AFL Trades 2024: West Coast veteran Jack Darling officially traded to North Melbourne

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AFL Trades 2024: West Coast veteran Jack Darling officially traded to North Melbourne

Jack Darling has officially joined North Melbourne after the West Coast veteran was traded for pick No.67 on Monday morning.

Darling, 32, has joined the Kangaroos on a two-year deal with a trigger for a third as he looks to extend his career beyond next season.

The 2018 premiership forward ends his time at the Eagles after 298 games and 532 goals — both the second most in club history — in 14 seasons after being drafted with pick No.26 in 2010.

Darling had one year left on his contract at West Coast which was reported to be worth $800,000 next season, having signed a lucrative five-year extension in the middle of his career-best 2019 season.

North Melbourne list boss Brady Rawlings said Darling would add to their forward line alongside Nick Larkey and Cam Zurhaar.

“We think Jack can play a key role for us with Nick Larkey up forward and Cam Zurhaar and young (Zane) Duursma as well,” Rawlings told Trade Radio.

“We just need some more tall targets to be able to compete, bring the ball to ground. The beauty about Jack is he led the West Coast Eagles’ forward 50 tackles this year as well which has probably been a bit underestimated a his season.

“So he adds pressure, brings the ball to ground and provide a real marking target for us is what we’re after.”

The West Perth product has struggled for form in recent seasons, kicking a career-low 22 goals from 21 games this year.

He fell out of favour after the Eagles parted ways with coach Adam Simpson, with caretaker coach Jarrad Schofield dropping Darling for the first time in his career after the round 17 loss to Melbourne.

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Darling was recalled for the round 20 western derby and played the remaining five games of the season, finishing his career at the Eagles with two goals from 10 touches against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.

The forward leaves the Eagles as one of it’s greatest ever players, having been the Eagles’ leading goalkicker on four occasions (2012, 2018, 2019 and 2021), earning life membership in 2017 and claiming an All-*********** berth in 2019.

At his peak, Darling was part of a formidable partnership with Eagles all-time leading goalkicker Josh Kennedy, with the pair part of the driving force to the club’s fourth premiership in 2018.

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