West Coast coach Adam Simpson says Jack Darling must confront pulling out of marking contest

WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson says Jack Darling must confront why he pulled out of a marking contest in the elimination final, but denied he was soft.

WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson says Jack Darling must confront why he pulled out of a marking contest in Thursday night’s elimination final, but denied the key forward was soft.

Simpson yesterday addressed Darling’s controversial moment in the final term of the crushing 47-point loss to the Western Bulldogs, saying the 24-year-old couldn’t shy away from what happened after he appeared to pull out when running back with the flight of the ball.

There has been speculation Darling may have lost the ball in the lights or thought an oncoming player was a teammate, however Simpson made no attempt to offer any excuses for him.

“We can’t shy away from those things. You can’t just brush it under the carpet. You’ve just got to confront it,’’ Simpson told ABC Radio.

“He obviously would regret that incident. But he’s not a soft player and that’s not a pattern.

“So I think you just put your hand up, you acknowledge it and you move on.’’

The incident came midway through the last quarter, with the Eagles trailing by 45 points and the contest effectively over.

Darling was confronted by Bulldogs youngster Josh Dunkley on the wing as he tried to run onto a pass from teammate Andrew Gaff.

“I think we’ve all done that in our careers at some stage,’’ Simpson said.

“So I’m not going to lose any sleep over that particular incident. But I’m sure it’s one he regrets.’’

West Coast coach Adam Simpson says Jack Darling (pictured) must confront why he pulled out of a marking contest in Thursday night’s elimination final. Picture: CHANNEL 7.

Former Hawthorn champion Leigh Matthews, renowned as one of footy’s hardest players, said: “He just thought about what might have been coming and just took his eyes off the footy.’’

Darling can polarise opinion, having had several high-profile bloopers in big matches. He cost his team a goal when he played on after taking a mark in the second quarter on Thursday night and spilt a simple chest mark at a crucial stage of last year’s Grand Final.

However his haul of 44 goals this season is an excellent return for a second key forward and is his second-biggest goal tally in a season, behind only his 53 goals in 2012.

Darling was far from his team’s worst player against the Bulldogs, kicking a terrific first-quarter goal before finishing with two majors from 11 disposals and six marks.

Originally published as West Coast coach Adam Simpson says Jack Darling must confront pulling out of marking contest