Sam Darley

[boydogs]

Re: Sam Darley

He's not doing a lot wrong, but he isn't giving us enough either. How far can he kick? Always seems to go short, I wonder whether he would be an option to handpass off to when marking outside 50 Gilbee/Eagleton style

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Sam Darley

This coming preseason will actually be his 5th in the AFL system. He needs to make big gain this time.

Agree with this.

The positive is that he's improved a fair bit from the beginning of the season, when he was struggling to have an impact at AFL level.

Physicality and adding some strength to his frame will be pivotal.

[jeemak]

Re: Sam Darley

This coming preseason will actually be his 5th in the AFL system. He needs to make big gain this time.

11-12, 12-13, and 13-14 probably count as proper pre-seasons to date. Can his development year as a 17 year old really be considered a pre-season? What would they do differently in that system compared to those in the U/18 programs across the country from a strength building and weight gaining perspective?

Anyway, I agree that at his age and stage in development he is reaching a point where he is stronger and able to hold his own more often than not in a physical contest.

[Ozza]

Re: Sam Darley

Certainly needs further development in contests/ground ball.

At this point, he is good when he gets a clean ball, and is a good kick and decision maker. But the rest of his game are a fair way off - and to some degree this can be expected of a young player.

Some continuity in his footy, growing some confidence, and development physically and in his skills in the contest - and we could have a player. Needs to learn how to defend if he is going to be a half back.

He has improved considerably since his early VFL games - so has probably been a positive year for him overall.

[Hotdog60]

Re: Sam Darley

He's not doing a lot wrong, but he isn't giving us enough either. How far can he kick? Always seems to go short, I wonder whether he would be an option to handpass off to when marking outside 50 Gilbee/Eagleton style

He looks to be a Gilbee replacement and maybe we should look to him more often. He needs to find space as a go to man so he can deliver.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Sam Darley

I've liked his work to date, once he gets to 23 he'll be mature and better able to handle the physicality. His kicking, being fast moving daisy cutters, are a real asset in the modern game. If he doesn't end up a defender I wouldn't mind him off a wing kicking pin point passes to leading medium and small forwards.

[josie]

Re: Sam Darley

I've liked his work to date, once he gets to 23 he'll be mature and better able to handle the physicality. His kicking, being fast moving daisy cutters, are a real asset in the modern game. If he doesn't end up a defender I wouldn't mind him off a wing kicking pin point passes to leading medium and small forwards.

Was thinking the same thing. Worth persevering with and I too think he has touch of the Bob Murphy aka Mr Smoothy (to be sure, to be sure).

[GVGjr]

Re: Sam Darley

So... what do we think?

Having played a few games now, I have to admit I have seen a few signs from him that he could make the grade - in particular, he seems to kick the ball very low and hard and tends to hit a target with the low kicks more often than not.

Will be a work in progress as he finds the right balance between attacking and defending (obviously in his first few games his focus is on his opponent).

Seems to be the kind of player that will benefit from some continuity

He is around the mark. It's a bit of a shame he wasn't available more earlier in the season but he is certainly worth another year. Not every player on our list either needs to be very young or in our best 22. Darley can fill a few spots as well.

As others have pointed out, he needs to make next season a good one.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Sam Darley

Darley may well make it, although I would like to see him stronger in the contest. Good in space but doesn't appear to have anything like Murph's ability to create space.

One of the issues for the list is the number of borderline maybe players that could play at half back. We really need one to step up and become a presence.