Purely opinion based on limited online footage but for mine none of these midfield guys standout like cotch/dusty or Lids did in their highlight reels. I'd go Darling, perfect 3rd tall that can play high, plays it tough and hard and is a very intelligent footballer, would run rings around 2nd and 3rd tall defenders imo which makes him a very valuable player considering jack will always get the number 1 defender. Will also take the dbl team heat off JR and our other tall bc he will be a handful.
While you see him as a 3rd forward, there is more reason to pick him for Richmond.
Don't have any doubt that Hardwick wants some bigger bodies to work thru the midfield but also have the skills to rotate on field as a half forward or back.
Since Darling has stressed that he sees himself as a midfielder but has been picked as a taller forward in his junior career, he fits into this philosophy perfectly.
I don't know if this would be workable and whether we would use our first pick on Darling but it is an intriguing option IMO.