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AAP
Sport
Justin Chadwick

Vaccine-hesitant Darling awaiting AFL fate

West Coast have yet to announce what action they will take with their key forward Jack Darling. (AAP)

The AFL career of Jack Darling remains uncertain with West Coast yet to announce their next move, despite holding a three-hour board meeting on Wednesday night.

Darling has been banished from the club since January 21 after missing the AFL's COVID-19 vaccine deadline for the first dose.

The 29-year-old also missed the February 18 deadline for WA-based players to have received a second dose of the vaccine.

There was hope Darling would opt to take the recently-approved Novavax vaccine, but as of yet he hasn't given an indication that he will.

West Coast now face a decision on whether to keep Darling on their main list, transfer him to the inactive list, or take the more drastic step of terminating his contract.

Darling is contracted until the end of the 2025 AFL season on a deal worth about $750,000 a year.

A club board meeting was conducted on Wednesday night but the Eagles have been tight lipped about what they plan to do with Darling.

It's been reported that Darling's lawyer Peter Kimpton says the star forward has a medical certificate and hopes to play again.

Darling unsuccessfully applied to the AFL for a medical exemption.

When he missed the January 21 deadline for the first dose, Darling released a statement saying the reason for his absence was on doctor's orders.

"I have been diagnosed with suffering from a work related injury and as a result I am on sick leave until further notice," he said.

Darling's absence has left a major hole in West Coast's forward line, which deepened when Oscar Allen suffered a stress fracture in his foot.

Allen will spend at least one more week in a moon boot being further assessed.

The Eagles were also dealt a blow during the off-season when star defender Brad Sheppard was forced to retire due to concussion.

"These things, they're out of the box," Eagles coach Adam Simpson told the AFL website in reference to Sheppard and Darling.

"Who would have thought two years ago we would be saying there would be these issues happening, in particular with Jack?

"As much as we love him and want him back at the club, I've got no control on the next phase.

"Hopefully they can work it out and get him back.

"You always care and have empathy for your players regardless of the situation they're in.

"That hasn't changed.

"Jack's inability to be at the club has been a challenge. He's working through his situation as best as he can.

"We can only be patient and have understanding."

Carlton's Liam Jones and Brisbane's Cam Ellis-Yolmen both opted to retire instead of being vaccinated.

North Melbourne's Jed Anderson, who was hesitant about receiving a second dose after experiencing a bad reaction to the first dose, has complied with the AFL's health and safety protocols and returned to Kangaroos training on Wednesday.

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