West Coast forward Jack Darling has expressed that a multi-year contract from North Melbourne would be a great fit for him, following a positive meeting with the Kangaroos.
On Tuesday, Darling was seen at Perth Airport after traveling to Victoria for a medical examination with North Melbourne, as the 32-year-old aims to prolong his playing career.
Although he is still under contract with the Eagles for the upcoming season, the appeal of a long-term deal from the Roos suggests that he may have played his final match in the blue and gold colors.s
West Coast forward Jack Darling has indicated that a multi-year contract from North Melbourne would be an ideal opportunity for him, following a positive meeting with the Kangaroos.
Darling was seen at Perth Airport on Tuesday after heading to Victoria for a medical evaluation with North Melbourne, as the 32-year-old strives to extend his playing career.
Although he remains under contract with the Eagles for the next season, the attraction of a multi-year deal from the Roos suggests that he may have played his last game in blue and gold.
“It was a pretty good [meeting],” Darling shared with 10 News.
“I’m just trying to… extend my career, and if that means another two or three years at North, I believe that would be great for me and my family.”
Darling recognized that leaving a club where he is just two games short of reaching 300 would be a difficult choice but feels he still has much to contribute.
“Yeah, it is [a tough decision], but I know I’ll play 300-plus (AFL) games. My body is in good shape, so I’m durable, and I shouldn’t have any worries.”
Even with players like Oscar Allen, Jake Waterman, Bailey Williams, and rising star Jack Williams creating competition in the Eagles’ forward line, Jack Darling participated in all but two games for West Coast this year.
However, he only scored 22 goals, marking his lowest total in any of his 14 seasons in the AFL.Despite these declining numbers, former coach Adam Simpson believes Darling could still play a significant role for North Melbourne, especially in supporting key forward Nick Larkey.“
I would suspect North is seeking some experience up front and someone to assist (Nick) Larkey while the younger forwards develop,” Simpson commented on SEN.
“He has a lot of kilometers on his legs, but he’s an athlete and in great shape. He has taken good care of his body for many years.
“When he’s not at his best, he may get outmarked. However, this year, I can’t recall many instances where he was clearly outperformed by a defender.”
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