cast of 1000's

[e25 5]

What is the point of interviewing any player then?

I think he could give an insight into his mindset after the event, albeit a shallow one.

You know, remorse and accepting responsibility, or caught up in the reasons why it happened that weren't his fault.

I expect the questions that are asked would be specifically designed to get the draftees to open up & let their guard down.

[hrob 2]

Read somewhere that he's still growing and he's gone past the 190 mark and is currently about 191/192. Could end up around the 193 mark which is right up there for Key Forward size (and as an extra bonus it would make him taller than that dreaded 'inbetween' size of 190).

dont get this, a few cm does not mean anythg, it all comes down to whether or not he can play footy n what he brings to our side which i think would be a lot!

[e25 5]

Read somewhere that he's still growing and he's gone past the 190 mark and is currently about 191/192. Could end up around the 193 mark which is right up there for Key Forward size (and as an extra bonus it would make him taller than that dreaded 'inbetween' size of 190).

Interesting.

I've read somewhere that he hasn't grown since 2009.

Seems to be listed as 191cm by the AFL.

[daisycutter 29,711]

What is the point of interviewing any player then?

I think he could give an insight into his mindset after the event, albeit a shallow one.

You know, remorse and accepting responsibility, or caught up in the reasons why it happened that weren't his fault.

I expect the questions that are asked would be specifically designed to get the draftees to open up & let their guard down.

I didn't say there was no point in giving him a psych evaluation (including questioning)

I was referring to his known discretions where he would have preprepared answers (provided by others) so on these events you are likely to get spin and not understanding

A good questioner (evaluator) however should be able to guage his personality by asking questions he couldn't really prepare for. Assuming of course that the people doing the psych evaluation are trained and know what they are doing. There is also legislation restricting what a psych test can and cannot do.

Bottom line: You mileage may vary

[Deestroy All 14,266]

I didn't say there was no point in giving him a psych evaluation (including questioning)

I was referring to his known discretions where he would have preprepared answers (provided by others) so on these events you are likely to get spin and not understanding

A good questioner (evaluator) however should be able to guage his personality by asking questions he couldn't really prepare for. Assuming of course that the people doing the psych evaluation are trained and know what they are doing. There is also legislation restricting what a psych test can and cannot do.

Bottom line: You mileage may vary

If he gives a rehearsed answer, it'll come across as a rehearsed answer, therefore, providing an answer.

[daisycutter 29,711]

If he gives a rehearsed answer, it'll come across as a rehearsed answer, therefore, providing an answer.

Maybe he'll be beleivable, maybe not

A clarification re preprepared answers. This doesn't mean a word for word answer it might (should) mean a series of generalities.

e.g. re the so-called "sex-romp". The advice would be along the lines of "admit it", "don't blame others", "accept it was a mistake and you have learnt a lesson", "don't try to justify it" etc etc.

Obviously a word-for-word parrotting of someone else's words would be a dead give away

Everyone in the drafting business knows of his past issues so they will be sussing him out closely. Rather than the details of the known past indescretions (which he and they know will be asked about) they will be trying to assess his general personality going into the future.

Some clubs will just stay clear no matter what, others will be more interested.

Interested clubs will no doubt rely on their own interviews on top of the DC psych analysis.

In the end I'm sure he will represent some sort of (off-field) risk to whoever drafts him

So is he worth it? I tend to think if he presents reasonably in the club interviews, then yes, draft him if available

I'd probably prefer Lynch, but I think he'll be gone before our first pick

[Jarka 767]

dont get this, a few cm does not mean anythg, it all comes down to whether or not he can play footy n what he brings to our side which i think would be a lot!

There is absolutely no doubt that the kid can play but one of the negatives is that people say that he's too short for a KPF. At 193 I don't see that as being an issue.

I'd be very happy if we got him

[Matt Demon 1,482]

There is absolutely no doubt that the kid can play but one of the negatives is that people say that he's too short for a KPF. At 193 I don't see that as being an issue.

I'd be very happy if we got him

He's not 193cm!

Have to admit he Is growing on me..

