Jump to content

Jack Darling ... Why? Oh Why? Oh Why?


Range Rover

Recommended Posts

Guest Rassilon

He's been shown where the door is a couple of times when he's stepped over the mark. That said, Demonland has always operated under a philosophy that people have a right to speak their mind no matter how idiotic controversial what they may say is, so long as the topic remains civil and the rules are followed.

No problems. However, there is a massive difference between constructive criticism and the constant ill-informed bleating he comes up with. Its so obvious its ill-informed because if he knew anything about what he was talking about, he would not say half the things he does.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No problems. However, there is a massive difference between constructive criticism and the constant ill-informed bleating he comes up with. Its so obvious its ill-informed because if he knew anything about what he was talking about, he would not say half the things he does.

The scoreboard and the performances don't lie Rassilon. Get your head out of the sand.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

At the time everybody at the MFC was crying out for a KPF, been crying out for one since Neitz retired and it had only gotten louder.

4 top 20 picks were used on midfielders in the previous draft so I can understand Atley being overlooked. And as I said, the club was in the market for a KPF- Darling was and still is a mid sized forward... of which we did and still have an abundance of.

As for Cook I don't think it's fair to say selecting him was a mistake, he's still developing. I see him as being in the same boat as Aaron Black from NM, who was drafted a year earlier and has only played one game at AFL level (in which he kicked 4 goals).

Haven't heard of anyone at North saying a bad word about Black, maybe their supporter base is a lot more patient and has a bit more awareness about how things work.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

At the time everybody at the MFC was crying out for a KPF, been crying out for one since Neitz retired and it had only gotten louder.

4 top 20 picks were used on midfielders in the previous draft so I can understand Atley being overlooked. And as I said, the club was in the market for a KPF- Darling was and still is a mid sized forward... of which we did and still have an abundance of.

1) As for Cook I don't think it's fair to say selecting him was a mistake, 2) he's still developing. I see him as being in the same boat as Aaron Black from NM, who was drafted a year earlier and has only played one game at AFL level (in which he kicked 4 goals).

Haven't heard of anyone at North saying a bad word about Black, maybe their supporter base is a lot more patient and has a bit more awareness about how things work.

1) Yes it was

2) No he's not

I would be surprised if he's still at the club next year.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

At the time everybody at the MFC was crying out for a KPF, been crying out for one since Neitz retired and it had only gotten louder.

4 top 20 picks were used on midfielders in the previous draft so I can understand Atley being overlooked. And as I said, the club was in the market for a KPF- Darling was and still is a mid sized forward... of which we did and still have an abundance of.

As for Cook I don't think it's fair to say selecting him was a mistake, he's still developing. I see him as being in the same boat as Aaron Black from NM, who was drafted a year earlier and has only played one game at AFL level (in which he kicked 4 goals).

Haven't heard of anyone at North saying a bad word about Black, maybe their supporter base is a lot more patient and has a bit more awareness about how things work.

Haven't read the whole thread, but don't forget that Cook was AA CHF. That's nothing to sneeze at. Since we didn't get a shot at Lynch, they went for a guy who was about the same size and had performed really well in the U18's that year.

Was there ever any indication that Darling had campaigned to stay in the west with the old "I'll go home after my first contract" line? I have to wonder why every Victorian club passed over him. Surely they weren't all put off by the threesome.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

VFL defenders are sneezing at it unfortunately.

I'll pay that one.

I've seen him play once and to my mind he is a couple of yards too slow. I can't fault his game sense, he certainly knows where to run, but it's not going to do him much good at AFL level if he can't improve his run or bulk up to Cloke-like levels and play as a Gorilla in the goalsquare.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was there ever any indication that Darling had campaigned to stay in the west with the old "I'll go home after my first contract" line? I have to wonder why every Victorian club passed over him. Surely they weren't all put off by the threesome.

Darling didn't have a good year in his draft year. Was a beast in previous u17 etc.

Question marks were put to his height. undersized in AFL.

He was a big body in u18 yet was continually beaten by the other kids, how can he go in the next level?

He was a great speculation pick cause he had upside but no one had the balls to pick him in the first round.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Darling didn't have a good year in his draft year. Was a beast in previous u17 etc.

Question marks were put to his height. undersized in AFL.

He was a big body in u18 yet was continually beaten by the other kids, how can he go in the next level?

He was a great speculation pick cause he had upside but no one had the balls to pick him in the first round.

I do find it funny that Matty Lloyd wouldn't have been drafted as a FF in this era because he'd be considered too small. Sometimes the recruiters are blinded by the stats.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1) Yes it was

2) No he's not

I would be surprised if he's still at the club next year.

