Why Dons need to consider dropping duo Darcy Parish and Sam Draper

Essendon has a big problem leading into its Anzac Day clash with Collingwood. It also has a smaller problem. SAM LANDSBERGER asks how the Dons deal with Sam Draper and Darcy Parish.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 12: Darcy Parish of the Bombers handballs while being tackled by Cody Weightman of the Bulldogs during the round five AFL match between Western Bulldogs and Essendon Bombers at Marvel Stadium, on April 12, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

There’s a big problem and a smaller problem at Essendon.

The big problem is Sam Draper. The smaller problem is Darcy Parish.

The Bombers are 4-2 and enter Anzac Day red-hot – but those two players are not.

Draper is no longer the club’s No. 1 ruckman and 2021 Anzac Day Medallist Parish is arguably no longer in the club’s starting midfield.

The suspicion was spearhead Peter Wright’s certain return from suspension and could force Draper into the twos.

Coach Brad Scott said on Monday they had not yet discussed team selection. But he declared Draper a “vital” member of the team and so it appears he is safe for Anzac Day.

Parish, too, is unlikely to be axed as he builds towards top speed and form following a hamstring injury.

But it wouldn’t surprise if both were being put on notice.

Draper has played Wright’s role as predominantly a forward in recent weeks. But he has had virtually no scoreboard impact.

Draper has not kicked a goal from the 17 times he has been targeted inside 50m this season.

Out of the top 50 players to be targeted inside 50m, he is the only player yet to open his account from one of those entries.

It’s been a fortnight of fire for the Bombers.

Their shock wins against Western Bulldogs and Adelaide on the road have fuelled the hype for the biggest home-and-away match of the year.

Sam Draper of the Bombers competes with Reilly O'Brien at the Adelaide Oval on Friday night. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Recruit Todd Goldstein attended 34 centre bounces in those two triumphs, compared with Draper’s 19.

The Bombers generate more inside 50s when Draper is in the middle and so he makes them a stronger clearance team.

But they score more when Goldstein is at centre bounces, and so the golden oldie makes their clearance wins more damaging.

Draper has not kicked a goal in the past month and only had three kicks against the Crows, which included a missed set-shot from 20m out directly in front of goal.

So the dilemma is whether to pair Wright with one of Draper or Goldstein or revert to the default set up of playing all three.

Scott ran with that against Sydney in Round 2, but substituted Draper out of that match and going top-heavy against the run-and-gun Magpies could be problematic.

Listening to Scott on Monday it sounded like all three would be running out on to the ‘G.

The Parish scenario appears a touch more sensitive.

Darcy Parish under pressure from Marcus Bontempelli during Round 5. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson asked Scott whether Parish “had something to worry about” after Archie Perkins’ breakout performance in round 1.

In Parish’s absence, Perkins polled 10 coaches’ votes playing as an inside midfielder against Hawthorn.

“I don’t think Darcy’s got anything to worry about,” Scott replied on AFL360.

“I think Darcy would be excited about having some more support through the midfield.”

But six weeks on and Parish has been pushed down the pecking order.

He started Friday night’s match against Adelaide on the bench and is statistically in the third-worst four-week stretch of his 154-game career.

Parish is the fourth-worst rated midfielder in the AFL among all midfielders who have played three games this season.

The three beneath him are Henry Hustwaite, Jack Macrae and Jhye Clark – and, unlike Parish, that is largely due to two of them playing multiple games as the substitute and Macrae in and out of Luke Beveridge’s midfield mix.

Captain Zach Merrett tipped Parish to win this year’s Brownlow Medal on the eve of the season.

But it is unlikely Parish has opened his tally. Thirteen Bombers have polled coaches’ votes this season – but, like Draper, Parish is not one of them.

The Bombers’ clearance profile is strong. They have become a hard side to convert a first possession into a clearance against, and one of the best sides at scoring from stoppage.

But Parish’s numbers are in free fall. He does not appear to have the engine to play on a wing, he is not a halfback and as a forward he is an unreliable kick for goal.

Perkins remains hamstrung and Will Setterfield has been sidelined with a knee injury.

But the mix of Sam Durham, Jye Caldwell and Merrett is getting it done while Dylan Shiel played a full VFL match on Saturday.

Scott said he wanted to build depth through the midfield, and he has done just that. Durham and Caldwell are defensive weapons and Merrett is motoring towards a fifth Crichton Medal — the same number James Hird won.

Scott has already intimated Draper is safe for Anzac Day. You suspect the only change at the Bombers would be Wright and returning, with Alwyn Davey squeezed into the substitute role and Elijah Tsatas missing out.

But how Scott manages Draper and Parish — particularly as Perkins, Setterfield and Shiel return — as the season evolves is certainly one to watch.

It shapes as a possible headache, albeit a very healthy one to have.

Originally published as Why Dons need to consider dropping duo Darcy Parish and Sam Draper