Rival AFL clubs circle Essendon’s No. 5 draft pick Darcy Parish after Round 1 omission from Bombers side
Darcy Parish is being chased by a long list of Victorian clubs including Geelong as the Bombers consider whether to reward his five-goal VFL performance.
Essendon
Don't miss out on the headlines from Essendon. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Darcy Parish is being chased by a long list of Victorian clubs including Geelong as the Bombers consider whether to reward his five-goal VFL performance.
Parish was bumped out of Essendon midfield that was annihilated by GWS’ brigade of on-ballers on Sunday but responded with a strong VFL performance.
THE TACKLE: ROBBO WHACKS BOMBERS AFTER LISTLESS EFFORT
AFL 2019: THE FREE AGENCY HIT LIST, HEADED BY A GAINT AND TIGER
FIELD MARSHAL: THE PRESSURE PROBLEM FACING DONS, WOOSHA
AFL 2019: THE STAT WHICH SHOULD HAVE DONS, PIES WORRIED
Parish is out of contract at the end of his fourth season but will be in no hurry to re-sign with Essendon given the uncertainty.
His priority is to get back into the Essendon side, put together an excellent fourth season and then re-sign at the Dons.
But rivals will continue to monitor his fortunes as they seek out ready-made mids in the 22 to-25-year-old age category.
Parish grew up in Winchelsea and played for the Geelong Falcons, with the Cats having a history of luring locals including Gary Rohan and Luke Dahlhaus back to the city.
The No. 5 selection from the 2015 national draft has put together three excellent seasons to start his career, with 55 games to his name.
But as a 180cm, 80kg midfielder he is not the strong-bodied bullocking midfielder that is in vogue in the AFL’s modern game.
The Dons preferred left-footed veteran David Myers to Parish on the weekend but were thumped in every midfield statistical category.
Clubs aware of an extremely thin free agency group this year will have to find different ways to bolster their lists given it is almost exclusively made up of ageing veterans.
Originally published as Rival AFL clubs circle Essendon’s No. 5 draft pick Darcy Parish after Round 1 omission from Bombers side
Brutal Baz and Cats sink Bombers to new low
When Bailey Smith and Max Holmes are at their best together, there aren’t many who can keep up – but what Essendon fans saw at the MCG on Saturday was another crushing blow.
The Blues won — but is anyone convinced?
Carlton did what they needed to do against an injury-hit Essendon. But the performance wouldn’t have given their faithful much confidence 2025 will amount to anything special.