I'm all for justified criticism of a player on the list where it's due but a 20 year old developing KPF who has yet to play a senior game? Surely you could raise your aim a little higher than that.

And suggesting he has already stagnated to the point where he can develop no further is almost like you are willing him to fail. Very nasty aspersion indeed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm all for justified criticism of a player on the list where it's due but a 20 year old developing KPF who has yet to play a senior game? Surely you could raise your aim a little higher than that.

And suggesting he has already stagnated to the point where he can develop no further is almost like you are willing him to fail. Very nasty aspersion indeed.

I want every Melbourne player to succeed but life just isn't like that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing....

It's got nothing to do with hindsight many people suggested we should take Darling at the time and were astonished when we didn't select him.

This topic has been done to death but for those wanting a quick breakdown;

- Darling was a top player the year before his draft year and was touted as a number 1 (or at least top 3) pick

- Darling's performances in his draft year were below what he had produced previously and some "issues" became apparent

- These "issues" amounted to having a drink and a girl in his tent at school camp and getting king-hit outside a night club (neither of which are hanging offences and shouldn't have really raised an eyebrow amongst AFL clubs)

- MFC were in the market for a strong forward, something Darling was and has proven to be

- Few other clubs were in the market for this type of player which makes the "everyone else stuffed up too" argument laughable and embarrassing for those who continue to peddle it

- MFC picked Watts with pick 1 two years prior, a player who was basically a clone of Cook but with bigger wraps

- Cook was a tall skinny project player in the same vein as Watts who by reports suffered anxiety before games to such an extent that he developed migraines and vomited - these "issues" are far worse than anything Darling was accused of

- While Darling was seen as very plausibly being taken by us at 12 Cook was seen as at the most a second rounder meaning we paid way over the odds for him

- Darlinghas stepped in and had a presence in the Eagles forward line since day 1 while Cook was dropped to Casey seconds for the last match of the season and has shown absolutely nothing to indicate he will play even 10 games at AFL level let alone 150-200

Did I miss anything? Another calamitous error by the morons in charge of our recruiting. Sometimes I really do wonder why I bother when our club is so obviously run by inept idiots. We are the joke of the competition, worse than Richmond or St. Kilda and it is not just because of the results we dish up each weekend.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's got nothing to do with hindsight many people suggested we should take Darling at the time and were astonished when we didn't select him.

This topic has been done to death but for those wanting a quick breakdown;

- Darling was a top player the year before his draft year and was touted as a number 1 (or at least top 3) pick

- Darling's performances in his draft year were below what he had produced previously and some "issues" became apparent

- These "issues" amounted to having a drink and a girl in his tent at school camp and getting king-hit outside a night club (neither of which are hanging offences and shouldn't have really raised an eyebrow amongst AFL clubs)

- MFC were in the market for a strong forward, something Darling was and has proven to be

- Few other clubs were in the market for this type of player which makes the "everyone else stuffed up too" argument laughable and embarrassing for those who continue to peddle it

- MFC picked Watts with pick 1 two years prior, a player who was basically a clone of Cook but with bigger wraps

- Cook was a tall skinny project player in the same vein as Watts who by reports suffered anxiety before games to such an extent that he developed migraines and vomited - these "issues" are far worse than anything Darling was accused of

- While Darling was seen as very plausibly being taken by us at 12 Cook was seen as at the most a second rounder meaning we paid way over the odds for him

- Darlinghas stepped in and had a presence in the Eagles forward line since day 1 while Cook was dropped to Casey seconds for the last match of the season and has shown absolutely nothing to indicate he will play even 10 games at AFL level let alone 150-200

Did I miss anything? Another calamitous error by the morons in charge of our recruiting. Sometimes I really do wonder why I bother when our club is so obviously run by inept idiots. We are the joke of the competition, worse than Richmond or St. Kilda and it is not just because of the results we dish up each weekend.

Good post Dr. Gonzo. Spot on with every point.

It is little wonder we are regarded as the laughing stock of the competition.

Edited by Range Rover
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's got nothing to do with hindsight many people suggested we should take Darling at the time and were astonished when we didn't select him.

