Light at the end of the tunnel?
Staff writers
After claiming the wooden spoon in 2021, The Darkness FC enjoyed an improved season in 2022, finishing the home and away season in 4th place, and secured a surprise finals berth.
The club’s players are recovering from Mad Monday, where Tom Papley was reportedly best on ground. The 26 year old was characteristically up and about, mirroring his career best on-field form after playing more midfield time over the last six weeks (averaging 105 over that period).
The Darkness’ players will shortly take a well-earned break ahead of a big pre-season, although a planned trip to Bali is now said to be off the agenda. The group will be hoping to progress further next year, after being eliminated from finals in week one by a strong Goodie’s Giants outfit.
It will be a shorter turnaround for the club’s list management team, especially with a record AFL trade period looming. The team expects to be active again ahead of the 2023 season, with scope for more creative deals to be done.
Coach Darkie is said to be pleased by the club’s 2022 progress, but looking to make some targeted changes to refine the structure of the list, and continue the development of the squad.
The midfield is likely to be an area The Darkness looks to address, with the club’s engine room comfortably beaten (827-554) by the Giants in last week’s elimination final, albeit with some key players missing.
The Darkness has a deep hand of quality youth, led by Rising Star favourite Nick Daicos, with Willem Drew, James Jordon, Patrick Lipinski and Jai Newcombe all playing key roles in the midfield this year. Deven Robertson, Jack Carroll, Tom Powell, Caleb Poulter, Riley Collier-Dawkins, Tyler Brown, Jeremy Sharp and Matty Roberts all received opportunities to continue their development by gaining midfield experience this season.
Notwithstanding the club’s young midfield stocks, an injection of experience could be what’s needed to take another step forward. There is said to be scope for some young guns to be squeezed out of the squad as the club refines its setup.
In response to The Darkness’ youth-focused midfield, the coaches experimented with a range of names playing through the middle this season, with defenders Jack Sinclair, Jayden Short and Tom Atkins all spending time up the ground, in addition to Connor Budarick for periods before his ACL injury. Amongst the club’s forwards, Dylan Moore, Shai Bolton and Papley all played more midfield time this season, putting up career-best performances in the process.
Coach Darkie said “Necessity is the mother of invention sometimes. We’ve been able to run a few other guys through the middle, with good success. It has seen a number of our players go to a new level, and it helps them develop dual-position flexibility, which can be very beneficial for us as coaches.” The Darkness’ approach sees the club with the most dual position players in the league.
The Darkness’ list managers are now reportedly open to using the squad’s enviable forward and defence depth to strengthen the engine room via the trade table.
One of the most pleasing aspects of the club’s season will be the performance and development of its ruck stocks, with Darcy Cameron and Tom de Koning both taking the #1 mantle for extended periods, and acquitting themselves well. Ruck-forward Mabior Chol has provided able support, kicking a goal in every game, to sit 8th in the Coleman Medal. With veteran Jonathan Ceglar traded to Roppongian Rangers late in the season, the club will nonetheless be on the lookout to strengthen the ruck line, should the right opportunity present.
In addition to an abundance of developing talent accumulated through the club’s active regeneration strategy, The Darkness has a number of players on attractive contracts that may appeal to other clubs facing budget pressures in 2023.
The club also holds a strong pre-season draft hand - with 4 picks inside the top 17 - and is said to be prepared to invest one or more high picks for players that fit the club’s needs.
Darkie said “We’re pleased with the progress since we commenced our rebuild strategy 18 months ago. We’re seeing signs that that’s starting to bear fruit, and our players will be better for the finals experience, and another year of development for our young talent in particular. The reality, though, is that only one club wins the flag each year - and the other nine will be trying to get better. We’re focused on how we can continue to improve our side for 2023 and beyond.”
With improved on-field performance this season, continued development of the club’s young talent, and another active off-season expected, long-suffering Darkness fans may finally be seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.
