AT ONE stage, the idea of Jack Darling falling to pick 26 at last year's NAB AFL Draft seemed ridiculous.

Darling was one of the most highly-rated young players in the nation until last season when a combination of factors saw him slip down the ladder.

Rather than brood on the dented pride of being a mid-20s pick instead of a top-five choice, the West Australian native could not be happier.

For one, he has been given the chance to launch his career in his home town with West Coast; for two, he is proving the doubters wrong.

Darling has barely put a foot wrong, playing in all five games so far and winning the NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for round six.

He said he couldn't care less when his name was read out on draft day, as long as it was read out.

"I really wasn't sure where I was going to go. It's just a number to me now and everyone's in the same pool at the moment. It doesn't matter if you go at one or 85, you've still got the opportunity to play. It didn't bother me at all," Darling told afl.com.au.

"I was prepared to move. But I guess it has made it pretty easy. My life hasn't changed that much. Staying at home has definitely helped me for a smooth transition into AFL football."

One of the reasons Darling slipped in recruiters' eyes was that he seems to have stopped growing at 191cm, meaning he was not going to become the key-position player they imagined.

Darling gathered 14 touches and kicked three goals in his side's defeat of Melbourne last Thursday, playing mainly across half-forward.

While he may not grow in to a gorilla key forward, Darling says his versatility is his main asset.

"I think I could play half-forward and key position as well as midfield," he said.

"I'm still 191cm. Last year I was a bit heavy. I got up to 95kg but now I've really slimmed down and I'm a bit more athletic. It's just that my height is still the same."

Not that he is in any shape or form too small to hold down a key-position post; a quick check of the stats reveals that of the five players to have booted 1000 VFL/AFL goals, Darling would stand taller than all of Tony Lockett, Gordon Coventry, Jason Dunstall, Doug Wade and Gary Ablett Snr.

But he has no burning ambition to become the Eagles' spearhead, just a solid contributor.

"I'm just going out there and doing what I'm told to do, play that half-forward role. I'm working hard and it's paying off."

Darling has been working closely with the Eagles' greatest ever goalkicker Peter Sumich to learn the art of presenting up forward and finishing off the job.

He said there was no better place for a young player to hone his craft.

"It's a good place the West Coast Eagles, there's lots of support so it's kind of hard not to perform well with people like that around me," he said.

"We're working well as a team. Everyone's on the right page and we're going well."