AFL Player # 3: Darcy Parish

[Beerfish]

Contract Status: Unrestricted free agent 2028 or 2029
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 18, doug85

 

[Lore]

I have never seen Parish and Merrett has similar players, Merrett comes across to me as more of an outside mid that sets the play up wheres Parish is more the inside mid that fires the ball out to Merrett or when he goes forward can kick a goal from a stoppage.. My only concern with Merrett is that he doesn't seem to have a right foot wheres Parish doesn't have such a limitation that I can think off.

They're complementary Different skills, combine to make a good team.

 

[Vander18]

Agree his kicking which will never reach Merrett's level - Think he will develop a better inside game, and be a better clearance player than Merrett - He's also good at bursting clear from clearances - I'll be disappointed if he doesn't reach Merrett's level but I could be wrong.

Parish’s ball drop can be wonky, Merrett’s is a thing of beauty - only Tippa has a purer one on our list.

I agree however....Parish is more aggressive and will have a stronger body. If not as good, he’ll be very close.

 

[Milanista28]

Will breakout big time next season.

 

[Gumby2Hurley]

Not enough love for this bloke! Hope he becomes a full time mid in 2018

 

[srobbo]

He’s sort of fallen under the radar funnily enough, post McGrath’s ridiculous debut & our trade bonanza.

I’m prepared to see that if he takes the next step his ability would suggest (10%), our midfield could explode!

Reminds me of a young J Selwood.

 

[PhoenixBonez]

In his 2nd year at the club as a 19/20 year old Darcy played pretty much every game he was available for with just one match in the VFL when returning from a mid-season calf injury that kept him out for 3 weeks. After being an integral part of the Essendon midfield in 2016, partly through circumstance, Parish rotated more through the forward line in 2017. Despite this positional change and the dreaded "2nd year blues" that young players often succumb to, Parish was able to maintain his disposal rate (21/game), increase his kick:hand ball ratio (0.54:1 in 2016 to 0.9:1 in 2017) and still average the 4th most contested possessions at Essendon.

Going into his 3rd pre-season and with the retirement of Jobe Watson I expect Parish to play more of a permanent midfield role in 2018 and IMO his potential development will play an integral part of whether Essendon climb further up the ladder or not. Re-signing Parish was a great moment for the club this year with rivals circling, however with just a 2 year contract and his potential development, I think he could be up for a significant pay rise at the end of 2019.
I believe he has the tool-kit to really go up a step next year as a 20/21 year old and stamp himself on the competition.

 

[revival_mode]

love this kid

 

[carnthedons]

He’s sort of fallen under the radar funnily enough, post McGrath’s ridiculous debut & our trade bonanza.

I’m prepared to see that if he takes the next step his ability would suggest (10%), our midfield could explode!

Reminds me of a young J Selwood.

Ben Cousins clone

 

[Yoda_]

Watching the drubbing by Adelaide in round 4. Parish was fantastic. His hands in close were brilliant, a dish out to McGrath in the second half was Jobe like. Just BANG. straight out and we released from the stoppage.

Really hope he plays more midfield minutes in a role he is best suited to.

 

[DERO]

Watching the drubbing by Adelaide in round 4. Parish was fantastic. His hands in close were brilliant, a dish out to McGrath in the second half was Jobe like. Just BANG. straight out and we released from the stoppage.

Really hope he plays more midfield minutes in a role he is best suited to.

Jobe’s replacement has been hiding in plain sight. Very fast hands. Just needs a bit more meat on his bones.

 

[Doss]

Jobe’s replacement has been hiding in plain sight. Very fast hands. Just needs a bit more meat on his bones.

Not sure if he’ll ever be a realistic like for like for Jobe.

Meat on bones or not, that 10cm he’s lacking on Jobe means they’ll always be fundamentally different. Darcy will never be able to be that bull that Jobe was.

I do agree, though, that he looms as a key player on the inside for us for a long time.

 

[Dons4days]

He'll be Jobes replacement in the sense that he'll take his permanent midfield role but he's a very different type of player to Jobe.
He's a bit quicker and probably suits how the game is being played at the moment more so. I don't think Parish will ever be a contested beast due to his size but he'll more than make up for it with his relentless aggression.

Lock him in for huge 2018! I'm expecting a good showing in the best & fairest from him.

 

[Beerfish]

One of my favourites (obviously). Love his in your face aggression/niggle. He reminds me a bit of Dimma Hardwick on that front. It seemed that no matter where on the ground there was some niggle Dimma would pop up and insert himself into the middle of it.

Oh yeah, love his footbally stuff too.

 

[DERO]

I also love his hair.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

His country voice is also an asset.

The south western Victorian answer to Dyson Heppell.

 

[daffo]

I'm on board for this as well. I feel that he has been completely forgotten about and is in great shape to have a huge 2018. I remember that game that Merrett got hit and sat out the third quarter, it was Parish who stepped up. He will have a lot more opportunity next year.

 

[Pweter]

I'm on board for this as well. I feel that he has been completely forgotten about and is in great shape to have a huge 2018. I remember that game that Merrett got hit and sat out the third quarter, it was Parish who stepped up. He will have a lot more opportunity next year.

Parish was something of a 3rd quarter specialist for us last season. Many times I recall him having an ok game then he'd have a blinder in the 3rd.

 

[carnthedons]

Parish was something of a 3rd quarter specialist for us last season. Many times I recall him having an ok game then he'd have a blinder in the 3rd.

Premiership quarter

 

[Bigtrev41]

Soft vanilla mid for me.

 

[Pweter]

Soft vanilla mid for me.

Congratulations.

 

[Zach Package]

Soft vanilla mid for me.

He’d be your 2nd best player

 

[Bigtrev41]

He’d be your 2nd best player

Nope. But good effort.

 

[Zach Package]

Nope. But good effort.

A harder, more loyal Lachie Weller, that’s literally what he is

 

[Haychh]

He’d be your 2nd best player

Fyfe and Neale would have him covered, after that........ ?????

 

[Bigtrev41]

Fyfe and Neale would have him covered, after that........ ?????

Half a quarter from Walters, Mundy, Sandi etc....