Jack Darling Biography

North Melbourne agrees to a trade with West Coast for Jack Darling. The veteran forward will move to the Roos in exchange for their 2024 fourth-round pick (currently No.67, tied to Essendon).

"We were looking to add some support to our forward line, and we're excited about what a player like Jack can bring," North Melbourne footy boss Todd Viney said.

"Our head of football talent Brady Rawlings worked with Jack in his previous role at West Coast and has seen up close his professionalism and preparation.

"Jack has great strength and ability to bring the ball to ground and chase and tackle, and we think his experience will benefit our young list enormously."

Adam Simpson is backing Jack Darling to regain some form after sitting out most of the pre-season.

Darling has endured a lean start to the 2022 season having spent seven weeks of pre-season away from the club due to failing to fulfil the League's COVID protocols.

The 29-year-old forward has managed four goals in four games, while he is averaging a career-low 3.2 marks per game along with 9.5 disposals per game which is well below his normal output. In Darling's four games he has contributed to 13 score involvements along with eight inside 50s.

"Jack has had seven weeks away from the club. It would've been really difficult to do anything in terms of football. I'm not surprised it's been a slower start, but we'd love him to get going sooner rather than later," Eagles coach Adam Simpson said.

West Coast forward Jack Darling is expected to resume training with teammates after being vaccinated and meeting the AFL's health and safety protocols.

Jack Darling has been forced to train away from the Eagles after failing to fulfil the requirements of the AFL's COVID-19 protocols.

"We're a player down and he's a pretty important player, so I hope it gets worked out," Eagles coach Adam Simpson said.

"I've texted him a couple of times, but there's not much we can do at the moment. It's probably between Jack and the club to work through and the mandates in place. It's out of my hands personally."

Elliot Yeo and Jack Darling have been elevated into the Eagles' leadership group under new captain Luke Shuey.

"They're both wonderful footballers, but sometimes it takes a little bit more time, we all develop at different rates in terms of leadership," Eagles manager Craig Vozzo said.

"Jack is a quieter, one-on-one type mentor. He has a terrific knowledge of the game and is able to pass that on one-on-one through our forward line.

"Elliot has developed into one of our best players and one of the better players in the game, and is still forming his way of leadership and it's going really well."

The group has expanded from six to seven in 2020, with former captain Shannon Hurn stepping away from an official leadership role.

Shuey will be supported by vice-captains Josh Kennedy and Jeremy McGovern, with ruckman Nic Naitanui and midfielder Andrew Gaff rounding out the group.

Josh Kennedy is full of praise for fellow Eagles forward Jack Darling.

"He's starting to turn into a bit of a beast of the competition in terms of his marking power and his ability to kick some goals now, which is great to see," Kennedy said of Darling.

"The way he goes about his business in terms of leading and taking over and controlling the forward line is something that's put us in really good stead and will do for many, many years.

"We've played a lot of footy together now and seeing where he is at in his career and what he's been able to do has been quite special."

Jack Darling suffers a pre-season setback after fracturing his cheekbone at training.

"It was friendly fire in training and unfortunately he has a small fracture of the cheekbone," Eagles head of football Craig Vozzo said.

"He will build back into training, just avoiding contact for the next few weeks, but we're still confident in terms of round one."

Jack Darling is set to remain an Eagle for the rest of his career after signing a new five-year deal, warding off reported interest from the Western Bulldogs.

"I grew up supporting the Eagles, so to be here for my entire career is something I’ll look back on proudly," Darling said.

"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. I’m really excited for the future.

"The challenge for us in 2019 is to play consistently over four quarters, so we’ve just got to make sure we play a good, consistent four quarters and make sure we qualify for finals as quickly as we can."

Jack Darling has avoided a long spell on the sidelines but will be out of action for between four-to-six weeks after suffering a hairline fracture and ligament damage to his ankle against St Kilda.

West Coast is sweating on scans to discover the damage to star forward Jack Darling after he hurt his right ankle against St Kilda, interrupting his career-best run of form.

Darling suffered the injury in a marking contest late in the first quarter, landing on the boot of St Kilda defender Logan Austin.

Phil Davis will miss at least a week due to concussion.

Davis was knocked out during the third quarter of the Giants' loss to West Coast last week, when he was collected by Jack Darling's elbow in a marking contest.

