AFL 2022: Western Bulldogs swingman Sam Darcy ready for finals debut as he follows in dad Luke Darcy’s footsteps

Once a rare species in the AFL, 200cm-plus key forwards have become the game’s most coveted asset, which helps explain the hype surrounding teenage Bulldog Sam Darcy.

Sam Darcy has made an exciting start to his career with the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Getty Images

Paul Salmon was a self-confessed “circus act” when he emerged in the mid-1980s as an unlikely 205cm goalkicking weapon.

He was one of legendary Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy’s many successful experiments, going against the norm to even think of using a player of Salmon’s height anywhere but the ruck.

Almost four decades since Salmon’s debut, another football unicorn is being compared to ‘The Big Fish’: Western Bulldogs phenom Sam Darcy.

Darcy is part of a new breed of 200cm-plus key forwards who have become the most coveted asset in the game.

The teenager’s exclusive company includes last year’s Coleman medallist Harry McKay, the King twins – Max and Ben – Brisbane teammates Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood and Bomber Peter Wright.

Adelaide spent the No.2 pick in the 2020 draft on 202cm forward Riley Thilthorpe, the same selection Darcy went at last year after the Bulldogs matched the Giants’ bid for the son of club great Luke Darcy.

Paul Salmon was a trailblazer as a 205cm forward in his early Essendon days.

“I was a big novelty back in my day but nowadays, it’s just wonderful to see,” Salmon told News Corp.

“You have to admire Sheeds’ bravery to do it. It’s really good to see all these young men who previously would have been pigeonholed as ruckmen are now seen as key forwards and integral to the structure of a team.

“What we’re seeing now with Sam and the Kings and even other big blokes resting forward is fantastic. It’s nice to be a part of that chain.”

Darcy’s family are Bulldogs royalty, with dad Luke – a ruckman, of course – earning All-Australian honours in a stellar 226-game career and his late grandfather David making 133 appearances for the club.

As a result, the hype is already out of control, one reason why Luke avoids speaking too often about his son, who has shot up 5.5cm to 209.5cm since arriving at the Kennel last November.

The difference in Darcy’s case is that within three games he is showing why good judges expect him to be a cornerstone of the Bulldogs’ success for the next decade and beyond.

Sam Darcy is already a fan favourite, only three games into his AFL career. Picture: Getty Images

The 19-year-old started his AFL career in the rehab group because of a foot stress fracture but hit the ground running once he resumed playing in May.

A second 14-mark performance in the VFL, including six intercepts, was enough to force Darcy into senior coach Luke Beveridge’s plans – and he will play his fourth AFL game in Saturday night’s cutthroat final against Fremantle.

Darcy’s been so impressive that he will play at veteran Josh Bruce’s expense.

The Dogs, once bereft of height, are set to roll with the three-headed monster of Aaron Naughton, 2020 No.1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Darcy up forward.

Naughton, at 22, is the oldest of the bunch and kicked almost 100 goals across the past two seasons.

Sam Darcy’s fourth AFL game will be Saturday’s night’s elimination final against Fremantle. Picture: Getty Images

Ugle-Hagan, like Darcy, graduated from the top-notch Oakleigh Chargers NAB League breeding ground, which also churned out Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson, Nick Daicos and likely top-five pick this year, George Wardlaw.

Chargers regional manager Jy Bond watched Ugle-Hagan and Darcy, who also both attended Scotch College, come through the ranks and believes the Dogs can look forward to a special period ahead.

“We were really fortunate to have them both in our program and now the Bulldogs will benefit,” Bond said.

“If you’ve got him and Jamarra, Sam could easily play key back – but there’s not many 210cm key backs in the AFL.

“Imagine how devastating he could be up forward in five or six years’ time, when he’s 107kg and still lightning fast and strong?”

As Bond alluded to, Oakleigh had the same unanswered dilemma the Dogs now face with Darcy: is he a defender, forward, or both?

Sam Darcy graduated from the Oakleigh Chargers football factory. Picture: Michael Klein

After gobbling up five intercept marks in an eye-catching AFL debut, Darcy went forward in round 23 and grasped four marks inside 50 and booted two goals.

Naughton called at the start of this week for Darcy to stay in attack with him, and Bond doesn’t expect the September finals glare to bother him in the slightest.

“Sam will be fine. He doesn’t seem to be fazed by much,” he said.

“For a kid who had a famous dad and was a father-son prospect – all that stuff – he was within his rights to have a bit of something about him. But he’s so humble.

“On the flip side of having all that pressure and almost growing up in that industry; you probably don’t get fazed by as much, because he’s already seen a lot in his time.”