JACK Darling isn't dwelling on last year's shock elimination final defeat, but the star West Coast forward says there are lessons to be learned from that bitter loss.
After hitting last year's finals series in peak form with nine wins from 10 games, the Eagles were red-hot favourites to advance past the Western Bulldogs.
But they flopped at home and, with a new campaign fast approaching, Darling admits that still hurts.
"At the start (of pre-season) it was very motivating and in the back of my mind it's still there," Darling told AFL.com.au in Geraldton before West Coast's pre-season clash with Fremantle.
"Obviously it's only the JLT Community Series but I'm really looking forward to putting my best foot forward and trying to play well every single game.
"I need to be a bit more consistent and hopefully we can have another crack at it this year."
The Eagles underperformed across the board in their 47-point loss to the Bulldogs, but it was Darling who copped the brunt of supporter angst for dropping a mark on the wing in the final quarter when the game was already gone.
Despite averaging nearly two goals per game (204 goals in 105 matches) over the past five seasons as Josh Kennedy's sidekick, the 191cm forward's name was surprisingly floated as trade bait in the off-season.
The Eagles were quick to quash the speculation, though, and last month locked Darling away until 2020 in a vote of confidence in the athletic 24-year-old.
"As a player and personally it's a little bit disappointing (to hear trade speculation), but anyone can start a rumour – it probably wasn't from the Eagles," Darling said.
"Obviously the club came to us for the contract extension and said, 'Do you want three (more) years?' so that was pretty good from the club to back me in.
"In the end, footy is just a business and as I'm getting older I'm learning that more and more with the trade period and the way the game's going in the trade period.
"I was pretty happy to stay at the club."
Darling booted 44 goals from 21 games last season – the second-best haul of his six-year career – in an outstanding return for a second key forward supporting dual Coleman medallist Kennedy.
With 128 games under his belt, the West Perth product's best years should still be ahead of him.
But Darling isn't just expecting that to happen.
After being crucified for dropping marks during the elimination final and at an important stage of the 2015 Grand Final, he's been working on the mental side of the game to harness his sheer talent.
"I know I haven't had my best games in those two finals. The bigger moments I just have to be better," Darling said.
"We've done a little bit of trying to stay (in the moment). These days everyone (in the AFL) is just as strong as each other, but I think a lot of clubs are tapping into the mental side of things and that's what we're doing.
"That's probably where the main advantage is these days."
After completing a near-faultless pre-season, Darling is keen to start working alongside recruits Drew Petrie and Nathan Vardy in attack, and getting on the end of silky-skilled champion Sam Mitchell's passes.
"He definitely pulls some good kicks that you don't think he'll see, so I'm looking forward to that this year," Darling said. "Your eyes light up a bit."
Although star ruckman Nic Naitanui's absence is a blow, Darling predicted the Eagles' squad – the oldest and most experienced in the competition – would push for redemption this season.
"It would've been nice to have Nic with his work in the air, but I think we have some good guys at ground level to win the ball," he said.
"Scott (Lycett) should be back pretty early and I'm pretty confident the boys are going to put in a really big fight in the air and do a good job for us anyway, so I'm not too worried.
"I think our best footy we can beat any team. If we're consistent throughout the year then I think anything is definitely possible."
