'Not going there': Coach backs Jack Darling amid vaccine mandate return

West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson has dodged questions about Jack Darling's AFL return, but admitted news of the key forward's availability came as a 'pleasant surprise'.

Darling met the AFL's vaccination mandate some six weeks after he was banned from training with the Eagles due to the policy, with his return to the team revealed late last week.

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The 29-year-old missed the deadline to have the first does of a vaccine against Covid-19, which had been on January 21, sparking fears he may not play again.

"He will now undergo the requisite medical assessment and continue to build his football fitness base as he strives to resume his AFL career as soon as possible," West Coast said in a statement.

"Darling has been training away from the club for a number of weeks and will need to re-condition his body for match play as he strives to build on his 236-game, 450-goal career."

In his first press conference since Darling was cleared to return, Simpson pre-empted any questions by reiterating that he would not discuss the medical status of any of his players, nor field questions about their mental wellbeing.

Prefacing by saying he didn't think doing so was 'the right thing to do', Simpson nevertheless was quickly asked about the delay in Darling's vaccination.

“That’s private, that’s between Jack and his doctor," he said.

“I’m sure we wouldn’t want to talk about everyone that’s here’s medical status, health and wellbeing, so I’m just not going to go there out of respect – and that’s with anyone, not just Jack.”

Darling initially said he couldn't be vaccinated on doctor's orders due to a 'work related injury', with Simpson bristling when pressed on the matter.

“Yeah I’ll talk about any physical injury you’d like. You can talk about his foot, you can talk about injuries we’ve got at the moment – no worries. But there’s a line," he said.

West Coast Eagles thrilled with Jack Darling return

Darling's return is a massive boost to a West Coast squad that has been riddled by injuries.

Elliot Yeo, Tom Cole, Liam Duggan, Dom Sheed, Oscar Allen, and Jamie Cripps will all miss the start of the season, while Brad Sheppard (concussion) was forced into early retirement.

Defender Alex Witherden is suspended for round one, and Luke Shuey (hamstring) faces a race against time to be fit.

Even if Darling isn't deemed match fit to take on the Suns, his availability in the early rounds of the season will be a big plus.

Darling booted 42.19 last year, and he looms as a crucial cog in attack alongside Josh Kennedy and Allen.

"(West Coast) kicked six and 10 goals in the previous two (pre-season) games, they needed someone down there to threaten," former North Melbourne star David King told SEN.

"Liam Ryan, Tim Kelly, Jamaine Jones, Willie Rioli, Jack Petruccelle - they were the goalkickers last week.

"Sometimes you just need a centre half-forward/full-forward type player to just be stamping three or four every second week, and that's Jack.

"It's huge news for (coach) Adam Simpson, they just needed some positive news."

The recent uncertainty surrounding Darling led West Coast to sign former Docker Hugh Dixon to a rookie contract.

With Cole and first-round draftee Campbell Chesser placed on the inactive list due to long-term injuries, the Eagles were also able to sign ruckman Luke Strnadica, former Richmond wingman Patrick Naish, and midfielder Tom Joyce on rookie deals.

With AAP

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