AFL Player # 3: Darcy Parish

[Beerfish]

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

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

So his two best games this season have been the two where Myers wasn’t playing (yesterday and the Dees).

 

[Jager bombers]

I thought his effort was good all day and i really liked a few of his quick handball releases in tight congestion.
If he can clean up his decision making a bit I reckon his disposal by foot will improve. But in saying that, he was cleaner by foot yesterday.
Woosha, please keep him in the middle for a good chunk now

 

[citizen-erased]

So his two best games this season have been the two where Myers wasn’t playing (yesterday and the Dees).

We've long been faced with the decision of Myers v Parish when it comes to that spot in the middle. We could play both, but someone like Zaka probably needs to come out...and even then, Parish loses his best spot.

Coaches need to pick who gets the nod moving forward

 

[ant555]

We've long been faced with the decision of Myers v Parish when it comes to that spot in the middle. We could play both, but someone like Zaka probably needs to come out...and even then, Parish loses his best spot.

Coaches need to pick who gets the nod moving forward

Zaka actually played a lot of time in the half back rotation on the weekend.

 

[calyam]

We've long been faced with the decision of Myers v Parish when it comes to that spot in the middle. We could play both, but someone like Zaka probably needs to come out...and even then, Parish loses his best spot.

Coaches need to pick who gets the nod moving forward

Given one of them is a few weeks away from turning 30, struggles with injury, and at his best is merely serviceable I would have thought that decision would be quite easy.

Parish is the better prospect, probably already the better player, and we should be investing in him if we really have aspirations towards winning finals.

 

[Zach Package]

Pffft aspirational shmaspirational.

Bring me Ben Howlett

 

[carnthedons]

Pffft aspirational shmaspirational.

Bring me Ben Howlett

I see your bobcat and raise you Marc Bullen, Ben Haynes, James Davies, Brendon Lee and any number of other shittrucks we’ve had

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

Zaka actually played a lot of time in the half back rotation on the weekend.

Well that explains Geelong waltzing into goal easily a few times then.

 

[Howard Moon]

Has found his element, is a dead set mudlark!

 

[Pweter]

It's a game for those that naturally hunt the ball hence Parish is thriving.

Unfortunately for us, Richmond have more of them.

 

[Howard Moon]

It's a game for those that naturally hunt the ball hence Parish is thriving.

Unfortunately for us, Richmond have more of them.

Just needs more penetration on his dump kicks rather than up and under

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Just needs more penetration on his dump kicks rather than up and under

We just need more people who are playing in front.

 

[fairbump_playon]

On fire in the wet!

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

should have been in our team in the 70s

 

[eth-dog]

In his element.

 

[Seb78]

To think we've been playing myers in front of this bloke in the midfield. Kid is a born inside mid, and is only going to get better with more time in there

 

[eDPS]

Games like this are what will keep him away from the flanks, hopefully backs it up again next week.

 

[Beerfish]

Games like this are what will keep him away from the flanks, hopefully backs it up again next week.

He's sure going to have to if we're any chance.

 

[Donakebab]

Great game, looked every bit a gun midfielder.

Now watch Myers come back and Darce get pushed forward.

 

[Seb78]

Just to put this blokes game into perspective.

31 Disposals
19 Contested
5 Tackles
9 Clearances
7 Score Involvements
70% Efficiency
507 meters gained.

Thats a massive night by anyones standards. Here's hoping he stays playing that inside mid role permanently.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Just to put this blokes game into perspective.

31 Disposals
19 Contested
5 Tackles
9 Clearances
7 Score Involvements
70% Efficiency
507 meters gained.

Thats a massive night by anyones standards. Here's hoping he stays playing that inside mid role permanently.

Only if he was bigger.

 

[Seb78]

Only if he was bigger.

Would only a bonus. No law saying you need to be 6'3+ to be a good inside mid i.e, Greg Williams, Ben Cousins, Sam mitchell, Tom mitchell, Lachie Neale etc. All had/have good contested posession and clearance numbers and aren't exactly monsters. Between Heppell, Stringer, maybe even Laverde you can throw anyone of them in the centre bounce from time to time as that bigger body to provide the blocks for guys like Shiel, Merrett, McGrath Parish etc if needed.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Have we figured out he’s an inside mid yet? Impressive yesterday, after all our recruiting if we lose our most natural inside mid next year it would be outrageous! Sign him up now

 

[cAsEy_18]

Played very well. But I think he suits the wet. Think he could play the exact same game on a dry day and we’d say “He was pretty good. Disposal could be cleaned up a bit.”

Having said that, no logical reason to not play him big midfield minutes the rest of the season.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Not sure if other clubs have this problem or have had it historically or Essendon have had it in the past themselves but have there ever been 2 players who cancel each other out like Darcy Parish and David Myers?

Surely at the start of 2017, Essendon's higher ups recognised the detrimental impact playing a guy like Myers has on Darcy's progression.

And I agree.
While he's good at kicking the odd goal, Darcy Parish ain't a forward's a-hole. (I'd be happy if he plays 200 games but doesn't reach 50 goals.)
The midfield is his home away from home.