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The West Coast Eagles have confirmed premiership forward Jack Darling has returned to the AFL club.
Key points:
- Jack Darling was banned from the club and training since the end of January
- He had missed the club's first and second COVID vaccination deadlines
- It is understood he had applied for a medical excemption from vaccination
Darling had been banned from attending the Eagles' headquarters or training ground since January 21, the deadline for all players and staff at WA's AFL clubs to have received a first coronavirus vaccination dose.
But in a statement, the club said Darling had ticked off "all necessary AFL and other requirements".
The 236-game veteran can now rejoin the other players and coaches at training.
"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," the Eagles said.
"Darling has been training away from the club for a number of weeks and will need to recondition his body for match play as he strives to build on his 236-game, 450-goal career.
"This period has been a very difficult one for Jack and his family and we ask that his privacy be respected."
The club said it would not be making any comment on any of its players' private medical information.
Darling missing in action since January
Darling missed the AFL's first-jab deadline on January 21, and the second-shot date of February 18, and has not trained with the club or teammates for more than a month.
He was understood to have applied to the AFL for a medical exemption from being vaccinated.
That request was refused.
It comes after North Melbourne midfielder Jed Anderson agreed to a second jab, after initial reluctance following an adverse reaction to his first shot.Former Carlton defender Liam Jones retired last year after reportedly deciding not to be vaccinated, while Brisbane's Cameron Ellis-Yolman was placed on the inactive list — and subsequently retired — in January after missing the league's first-jab deadline.
There was reportedly optimism Darling would take the protein-based Novovax vaccine when it became available, and was given an extension beyond the February 21 deadline to consider his options.
The future of the Eagles forward has been a discussion point since it became clear he was hesitant to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, as his absence would have left a gaping hole in the Eagles' attack.
Rising star Oscar Allen is recovering from a foot injury, while veteran small forward Jamie Cripps recently suffered a pectoral injury during training.
All-time leading goal-kicker Josh Kennedy is 34, and surely in his final season at the club, while Jake Waterman has struggled to cement his spot in attack, kicking 50 goals in his 53-game career.
Darling, in conjunction with Kennedy, has been a formidable threat in attack.
Only Kennedy and Peter Sumich have kicked more goals for the club than Darling, who has been the Eagles leading goal-kicker in three of the past four seasons.