AFL Player # 3: Darcy Parish

[Beerfish]

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

 

[boncer34]

This is the issue we try and stick midfielders in forward pockets and it’s dumb. Much more effective playing a small forward there. Hobbs and Caldwell far better defensively than Parish and Perkins can even play on ball. Tsatas to come in aswell.

Mids next year: Merrett, Martin, Caldwell, Hobbs, Tsatas, Perkins. Good balance of height, inside, outside, defence and offence in there.

What happens if we get 2 or 3 injuries?

 

[Dudoro]

What happens if we get 2 or 3 injuries?

I’ve given you what 6 or 7 names there. Not even including Shiel and Setterfield

 

[carloss]

If last night doesn’t prove we don’t need him then I don’t know what does. Are you going to sacrifice Hobbs, Caldwell or Martins midfield time for the next 6 years if you sign him?

We can't play Carlton every week

 

[boncer34]

I’ve given you what 6 or 7 names there. Not even including Shiel and Setterfield

Yes and they all rotate through currently except for Tsatas. They're getting the time now because of injuries to 3 first choice mids. You move Parish on and that's 1 less in our depth, Shiels body is suspect so suddenly we're down 2.

It's not as simple as "move Parish on because all those guys can play mid."

We get multiple injuries, we need depth.

 

[Gabe251]

Perko not a midfield mainstay for at least another two seasons. Hobbs, Caldwell should be rotated in with Shiel.

Setters/parish/Merrett our midfield group for the next two seasons for sure. Hobbs probably replaces setters in a couple of years. Caldwell replaces Shiel permanently. Think they can all fit.

D'Ambrosio replaces heppell (though right now, they're big shoes to fill, crazy I'm saying that)

Our small forwards are the real problem. We should have been up by 3 goals in the first quarter.

 

[Lore]

Yes and they all rotate through currently except for Tsatas. They're getting the time now because of injuries to 3 first choice mids. You move Parish on and that's 1 less in our depth, Shiels body is suspect so suddenly we're down 2.

It's not as simple as "move Parish on because all those guys can play mid."

We get multiple injuries, we need depth.

Nah, only need one good centre and two on-ballers. Not going to get any injuries and everyone has good endurance, so we don't even need an interchange, let alone depth. Might as well trade everyone outside the best 18 and get a bunch of whipping boys to play in the VFL. Every BigFooty board needs a good whipping boy after all.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

North’s baby (albeit very talented) midfield nearly overran us last week..and for three quarters I’d say Blues mid was on top. Against better teams we need Parish

 

[Gabe251]

They beat us in stoppage clearance pretty handily. Our clearances out of stoppage often turned over as well. Without stringer there, the midfield struggled last night.

 

[fishardansin]

Perko not a midfield mainstay for at least another two seasons. Hobbs, Caldwell should be rotated in with Shiel.

Setters/parish/Merrett our midfield group for the next two seasons for sure. Hobbs probably replaces setters in a couple of years. Caldwell replaces Shiel permanently. Think they can all fit.

D'Ambrosio replaces heppell (though right now, they're big shoes to fill, crazy I'm saying that)

Our small forwards are the real problem. We should have been up by 3 goals in the first quarter.

Merrett did well up forward as well. If we're going to play a midfield extra, I'd like to be Merrett. If he was pushing up to play on the attacking side of each contest, forward of D50 we could see him delivering to 2MP 3 or 4 times a quarter.

If Menzie, Guelfi and Snelling make way for Parish, Setterfield and Shiel:

1. Parish and Setterfield are mainstays on the ball.
2. Shiel, Merret and Hobbs are primarily mids but rotate through the forward line.
3. Caldwell and Stringer are primarily forwards who rotate through the middle.
4. Perkins and Langford are capable of mid but are almost permanent forward.
5. McGrath, Redman and Hind provide run from behind.
EDIT:
6. Martin and Durham are developing into the best pair of wingmen in the game. Durham's marking and contest work combined with Martin's ability to contribute to the inside mids.