"He had some headaches on Sunday and Monday, (and they were) minor yesterday," Giants coach Leon Cameron said.

"But with the concussion protocol, obviously if you get to Wednesday and you still have some symptoms that rules you out."

Phil Davis is knocked out after being collected by an accidental elbow from Eagle Jack Darling when he courageously ran back into a marking contest.

Jack Darling signs a new three-year deal with West Coast that will keep him at the club until the end of 2020.

"Jack has already played 128 games and established himself as a quality AFL forward," Eagles general manager of football Craig Vozzo said.

"He is a dedicated professional and we believe he can take his game to yet another level while Tom was terrific in his first full season of senior football.

"We believe that he has a lot of upside in his game and we look forward to assisting him evolve in coming seasons."

West Coast coach Adam Simpson says Jack Darling has not trained at all this pre-season and is likely to miss West Coast's season opener against the Western Bulldogs.

"He hasn't really kicked a ball since round 23 last year. He's having a massively interrupted pre-season," Simpson said.

"I don't know how long it takes him once he's up and running to get his feel and his touch and game sense. That's an unknown.

"I think we're lucky in the sense that his skinfolds are 35. He's an elite athlete. But he just hasn't had a run at it."

Jack Darling has been cleared to ramp up his rehabilitation from a stress fracture in his foot.

After suffering a stress fracture in his foot in round 23 last year, Jack Darling's injury continues to plague his pre-season. He spent six weeks in a moon boot before Christmas and was only walking laps at training.

"He'll get a scan in the next couple of weeks to get the all clear to go to the next level," Eagles coach Adam Simpson said.

"We're just being really cautious. We want the bone to heal in the foot as best we can and you can only go by the scans."

Jack Darling signs what is believed to be a lucrative two-year deal with the Eagles.

"I am really confident we can build on what we have achieved this year," Darling said.

"There is no doubt that as a team we have improved and we are a young playing group that is looking to have a big impact on the competition."

Star trio Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling, and Matt Priddis extend contracts their contracts with West Coast.

"It is great to have three quality players and outstanding individuals extend their commitment to the club," Eagles' football operations manager Craig Vozzo said.

"We see all three players as very important to our plan of improving as quickly as possible.

"We hold them all in very high regard and are delighted they have extended their commitment to the club."

After being restricted to just running laps during the season in 2012, Jack Darling hopes a solid pre-season will allow him to engage in some skills work during the season in 2013.

"I've really been getting some good leg-weight sessions in this pre-season, so I'm getting stronger there and that hasn't been a strength of mine in the past," Darling said.

"During the season I'm pretty light early in the week, not kicking the footy and just jogging laps.

"[The aim is] being able to train during the week, instead of just getting right for games, and feel comfortable doing that."

Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling and Andrew Embley have all re-committed to West Coast on the eve of the 2011 finals.

West Coast coach John Worsfold says young forward Jack Darling could take the role of suspended big man Quinten Lynch up the ground.

"Jack Darling has shown that he can take marks, leading up the ground. I'm sure he can fill the role adequately if we decide to go that way," Worsfold said.

West Coast's Jack Darling is the round six NAB AFL Rising Star nominee, and his form suggests he is also the bargain of last year's draft after falling to pick 26.

"I really wasn't sure where I was going to go. It's just a number to me now and everyone's in the same pool at the moment. It doesn't matter if you go at one or 85, you've still got the opportunity to play. It didn't bother me at all," Darling said.

"I was prepared to move. But I guess it has made it pretty easy. My life hasn't changed that much. Staying at home has definitely helped me for a smooth transition into AFL football."

Jack Darling makes his AFL debut for West Coast with 11 disposals (4 kicks and 7 handballs), 3 marks, 4 tackles and 2 goals in a 4-point win over North Melbourne.

West Coast select forward Jack Darling with their priority pick No. 26 at the 2010 national draft.

Darling was named All-Australian centre half-forward in 2009 at the under-18 national championships but failed to impress this year while being involved in minor off-field issues.

"He's had a lot of pressure on him and he's still, in his WAFL footy, averaged 17 touches a game, which isn't bad for an 18-year-old kid, so it was interesting," West Coast's Trevor Woodhouse said.

"He's a super talent, it's really up to Jack now to show people that perhaps he was harshly dealt with in terms of his position, but that shouldn't bother him - he just needs to get on and play good footy."