Football
8 November, 2025
Tucker ready for another AFL opportunity
At just 28, Darcy Tucker believes he is still capable of playing footy at AFL level.
Delisted by the Kangaroos post-season, Tucker is now in limbo, waiting to see if he gets another opportunity on footy's biggest stage.
But always positive and ever the hard worker, Tucker said he isn't done and he still has the desire and the passion to play at the elite level.
While any athlete can finesse their skill, a burning hunger to be and do your best can't be taught - and that's a goal the former North defender/midfielder is always chasing.
He chatted with Wimmera Mallee News journalist Zoey Andrews after his delisting and revealed he's back from injury, and ready to go into any new opportunity at 100 percent fitness and health.
Tucker made a humble start to his career in footy with the Horsham Saints before being drafted for the AFL to Fremantle, where he played 108 games, and then North Melbourne, where he racked up 41 matches.
The 2025 season was cruel to Tucker, as he suffered a bad back injury in May that required surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
But that's all behind him now.
"Depsite the delisting and everything, the back is going really well," Tucker said.
“It was probably a week or so after the season when I got cleared out of the rehab group, so I've been able to do a full off-season program and then wherever I do a preseason, it will be a full preseason.
"I'm fully 100 percent fit and healthy, which is good, so I'm rearing to go."
But Tucker said he's in a bit of a holding period, or a bit of a limbo period for the next couple of weeks to a month or two.
"Obviously, I feel like I have plenty of good footy left in me, and I am only 28, which I think is pretty young," he said.
"And even though I had the back injury this year, otherwise I am fit and healthy.
"I'm running really well and feeling good about my body so fingers crossed I'm not done at AFL level just yet.
"But I've got to wait around until the draft and there might be an opportunity with an SSP train over the preseason or something.
"But all that is up in the air, so I can't give you an answer on what will happen there but the answer for me is hopefully I get another opportunity at the highest level and if not, I will have to weigh up all my options after that.
"I'm still looking to play high-level footy and get the most out of my body and career in footy as I can."
Whereas other elite sportsmen or women may have given up after an injury of his nature, and having that backed up with a delisting, Tucker said it's not in his character to do so.
"My character is what is going to hold me in good stead no matter what I do, whether that's AFL or the next phase of my life," he revealed.
"That's one thing I praise myself on, my character and ethic towards work, the growth mindset as such, I guess, always looking to improve and get better to get the most out of myself.
"That's just a part of life for me ... I'm always looking to play the game of life and get better in any way I can."