That is extreme midfield depth. Last night showed us that if we have anyone go down in the game we can seamlessly replace them in the midfield.

Menzie, Guelfi, Snelling, Davey and D'Ambrosio are great list depth to come in and play a role at either end of the ground that allows others in the team to step up and play more midfield minutes.

Hobbs will play better and develop more if he also has forward line minutes and is part of a higher-grade midfield rather than being forced to carry a load he's not ready for.

I also like the idea of all mids having some minutes in the forward line to help them see the other perspective of their delivery into the forward line. I also like the idea of all small forwards having some midfield minutes to increase the demand on their fitness, and better understand how they can best position themselves to make life easier for the mids.

Last night showed Hobbs is capable of being a very good midfielder right now. That is great for the club. However, playing 20% of his time in the forward line won't hurt him. Playing in a weaker side will.

 

[SpeckieMcVeigh]

North’s baby (albeit very talented) midfield nearly overran us last week..and for three quarters I’d say Blues mid was on top. Against better teams we need Parish

Yep. Parish's disposal frustrates me to no end, but it's become very clear while he's been out how badly we miss his clearance-winning ability.

 

[Godzke]

Merrett did well up forward as well. If we're going to play a midfield extra, I'd like to be Merrett. If he was pushing up to play on the attacking side of each contest, forward of D50 we could see him delivering to 2MP 3 or 4 times a quarter.

If Menzie, Guelfi and Snelling make way for Parish, Setterfield and Shiel:

1. Parish and Setterfield are mainstays on the ball.
2. Shiel, Merret and Hobbs are primarily mids but rotate through the forward line.
3. Caldwell and Stringer are primarily forwards who rotate through the middle.
4. Perkins and Langford are capable of mid but are almost permanent forward.
5. McGrath, Redman and Hind provide run from behind.
EDIT:
6. Martin and Durham are developing into the best pair of wingmen in the game. Durham's marking and contest work combined with Martin's ability to contribute to the inside mids.

That is extreme midfield depth. Last night showed us that if we have anyone go down in the game we can seamlessly replace them in the midfield.

Menzie, Guelfi, Snelling, Davey and D'Ambrosio are great list depth to come in and play a role at either end of the ground that allows others in the team to step up and play more midfield minutes.

Hobbs will play better and develop more if he also has forward line minutes and is part of a higher-grade midfield rather than being forced to carry a load he's not ready for.

I also like the idea of all mids having some minutes in the forward line to help them see the other perspective of their delivery into the forward line. I also like the idea of all small forwards having some midfield minutes to increase the demand on their fitness, and better understand how they can best position themselves to make life easier for the mids.

Last night showed Hobbs is capable of being a very good midfielder right now. That is great for the club. However, playing 20% of his time in the forward line won't hurt him. Playing in a weaker side will.

We have to be careful not to stack the midfield at the expense of forward pressure and forward craft.

Essendon's Ti50 season average is currently 11.3 (5th best in the comp vs an avg of 10.6). Over the last 4 weeks our Ti50 has been:

• 16 vs Rich
• 12 vs WCE
• 16 vs North
• 19 vs Carl

I think Parish for Snelling is an obvious one and maybe Setters for Guelfi, but I wouldn't be dropping Menzie. Not unless Walla is 100% fit or Alwyn shoots the lights out. Shiel needs to find another way into this team. Menzie is the only natural small forward in the 22 that beat Carlton.

 

[citizen-erased]

What happens if we get 2 or 3 injuries?

Sometimes you have to count yourself unlucky, and then ask some players to do a role

I'm not too bothered. I hope he stays as we play better when he's in.
Somewhat luxury we'd have if he left would be ability to push Caldwell, Hobbs, tsatas through the middle and draft elsewhere for need, plus add depth to cover injury (e.g Dow...just for LOLs)

 

[Westlo]

If last night doesn’t prove we don’t need him then I don’t know what does. Are you going to sacrifice Hobbs, Caldwell or Martins midfield time for the next 6 years if you sign him?

