Almanac Footy: The Darcy dilemma and a Dogs Headache – Can Bevo paper the cracks?

 

 

If you put Sam Darcy in any AFL team in 2026, he either makes them a premiership contender, or is the focal point of a rebuilding side. Replacing Darcy, however, is the one dilemma Luke Beveridge didn’t want to have to start the season, and unfortunately for him, he will have to attempt to reinvent the wheel that is the Dogs forward line, if it can be done of course.

 

Standing tall at 208cm, Darcy is an imposing figure on the field. He takes contested marks at the highest point, he is quick on the lead, he kicks goals and his work at ground level is absurd for a player of his height. These attributes is what makes Sam Darcy an extremely good player, however, they are the same attributes that will make him great. But for now, that will be further down the line.

 

As the tall loping figure went to straighten up at the footy to receive a kick from Cooper Hynes, Darcy collapsed to the ground in agony. Curled into a ball, Holding his left knee, you could feel the agony through the TV screen, and the chills as the crowd gasped as one.

 

An infuriating punch to the Geelong turf, Darcy immediately knew what he had done. Coincidently, in the exact same forward line 21 years ago, Sam’s father Luke Darcy ruptured his ACL in his first year as captain. It was also 12 months ago that Sam Darcy had suffered a suspected ACL injury that was overruled when scans cleared him of major damage. However, by midday on Saturday, there would be no miracle, as the Western Bulldogs confirmed Darcy would require surgery on an ACL rupture. His 2026 campaign done, and a large contingent of hope for the Dogs season gone with him.

 

For Darcy, this is more than what the next 12 months holds for him. In his fifth season, he has amassed a total of 51 career games. A plethora of injuries in his first few seasons halted his development, constant setbacks with his body meant countless hours in rehab, and stints in the VFL. It was only in 2024 when Darcy finally broke through and became a dominant force in the Dogs forward line. He has shown the league what he can do, and 2026 promised to be his biggest, unfortunately, the sideline is where he will be for the rest of it.

 

As Darcy prepares to go under the knife, there will be a lot to happen before he can take the field again. Knee reconstruction rehabs are strenuous, lonely and physically demanding. Darcy will have to be prepared to take his body to uncomfortable places in pursuit to continue his AFL career over the next 12 months, hours of strengthening in the gym and repetitive exercises, all the while watching his teammates do battle without him. Beneath his calm exterior, there would be an emotional interior for a kid who just wants to forge is own legacy in the game and play footy.

 

The Dogs will no doubt miss his presence, however as we do in the footy world, we move on quickly, it will become yesterday’s news once Thursday night comes around and Bevo’s men ultimately need a new figure up forward to command the footy.

 

In 2021, Dogs key forward Josh Bruce ruptured his ACL late in the season as the Pups lost their way and missed the top four. Bevo had little time to make something work, he leant on the likes of Josh Schache, Mitch Hannan and Lewis Young to make a contest up forward, albeit working up until midway through the third quarter of that years grand finale.

 

2026 will be a different story, and perhaps the injury of Darcy has opened up one of the biggest holes in the Dogs list, and it’s not their backline.

 

In Darcy’s eight games missed last year, Aaron Naughton kicked 10 goals during this period, proving why he needed another big target next to him up forward. Perhaps this could be an easy fix on paper, however there’s more that lays beneath the surface.

 

The Dogs don’t have a definitive second ruck option this season, and as Tim English recovers from his minor knee injury he will be forced to ruck full time when he comes back. This gaping hole in the Bulldogs list has become evident over the past few weeks, particularly at center bounce, and it forced the likes of Darcy and Rory Lobb to fill this void, taking away from the Dogs biggest strengths.

 

This move has caused inconsistency in the Dogs front half, often leaving Aaron Naughton to compete against multiple key defenders, and on the other hand, its forced Rory Lobb to come away from his role as the Dogs key back, exposing intercept defender Buku Khamis, who has had to compete undersized since the absence of English.

 

Over the last two weeks Luke Beveridge has been forced to pick first year player Louis Emmett, who, has showed promising signs in the VFL, however is adapting to the AFL system. He was ultimately favored over the Dogs second ruck in Lachie Smith who was taken with pick 47 back in 2023 and is yet to make his debut for the club.

 

There’s no doubt that these boys can fulfill their potential, however like Tim English, ruck man don’t become superstars overnight. The Dogs will now have to live with the hope that English doesn’t get injured again this season to avoid the issues they are now having at stoppage.

 

For the meantime, the Dogs could look to invest into a developed ruck man next season to assist English, as we’ve seen with teams such as Hawthorn, who are exploiting opposition with two rucks given the new five on the bench rule.

 

This would allow more rest for English, whether that be on the bench or up forward where his proven he can be a dangerous proposition for teams to handle, as shown with his combination with Stefan Martin early in 2021.

 

The Dogs still have plenty of stars to help gain some momentum in the season, however, can’t afford anymore injuries if they want a shot at glory in 2026. Marcus Bontempelli has proven he can play up forward if required, which would allow some of the Dogs young core to have more midfield minutes.

 

The Barkly Street boys may have to back in their defensive stocks and allow Rory Lobb to have moments up forward to fill Darcy’s void, or Beveridge could back in Croft and Will Lewis to assist Naughton in the forward line as key targets.

 

For now, Bevo has some thinking do in order to get his troops back to the finals this year, and in the past, his proved he will not be afraid to throw around the magnets, can he pull of one more masterstroke and add to his legacy at the Dogs? Or will it all come crumbling down?

 

Read more from Kristian Cavallo HERE.

 

To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au  home page click HERE

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.

Become an Almanac (annual) member –CLICK HERE