It’s been a tough summer for West Coast, with defender Brad Sheppard retiring due to ongoing concussion issues, coupled with ongoing border complications.
Things got messier however as they reached the AFL’s vaccination deadline and star forward Jack Darling was still yet to be jabbed.
West Coast released a statement on Friday saying that the 29-year-old had not adhered to the league's mandate and was therefore no longer allowed to train with the club. He joins Carlton’s Liam Jones (now retired), North Melbourne’s Jed Anderson and Brisbane’s Cam Ellis-Yolmen in not getting the vaccine.
However, Darling released a vague statement of his own, saying he was dealing with a workplace injury.
“The reason for my absence today was due to doctor’s orders. My club has been provided with a medical certificate. I have been diagnosed with suffering from a work-related injury and as a result I am on sick leave until further notice,” he posted on social media.
“I will not go into any details as to my medical condition as I wish to keep that strictly private. I am doing my best to work with the club and my doctors so I can recover from my injury. I intend to return back to training as soon as I am fit and able.”
If Darling is added to the inactive list, Kane Cornes believes “the cliff” might just be here for the Eagles.
“They’re in a bit of trouble I reckon, the Eagles,” Cornes told SEN Breakfast.
“The cliff has been coming for some time now and you look at the demographic of their list and what they gave up to get Tim Kelly in the door and the lack of draft picks they’ve had and the age of their best players.
“You look through all of their best players and go from Nic Naitanui down to Josh Kennedy, they’re all 30-plus and Luke Shuey and the injuries that they’ve had, you’ve got Brad Sheppard who has retired through pre-season, that hurts you as well.
“You’ve got the Willie Rioli saga, you’ve got the borders being shut, there’s a whole heap of challenges for Adam Simpson and this West Coast Eagles group.
“The way that they play is questionable and there’s been some criticism on Adam Simpson and his game-plan, so they’re under a whole heap of pressure.”
Cornes has called for Darling to be transparent with his situation and to own it one way or the other.
“This is the last thing (the Eagles) need,” Cornes added.
“You look at Jack Darling in his career, he’s a 2.5 goal per game player. His record is very, very good for a key forward in this league.
“Him and Oscar Allen are going to take this forward line forward and you get this?
“If that’s what you want to do and that’s the way that you want to go, I would love for you to be up front and honest about the reasons for it and not getting vaccinated and stand by your convictions.
“I’ve seen people sharing screenshots of his Twitter account where he’s been liking a whole heap of anti-vax sentiments.
“If that’s it, then tell us that’s it. Don’t go and hide behind a workplace injury, because what’s a workplace injury when your job is playing AFL? Is it a hammy, a knee? What is a workplace injury that could prevent you from getting vaccinated?
“I don’t think he’s being transparent.
“At this point it looks as though his career is over and as sad as that is, that is the reality.”
SEN Chief reporter Sam Edmund said Darling and star midfielder Tim Kelly were among the Eagles who did not get vaccinated when the rest of the club went to do so.
“He was one of the few players who didn’t get vaccinated when the entire group went together and that was explained away as players away on leave or that they had a lot of time,” Edmund said.
“Tim Kelly was another one believed to be hesitant, but he was in attendance at training and it has been reported that he’s received his first dose, but that was only on Wednesday.
“If he’s waiting for (the Novavax) he won’t be playing for months.”
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