Smashing the second shittest side in the comp right now for a quarter is enough to let Parish go? What are you smoking?

 

[MiguelM]

Parish is elite, period. Club will not trade if he wants to stay.

He is massive for our midfield. To be a top side we need 6-8 rotations through there anyway.

Anyone who thinks we haven't missed him is deluded.

 

[citizen-erased]

Parish is elite, period. Club will not trade if he wants to stay.

He is massive for our midfield. To be a top side we need 6-8 rotations through there anyway.

Anyone who thinks we haven't missed him is deluded.

I like that we've adjusted well.
Looking fwd to how he comes in and the change in dynamic.

Merrett, parish, hobbs, caldwell, setterfield, martin, perkins, tsatas. That's your 8 into the future.

 

[Dudoro]

2022:
With Parish 3-13 19%
Without Parish 4-2 67%

2023:
With Parish 4-4 50%
Without Parish 4-1 80%

What more proof do you need that we do not need him?

 

[fairbump_playon]

2022:
With Parish 3-13 19%
Without Parish 4-2 67%

2023:
With Parish 4-4 50%
Without Parish 4-1 80%

What more proof do you need that we do not need him?

This just reinforces what a team player he is

Only gets injured when he knows we have easy winnable games coming up

Re-sign at all costs

 

[dank420_]

2022:
With Parish 3-13 19%
Without Parish 4-2 67%

2023:
With Parish 4-4 50%
Without Parish 4-1 80%

What more proof do you need that we do not need him?

Sorry I'm not quite getting it. Can you simplify it even more?

 

[Beerfish]

Sorry I'm not quite getting it. Can you simplify it even more?

With Parish = Bad
Without Parish = Good

Therefore trade Parish.

 

[The Devils Advocate]

Can't wait for Parish to be back with his clearances to our Peter Wright filled forward line now.

 

[eth-dog]

I love how everyone says we don't win the clearances when Parish isn't there. We actually have done better when he isn't there. I know the "we can't afford to lose him" crew won't like that but when Parish is there we're actually in the negatives in terms of overall clearance numbers and when he isn't we're in the positive.

 

[Pweter]

2022:
With Parish 3-13 19%
Without Parish 4-2 67%

2023:
With Parish 4-4 50%
Without Parish 4-1 80%

What more proof do you need that we do not need him?

Ah stats. I love stats!

Last year we were an on field basket, glad we've pinned that on Darcy since our wins when he wasn't playing were against ordinary opposition or a Covid and injury ravaged Brisbane.

As for this year, who have we lost to with Parish in the side vs not?

 

[dank420_]

With Parish = Bad
Without Parish = Good

Therefore trade Parish.

 

[Pweter]

I love how everyone says we don't win the clearances when Parish isn't there. We actually have done better when he isn't there. I know the "we can't afford to lose him" crew won't like that but when Parish is there we're actually in the negatives in terms of overall clearance numbers and when he isn't we're in the positive.

How can that be the fault of 1 player, especially given the opposition we played during the first 8 weeks until he was injured?

I want to see how the rest of the year pans out under Scott. It's a shame he played through most of the tough block and not the last few weeks. Right now I'd prefer him to stay, that could change now that we've had a few weeks of seeing how the midfield function without him (and Setterfield as the physical unit in there).

When he comes back we're going into another solid block with 5 tough games based on current form (as opposed to preseason expectations). This will tell us plenty.

It's great to have these conversations, it shows our midfield is heading in the right direction.

 

[Dudoro]

Ah stats. I love stats!

Last year we were an on field basket, glad we've pinned that on Darcy since our wins when he wasn't playing were against ordinary opposition or a Covid and injury ravaged Brisbane.

As for this year, who have we lost to with Parish in the side vs not?

Same people who complain about stats will bring up his clearance stats that go straight to opposition or nowhere.
Who did we beat first 3 weeks with Parish?