Hawthorn greats see similarities between Darcy Moore and Hawks champion Peter Knights

Darcy Moore’s form to start the 2019 season has impressed many, including former VFL/AFL players who can see him becoming one of the game’s great defenders. Former Hawthorn champions even see similarities to one of their legendary teammates.

Darcy Moore is one of the most exciting young players in the competition. Picture: Michael Klein

They say it takes one to know one, so when Glen Jakovich says Darcy Moore can become a “great” centre halfback, you listen. Closely.

Jakovich, the finest centre halfback of the 1990s and a four-time winner of West Coast’s best and fairest award, first noticed Moore five years ago when working with him in the AFL National Academy program.

He liked what he saw from the start.

“While he was raw and green he had an appetite to compete,” the 46-year-old Jakovich said.

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“Back then he was a key forward and as such struggled at times in his early AFL years when playing on great defenders.

“But the first two weeks of what I’ve seen this season, he finds the line of the ball quicker than his opponent which is what the best defenders do.

“He knows where the drop zone is going to be and he’s a very mobile player with a huge body.

“He’s massive yet his aerobic capacity was obvious in the AFL academy program.

Darcy Moore is one of the most exciting young players in the competition. Picture: Michael Klein

“Back then he was very immature and probably needed to go through some football challenges.

“He experienced that by missing last year’s Grand Final, missing an epic finals series for Collingwood.”

Jakovich said Moore was now playing with serious hunger.

“He has improved Collingwood’s overall structure and moves so well laterally, meaning you can try and take him away from the game but he is quick enough to get back to the contest, and he can take a big contested mark,” Jakovich said.

“Marking is an area of his game we will see more of when he starts to back himself. He’s going to cause a huge problems for opposition sides.

“And in time I’d like to see him become a swing player once he has got some continuity of games into his body.”

Before Jakovich became the pre-eminent tall defender of his time, men such as 1983 Brownlow medallist Ross Glendinning, Fitzroy’s Paul Roos and Hawthorn’s understated Chris Mew ruled the roost.

But for sheer excitement none got near another Hawk in Peter Knights, a player who would regularly take his No.24 skywards for mark of the year contenders.

Moore leaps to spoil Geelong’s Esava Ratugolea.

Peter Knights in his heyday.

Like Moore, Knights, 67, was comfortable going forward, kicking 201 goals in his 264 games between 1969-85.

He played with a reckless freedom that was contrary to the strict disciplines of his coach John Kennedy, but when the risks kept paying off, Kennedy turned a blind eye.

And while the sample is small, largely due to Moore’s regular hamstring setbacks, his fast, long-striding and prolific leap has already drawn comparisons with Knights.

Rodney Eade and Robert DiPierdomenico, who had the opportunity to play alongside Knights at Hawthorn, both agreed there were similarities between the pair.

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“If you look at Darcy Moore’s athleticism, his ability to run and jump, there are similarities with Peter Knights,” said Eade, 61.

“Because of the way the game was in the 1970s, ‘Knightsy’ would run through the lines more.

“Watching Darcy Moore, he must have reasonable footy IQ because he can read the game.

“Sometimes blokes might have speed but they get to the contest late because they can’t read it.

“I think Darcy Moore is more of a natural defender with the ability to be thrown forward at times.”

DiPierdomenico, 60, had the pleasure of being positioned on a halfback flank alongside Knights and Mew.

When he witnessed Moore going about his work against Richmond last week, it took “Dipper” back to Knights’ halcyon days of the 1970s.

“Darcy Moore is a ripper,” DiPierdomenico said.

“No doubt there are similarities with Peter Knights. The blond hair is a starting point of course. His reading of the ball, ability to jump. I just loved watching him close down space the other night against Richmond.

“Of course he has a long way to get to a Peter Knights level but he has the same big, long strides. And you know what, Darcy Moore might be a better kick.

“Alex Rance is clearly the best in recent times but Darcy Moore attacked the ball in a similar fashion against Richmond.

“I haven’t seen him play like that before. There were all the normal midfielders running around getting 30 possessions each but Moore was the one who stood out for me.

“I would go to the footy just to watch him.”

GREAT CENTRE HALF BACKS OF THE MODERN ERA

Peter Knights (Hawthorn) — Three flags, two B&Fs

Ross Glendinning (North Melbourne) — Brownlow Medal

Chris Mew (Hawthorn) — Five Premierships

Paul Roos (Fitzroy/Sydney) — Five B&Fs, seven All-Australians

Glenn Jakovich (West Coast) — Two flags, four B&Fs

Justin Leppitsch (Brisbane) — Three flags, three All-Australians

Harry Taylor (Geelong) — Two Flags, two All-Australians

Alex Rance (Richmond) — One flag, five All-Australians