This topic has been done to death but for those wanting a quick breakdown;

- Darling was a top player the year before his draft year and was touted as a number 1 (or at least top 3) pick

- Darling's performances in his draft year were below what he had produced previously and some "issues" became apparent

- These "issues" amounted to having a drink and a girl in his tent at school camp and getting king-hit outside a night club (neither of which are hanging offences and shouldn't have really raised an eyebrow amongst AFL clubs)

- MFC were in the market for a strong forward, something Darling was and has proven to be

- Few other clubs were in the market for this type of player which makes the "everyone else stuffed up too" argument laughable and embarrassing for those who continue to peddle it

- MFC picked Watts with pick 1 two years prior, a player who was basically a clone of Cook but with bigger wraps

- Cook was a tall skinny project player in the same vein as Watts who by reports suffered anxiety before games to such an extent that he developed migraines and vomited - these "issues" are far worse than anything Darling was accused of

- While Darling was seen as very plausibly being taken by us at 12 Cook was seen as at the most a second rounder meaning we paid way over the odds for him

- Darlinghas stepped in and had a presence in the Eagles forward line since day 1 while Cook was dropped to Casey seconds for the last match of the season and has shown absolutely nothing to indicate he will play even 10 games at AFL level let alone 150-200

Did I miss anything? Another calamitous error by the morons in charge of our recruiting. Sometimes I really do wonder why I bother when our club is so obviously run by inept idiots. We are the joke of the competition, worse than Richmond or St. Kilda and it is not just because of the results we dish up each weekend.

Spot F$&@ing on'

Agree with all that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And as I said, the club was in the market for a KPF- Darling was and still is a mid sized forward... of which we did and still have an abundance of.

Darling is about the same height as;

Lloyd, Dunstall, Lyon, Lockett, Modra, Fevola, Pavlich

and probably a few others I'm forgetting.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's got nothing to do with hindsight many people suggested we should take Darling at the time and were astonished when we didn't select him.

It's got a lot more to do with hindsight than you're allowing.

And you gave no credit whatsoever to the fact that Darling was inserted into a top 4 side, with the ability to watch and learn from the likes of Cox, Kerr, Kennedy, Priddis, Embley and LeCras. Whilst Cook has had the wonderful leadership of Bate, Dunn, Moloney, Rivers and Davey to guide him.

As for the 'everyone passed on him is a lamentable argument' bit - how often do we bleat on this site about how KPFs don't grow on trees and are hard to come by? You can't on the one hand note that Darling was touted as a top 3 pick, but then say clubs weren't in the market for him. If he was as good as you claim, every club would have been interested in him. One or the other.

I will, however, congratulate you on at least coherently presenting some arguments (a feat which seems to escape many). I disagree with almost everyone of them though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Darling is about the same height as;

Lloyd, Dunstall, Lyon, Lockett, Modra, Fevola, Pavlich

and probably a few others I'm forgetting.

At 87kg though you can hardly compare him to those guys, who were all around the 100kg mark. If he weren't behind Lynch, Kennedy and the resting ruckman, he wouldn't be setting the world on fire. But of course, I'd still be very happy to go back to that draft and swap around the names on BP's drafting sheet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

At 87kg though you can hardly compare him to those guys, who were all around the 100kg mark. If he weren't behind Lynch, Kennedy and the resting ruckman, he wouldn't be setting the world on fire. But of course, I'd still be very happy to go back to that draft and swap around the names on BP's drafting sheet.

for the record Tony Modra 188 cm / 95 kg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Agree that Cook over Darling is a confirmed judgment error. However I wonder how many would take Cook, Howe and Tom McDonald as a bundle over Darling, Lycett and Brennan in that draft?

This is what I find amusing - I talk to a couple of my close WCE mates and they think that their recruiting is ordinary and cant fathom how they took Lycett and Brennan in that draft. They are happy with Darling but bemoan the other two. They look at Howe and McDonald and how we got it right and tell us how our recruiting is better than theirs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is what I find amusing - I talk to a couple of my close WCE mates and they think that their recruiting is ordinary and cant fathom how they took Lycett and Brennan in that draft. They are happy with Darling but bemoan the other two. They look at Howe and McDonald and how we got it right and tell us how our recruiting is better than theirs.

Not quite sure then nutbean why they are playing finals and we are last!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not quite sure then nutbean why they are playing finals and we are last!

Because they have lots of good footballers in the mid to senior range and we don't. As good as you might believe the WCE kids are, the reason for their step up over the last two years is their experienced players return to form (back from injury) combined with kids coming through. We have had Moloney,Davey,Green and Jamar (I mark him a let less harshly because of injury) showing our kids the way. Of all our senior players only Rivers gets a bare pass mark this year. Nathan Jones has just entered the phase of his career that he can be agreat influence on the kids.

That dingbat Wallace kept banging on about a premiership clock based on age and games played of the list. A dingbat yes but history proved his theory in all bar the recent Hawks GF win.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Because they have lots of good footballers in the mid to senior range and we don't. As good as you might believe the WCE kids are, the reason for their step up over the last two years is their experienced players return to form (back from injury) combined with kids coming through. We have had Moloney,Davey,Green and Jamar (I mark him a let less harshly because of injury) showing our kids the way. Of all our senior players only Rivers gets a bare pass mark this year. Nathan Jones has just entered the phase of his career that he can be agreat influence on the kids.