[Jarka 767]

He's not 193cm!

Have to admit he Is growing on me..

Yes, I know he's not 193.

[Roost It 1,434]

If this kid likes to throw his weight around, has a bit of a swagger and the talent to warrant it I'm all for selecting him. If a 17 year old footballer doesn't misbehave it's only because no one noticed.

[Guest hangon007]

A good questioner (evaluator) however should be able to guage his personality by asking questions he couldn't really prepare for. Assuming of course that the people doing the psych evaluation are trained and know what they are doing. There is also legislation restricting what a psych test can and cannot do.

Bottom line: You mileage may vary

Here is a link to an article I found by Dr Michelle Pain think she was one of the founders of AFL physic testing Sports Psychology & AFL Drafting Insights

Might be worth a read if you are interested.

Edited October 29, 2010 by hangon007

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

If this kid likes to throw his weight around, has a bit of a swagger and the talent to warrant it I'm all for selecting him. If a 17 year old footballer doesn't misbehave it's only because no one noticed.

HA!

I must admit, I'm warming to him. The last thing we need is another athletic KP forward who goes outside fifty. We already have Watts, Bate and Dunn for that role. And since Day is already going to Gold Coast, from what I've seen Darling is the next best suited...

[DemonTux 97]

Why does all this talk make me think Mitch Thorp???

Edited October 29, 2010 by Edorion

[sylvinator 96]

Why does all this talk make me think Mitch Thorp???

I got the same feeling. Some players rate themselves, and that's not always a good thing.

Mitch Thorp is famous for slagging off at premiership captain Tom Harley when Harley was playing one vfl game to get match fitness before returning to the senior side.

Some players just need to be humble until they've actually proven something, instead of calling themselves the perfect mix between J.Brown and Buddy Franklin.

You would never hear Tom Scully in an interview say "i've got the endurance and speed and Dane Swan, the skills of Ablett and the clearance work of Judd"

[Roost It 1,434]

You would never hear Tom Scully in an interview say "i've got the endurance and speed and Dane Swan, the skills of Ablett and the clearance work of Judd"

No Tom would say he had the endurance and speed of Tom Scully, the skills of Tom Scully and the clearance work of Tom Scully. Why on earth would he want to undersell himself!

[e25 5]

I think you guys are overreacting to his self-made comparisons to Brown & Franklin.

The interviewer is looking for those sorts of comparisons and it is not uncommon to hear them in this shallow type of interview.

[Guest Mr Untouchable]

Why does all this talk make me think Mitch Thorp???

I got the same feeling. Some players rate themselves, and that's not always a good thing.

Mitch Thorp is famous for slagging off at premiership captain Tom Harley when Harley was playing one vfl game to get match fitness before returning to the senior side.

Some players just need to be humble until they've actually proven something, instead of calling themselves the perfect mix between J.Brown and Buddy Franklin.

I think people are either barking up the wrong tree, or are seriously over reacting with the comparison to Mitch Thorp.

Darling's supposed arrogance does not even pale in comparison to Thorp's (however Polec and Thorp would be a closer comparison).

I know for a fact that Darling was said to have interviewed very well (with Carlton)... so until he starts lying to his club about his injuries (a little bit of karma for Hawthorn perhaps?) and claiming himself to be better Hawthorn's team of the century CHF (without having played a game, mind you!) - I think its a safe bet to say that he is a fair way off Thorp's level of arrogance.

Edited October 30, 2010 by Mr Untouchable

[Daz's Dee's 113]

I for one am pretty keen on him pretty sure he will be available up too the fd now

[dee-tox 4,835]

I for one am pretty keen on him pretty sure he will be available up too the fd now

I have my doubts on Darling.

Firstly, because of his size.

Secondly, how does a player who prides himself on physicality recover mentally from a fractured skull?

Thirdly, what role would we want him to play? Dunn, Bate, Petterd and Jurrah are all similar height.

Fourthly, when there are questions about character, they tend not to be one-off incidents.

I'd be happy to draft Smedts and hope we pick up a 6'6'' potential forward later in the draft.