‘We want to be a great midfield group’: Parish ponders Essendon future
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Essendon free agent Darcy Parish says the ride he is on at the Bombers this season is enjoyable, but he still has a “big decision” to make about his future when he comes out of contract at the end of 2023.
The 25-year-old has started the season under new coach Brad Scott in the sort of form that saw him earn All-Australian selection in 2021, making him an attractive proposition to opposition recruiters.
He is also part of a team that is performing better than they have for years, with the club to finish the round at least as high as third on the ladder for the first time since round one, 2014.
Darcy Parish, right, set the tone for the Bombers in the middle. Credit: Sarah Reed, Getty
“[It’s a] big decision to make, but I am really enjoying my time,” Parish said.
“I am seeing what ‘Scotty’ is putting in front of us, and it is really [towards building] sustainable success. Hopefully, I can be a part of this at this club. [The contract] will take care of itself, and we are enjoying the ride,” Parish said.
He revealed that Scott sat down with him after being appointed coach and challenged him to cement himself among the elite midfielders in the competition. Parish is already considered one of the game’s best centre clearance players.
“Scotty put it to me [to lift my standing] at the start of the pre-season, and it changes the mindset a little bit,” Parish said. “You want to work hard, and it keeps you motivated to be the best.”
However, Parish said personal goals were not the reason he was driven to work hard.
“We want to be a great midfield group in the end and I think we are heading in the right direction,” Parish said.
Darcy Parish in action during round five.Credit: Sarah Reed, Getty
The Bombers made a statement on Saturday at Adelaide Oval when they beat the highly rated Melbourne midfield. Their ruckman, Sam Draper, was best on ground, while Will Setterfield blanketed Clayton Oliver in the first half before the Demons star racked up 20 touches in the final quarter.
Bombers skipper Zach Merrett has been outstanding too as he creates a formidable duo alongside Parish in centre bounces, with Parish averaging 3.8 centre clearances a game in the first five rounds. The Bombers intercepted well against Melbourne scoring from turnover to become just the second team to kick more than 100 points against Melbourne since 2019.
“We wanted to see where we are at, and it showed we are up there, aren’t we? We are building something really good, and we are believing in it,” Parish said.
“We are loving the work we’re putting in throughout the week, and we are loving surprising everyone.”
Parish also noted that the emphasis on defence is paying dividends, conceding it needed to improve, with assistant coach Blake Caracella playing a big role in sharpening up full team defence this season.
“We have been atrocious in the last few years, and we have let ourselves down. Our assertive defence has come a long way and everyone has bought into what Scotty’s put in front of us,” he said.
Essendon will play Collingwood in what is now a hugely anticipated Anzac Day clash, with Parish, the 2021 Anzac Day medallist, preparing to lift his standing further.
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