West Coast ahead Jack Darling admits it took him some time to seek out kind within the 2022 season however claims an harm, reasonably than a shortened pre-season because of his vaccine stand-off, was guilty.
Darling, 30, returned to the membership on March 11 after fulfilling the AFL’s obligatory COVID vaccination coverage, lower than a fortnight out from the Eagles’ first recreation of the season.
But reflecting on the yr, he says the foot harm, following by a rib harm suffered towards North Melbourne early within the season that set him again early.
“I was really underdone coming back with the foot issue but I put my hand up to play. It took me a while to get into it,” Darling instructed Eagles media.
“The first game against North Melbourne I cracked a rib as well, so that wasn’t nice. I tried wearing a rib guard for the next four-to-six weeks to help me deal with that.
Darling said the injury made it difficult to bring his physicality to the game, a strength of his over his 12-year career.
“You probably don’t go as hard bumping people or using your body strength,” he stated.
“You try and use other ways, try and play your opponent on the other side as well so you don’t open yourself up.
“It wasn’t too bad. With a rib guard on it protected it a fair bit but in the back of your head it plays on your mind a little bit.”
The membership didn’t report a rib concern on the official harm record on March 28, in the future after the loss to North Melbourne.