That dingbat Wallace kept banging on about a premiership clock based on age and games played of the list. A dingbat yes but history proved his theory in all bar the recent Hawks GF win.

I do not disagree with you nutbean.

It just shows how poor our recruiting has been for a long period.

If you look at the selections over the last dozen years the first round selections have been very ordinary

Your WCE mates are IMO only looking at an individual year.

In total we have been a disaster.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    LIVE AND LET DIE by Meggs

    The Demons’ impressive late season charge to finals will most likely come unstuck this Saturday evening when the Bombers blow up the also-ran Blues in the Ikon Park double-header.   To mangle McCartney, what does it matter to ya? To have any chance to play next week Narrm has got a job to do and needs to do it well.  We’ve got to give the Pie sheilas hell, say live and let die! It’s Indigenous Round for this game and the chance to celebrate and engage with Aboriginal and Torres

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons

    2024 Player Reviews: #32 Tom Sparrow

    Had to shoulder more responsibility as the club’s injury concerns deepened but needs to step up more as he closes in on 100 games. Date of Birth: 31 May 2000 Height: 186cm Games MFC 2024: 21 Career Total: 95 Goals MFC 2024: 6 Career Total: 34 Games CDFC: 1 Goals CDFL: 0

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 17

    2024 Player Reviews: #35 Harry Petty

    Failed to fulfill the promise of his breakout six goal effort against the Tigers in 2023 and was generally disappointing as a key forward. It remains to be seen whether Simon Goodwin will persevere with him in attack or return him to the backline where he was an important cog in the club’s 2021 premiership success. Date of Birth: 12 November 1999 Height: 197cm Games MFC 2024: 20 Career Total: 82 Goals MFC 2024: 9 Career Total: 28 Brownlow Medal Votes 3

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 14

    2024 Player Reviews: #22 Blake Howes

    After a bright start to the season, playing mostly in defence, Howes seemed to lose his way in midseason but fought back with some good performances at Casey and finished the year back at AFL level. One to watch in 2024. Date of Birth: 7 March 2003 Height: 191cm Games MFC 2024: 15 Career Total:  15 Goals MFC 2024: 0 Career Total:  0 Games CDFC 2024: 6 Goals CDFC 2024: 0

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 5

    2024 Player Reviews: #33 Tom Fullarton

    Originally an NBL basketballer with the Brisbane Bullets, he moved across town in 2019 to the AFL Lions where he played 19 games before crossing to Melbourne where he was expected to fill a role as a back up ruckman/key forward. Unfortunately, didn’t quite get there although he did finish equal sixth in Casey’s best and fairest award. Date of Birth: 23 February 1999 Height: 198cm Games CDFC: 14 Goals CDFL: 13

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 5

    2024 Player Reviews: #10 Angus Brayshaw

    Sadly, had to wrap up a great career in midstream on the back of multiple concussions which culminated in the Maynard hit in the 2023 Qualifying Final. His loss to the club was inestimable over and above his on field talent given his character and leadership qualities, all of which have been sorely missed. Date of Birth: 9 January 1996 Height: 188cm Games MFC 2024: 0 Career Total: 167 Goals MFC 2024: 0 Career Total: 49

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 8

    2024 Player Reviews: #40 Taj Woewodin

    The son of former Demon Brownlow Medalist Shane, Taj added a further 16 games to his overall tally of games but a number were as substitute. He is slowly fitting into the team structure but without doing anything spectacular and needs to take further steps forward in 2025 for his career to progress. Date of Birth: 26 March 2003 Height: 182cm Games MFC 2024: 16 Career Total: 20 Goals MFC 2024: 1 Career Total: 3 Games CDFC 2024: 6 Goals CDFC 2024: 1

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 5

    2024 Player Reviews: #16 Bailey Laurie

    The clever small was unable to cement a place in the Melbourne midfield and spent most of his time this year with the Casey Demons where he finished equal fourth in its best & fairest. Date of Birth: 24 March 2002 Height: 179cm Games MFC 2024: 6 Career Total: 11 Goals MFC 2024: 2 Career Total: 2 Games CDFC 2024: 12 Goals CDFC 2024: 7

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 23

    2024 Player Reviews: #17 Jake Bowey

    Bowey’s season was curtailed early when he sustained a shoulder injury that required surgery in the opening game against Sydney. As a consequence, he was never able to perform consistently or at anywhere near his previous levels.  Date of Birth: 12 September 2002 Height: 175cm Games MFC 2024: 14 Career Total: 61 Goals MFC 2024: 0 Career Total: 6

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 7
  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!

×
×
  • Create New...