Second overall pick Sam Darcy, a ruck/forward at 208cm, in action on return from injury. He returns following a prolonged absence due to a serious knee injury suffered earlier this year. After being the top-ranked player in the field, he’s put together a fantastic turnaround. Unfortunately, he hit rough waters and sunk in Round 6. This week, Western Bulldogs’ coach Luke Beveridge made headlines by placing Darcy in the ruck against Toby Nankervis during a dominant 79-point victory over Richmond on Sunday.
Beveridge’s move to play Darcy in the ruck has been received with a storm of criticism, notably from ex-player Kane Cornes. Cornes’ long-running spat with Beveridge is well-known. He raised issues around the risks of bringing Darcy back into such a high-paced position too quickly. He’d argue that by playing Darcy at centre bounce, Beveridge is ruining his long-term job protection. “If Sam Darcy gets injured again, it’s time to sack Luke Beveridge for this decision,” Cornes remarked.
Leading into the game against Richmond, Beveridge spoke with Port Adelaide legend Kane Cornes down at Geelong. This exchange illustrates that it’s clear both coaches here are intently tuned in to each other’s game plans. Their clash reached a boiling point in Round 11. Beveridge and Cornes weren’t done fighting yet, and the feud was about to get even more personal.
Cornes has proposed different tactics for the Bulldogs, calling on Beveridge to remove Darcy from the ruck entirely. Things went south fast on the day when he suggested that Aaron Naughton should ruck instead. He contended that putting Darcy in a role that is taxing, at this point in his rehab, is “a waste of time.” “Leave Sam Darcy in the goalsquare,” Cornes said, making the compelling point that the young player’s long-term development was more important than short-term tactical experimentation.
The former South Sydney Rabbitohs mentor recently extended his contract with the Bulldogs. That approval, though, would demonstrate the club’s confidence in Darcy’s long-term leadership, despite the current upheaval. This latest maneuver could either prove fortuitous, cementing Beveridge’s leadership, or leave even more question marks about his judgment.
As the Bulldogs continue their campaign, all eyes will be on Sam Darcy and how he manages to balance returning from injury while contributing effectively to his team. His elite size and ability are rare traits and it’s made him one of the most beneficial players to deal with. As he dives into this new stage of his career, injury risk becomes a key factor.
