Sam Darcy is our Most Important Player

[Bumper Bulldogs]

Sell this to Butters - “Can you imagine playing with your hero and a future dogs great in Darcy! You can be part of this legacy!”

You could sell it to anyone.

[doggies ftw]

It’s pretty crazy that we’ve got Bont and Darcy eras overlapping, to go from probably the best player we’ve ever had and then potentially straight back into it again. The next 3-4 years of overlap SHOULD be glorious.

Bont has almost single handedly kept us competitive in the face of some pretty poor coaching & list management over the years. Darcy in the same way will single-handedly keep us somewhat competitive no matter what else we do around him.

We need to take advantage of this and come out of this 20 year period with much more than 1 flag. If Darcy continues on this trajectory honestly 3 flags between the 20 years of Bont/Darcy era should be an absolute minimum target for us.

[Sedat]

It’s pretty crazy that we’ve got Bont and Darcy eras overlapping, to go from probably the best player we’ve ever had and then potentially straight back into it again. The next 3-4 years of overlap SHOULD be glorious.

Bont has almost single handedly kept us competitive in the face of some pretty poor coaching & list management over the years. Darcy in the same way will single-handedly keep us somewhat competitive no matter what else we do around him.

We need to take advantage of this and come out of this 20 year period with much more than 1 flag. If Darcy continues on this trajectory honestly 3 flags between the 20 years of Bont/Darcy era should be an absolute minimum target for us.

I reckon Bont has longer than 3-4 years to go. Pendlebury is a handy type at 37yo.

[doggies ftw]

I reckon Bont has longer than 3-4 years to go. Pendlebury is a handy type at 37yo.

Yeah I agree, I just mean the next 3-4 years of absolute peak of both players overlapping should be quite incredible really.

I know we say it every year but it honestly felt like Bont was putting in one of his best preseasons yet until the calf set back, he just gets bigger, stronger and faster every year it’s quite ridiculous really. I think even at 29 his peak is probably now until ~33 before he tapers off a bit but yeah definitely think he’ll still contribute outside of that, he can play off half back, a wing, FP - literally anywhere. Just may not be at his absolute best as a midfielder post way 33 or so.

With Darcy’s peak arriving earlier than expected and Bont still at his absolute best for a few years you’d think, we really have to go very very deep with the best mid/forward combo or it’ll be quite a disappointment. Who’s even slightly comparable? You look at the best mids in the comp, Daicos, Heeney, Butters etc who do they have forward? Mihochek, Amarty, Georgiadis etc

you look at the best forwards - Hogan, Larkey, King and their best mids - Green, LDU, Rowell etc

GWS/GC probably the closest but really no one goes close to us in the best pairing here of Bont & Darcy, it’s genuinely two generational players in their positions, they’ll beat most of the 18-5th best teams off their own backs most weeks.

[dukedog]

had to read the title 3 times to make sure. Have to go with the Bont. Proven GUN, captain of the club. Runs on the board. But wowee oh boy! Darcy could very well be the best key position player in the game very soon. hes actually just a very smart footballer and is athletic. when he puts on more size. He's gonna be a beast.

[josie]

had to read the title 3 times to make sure. Have to go with the Bont. Proven GUN, captain of the club. Runs on the board. But wowee oh boy! Darcy could very well be the best key position player in the game very soon. hes actually just a very smart footballer and is athletic. when he puts on more size. He's gonna be a beast.

Good post.

I think it’s kinda ok if he seats lean as he is already competing extraordinarily well in contested aerial situations. He might be less likely to sustain injuries if he isn’t bulked up too much plus keep his agility & ground ball play which is damn good for a tall beanstalk.

[NAUGHTY100]

I mean the Bont has been doing the same thing for what nearly 11 years , when fit best player in the game , so just on longevity i have Bont just in front of Darcy , but boy oh boy is that man comming hard , we have finally gotten a match winner , someone that can kick multiple goals in a game , someone that you can honestly say he won that game off his own boot . Darcy cearly has the potential to become the best player of his time , a guy 208 cm tall shouldnt be able to turn onto his left leg and deliver the ball with pin pont accuracy up forward (and thats where he looses his opponents), wouldnt surprise me one bit if Darcy wins the Coleman and Brownlow medals on more then one occasion during his career , so The Bont in front by a nose right now , but as early as next year i think Darcy takes the mantle as our best . Now as a side note i think The Bont goes forward in his last year or so and kicks multiple goals per game , as that super dangerous forward pocket .

[Bulldogs201616]

Bont is still number 1 and our most important player but the will be handed over quicker then people think. I'm thinking probably 2026-2027

[jazzadogs]

Well hopefully this theory gets busted in the next 12 months!

Bont was excellent tonight, and we were able to restructure without Darcy pretty effectively on the spot, but it's going to be a big test to replace our best player of the opening month.

Darcy had been involved in 40% of our scores for the season prior to his injury.

[SonofScray]

Terrible to see him go down with the knee injury.

Even in that moment though, I think he showed champion qualities and just how much of a star he is. Real tough mentality. He seemed so determined to get up and get off under his own steam. Then to keep his head 8n the bench and post game, knowing we’ve melted a bit at times in similar circumstances.

he is special.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

This just ******* sucks. He'd be feeling so sh*t right now. Fingers crossed he still reaches his full potential in the future. He's an incredibly rare talent.

[Angak]

Some rumors going around that it might NOT be an ACL.

[The Adelaide Connection]

Some rumors going around that it might NOT be an ACL.

Oh man, say it is so.

[Grantysghost]

Some rumors going around that it might NOT be an ACL.

Please don't do that. I can't take being shattered twice.

I'm going with ACL until I'm told it's not.

Would they have a had a scan already this morning ?

[Curly5]

They say the tests post-game were pretty conclusive . His Dad is someone who will understand fully, having gone through the same thing. As well as Libba. He will no doubt be contacted by players from across the footy community with messages of support and encouragement.