Star forward Jack Darling will be bearing down on some significant West Coast Eagles history this year as he prepares for life without retired champion Josh Kennedy by his side.
One of only 11 players to pull on the famed blue and gold guernsey in at least 250 matches, Darling could move into the top-three on West Coast’s all-time games played list in 2023.
With a clean bill of health Darling (257 games) could move past Eagles greats Drew Banfield (265), Guy McKenna (267), Darren Glass (270), Kennedy (271) and - the man who first made the No.27 famous - champion centre half-back Glen Jakovich (276).
Only evergreen veteran Shannon Hurn (320 games*) and champion ruck Dean Cox (290) will be out of Darling’s reach heading into next year’s campaign, consisting of 23 home and away games.
Darling’s close mate Andrew Gaff is only five games behind him, with 252 appearances to his name, and the Victorian ball magnet could also move into West Coast’s top handful in terms of appearances.
Darling is also only 16 majors shy of reaching the 500-goal milestone and within sight of surpassing dual premiership full-forward Peter Sumich (514) in second spot on the club’s goalkicking leaderboard behind Kennedy (712).
Meanwhile, captain Luke Shuey could become the 12th Eagle to play 250 matches with another 12 appearances. A pair of fellow Norm Smith medallists, Andrew Embley (250 games) and Peter Matera (253), sit just ahead of the Eagles skipper.
After an injury-ruined year, Dom Sheed (142 games) should achieve life membership when he hits the 150-game mark in 2023, and fellow young leader Liam Duggan (136) is also closing in on the prestigious milestone.
All-Australian forward Liam Ryan has played 86 games in his remarkable career to date and could reach the ton in the second half of the campaign.
Meanwhile, Josh Rotham (46 games), Jamaine Jones (35) and Harry Edwards (28) are each approaching 50 appearances in blue and gold.
