There is a lot more to defensive action than that though. When the ball is in close he is good but he gets killed on the spread and not tracking back. I like that Burgoyne called him out for it the other night.
He absolutely squibbed several contests too which I absolutely hate.
As I’ve said though I just have to accept those faults as he isn’t going change but I’d still try to extract some value from him whilst we can
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Against the worst team, and then goes missing against any team that’s any good..
You can’t honestly use the game on Friday night as proof that Parish isn’t a list clogger.
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He is far from a list clogger. He would get onto most lists in the afl. Geelong would get another 5 good years out of him.
You are kidding yourself.
Why do you think no club wanted him when he was out of contract?
He’s the very definition of a list clogger
The whole side looked like that Friday. Parish looked like a class above which didnt take that much.
Every footballer has a few chinks in their armour so to speak. Darcy Parish is hardly our biggest problem.
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The reason he got the long term deal last contract was to ward off rival interest.
He’s had injuries and a lot of time on the sidelines. You don’t just walk out and play your best footy straight off that sort of lay off.
I disagree.
Yes he was good this week but he is one of those senior players that has been on the list for many years under various coaches who hasn’t been reigned in and picks and chooses when they want to play. His contract is a noose around our neck and he is one of the senior cohorts that needs to be moved on
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who does he replace in geelong’s best 23
Lazy saying he is the least of our problems. His entire career has been in a mediocre side and he doesn’t have the ability or attitude to change things
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Geelong had zero interest in Parish. None.
Yep. And the club straight up lied about the length of his contract, because they were worried about the flack they’d get from supporters.
Parish is the Tom Mitchell of our team, he is a good player who will get great stats, but he is not leading the team to anything special.
Parish’s best game in years was still a loss to a team with 24 fit players on their list and was last on the ladder.
Added to that he is not adding anything at all off field in a leadership capacity or setting any standards.
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Would love a Reuben Ginbey type, WC always have had tough courageous backline players, our current defensive line up are all weak as ■■■■ now that Lav’s gone and Redmans gone into his shell
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It always feels like he plays more for brownlow votes than the team. The Tom Mitchell comparison is spot on.
Trent Cotchin was accused of the same until Hardwick got him to play a more selfless game and look how that turned out. I’m not sure Parish has that in him.
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Blake Hardwick has been one I have thought about for a while. Doesn’t stand out stats wise but is a solid, disciplined role player. Comes from a great system but not sure if he is just a slightly different version of Prior though.
He’s still in his prime and valued at Hawthorn.
If he goes somewhere, it’s to another contending team.
A high majority of the 18 of their 25 yr + players are getting games in seniors (unless injured). Morrison, Blanck and Maginness are the only fringe type players in that age group. The 30 yr + ones (Gunston, Sicily, Impey, Amon, Barrass) are entrenched in their best 23. Gunston is the closest to retirement and he still looks like going another few years.
Gunston would be a good pickup, but I think it won’t work with us. We’d need him to perform better. As the Hawks were ‘developing’ they traded him away to Brisbane in much the same way we traded Stringer to GWS. Then they traded for him back prior to the 2024 season. They floundered for the first few games (went 1-7) and Mitchell was critiqued for a few 9 goal beatings, then they went on their run into finals from there.
I think the only players we get are those that either choose to retire or are too old and barely getting games at the club they are at.
Anyone playing 15 games is just unlikely to come to us.
North were a tad below us with experience (46 games) and age (23.3 years) as us (59 games and 23.9 years) before they went for Parker, Darling and Caleb Daniel. And in 2024, they had Shiels (came across with Clarkson), Corr, McDonald, Tucker and Simpkin consistently in their 23 who were over 28. Greenwood and Logue were in there too but not getting games. Then they dumped Shiels and Greenwood and added Darling, Parker and Daniel who went straight into their 23. The only oldie for them that slid towards fringe was Corr (not sure if it was injury related) and Tucker. But that raised their average games up to 58 games and age to 23.6 (which is close to where we’re at now).
Interestingly, 2023 was their rockbottom as far as age and games experience. But their performance rock bottom was 2022 and yet 2023 and 2024 were just a touch above that level. Even though some in the media (mainly led by King) thought they were past rock bottom in early 2024.
I suspect we’ll do something similar. It won’t take much to get younger and less experienced next year (moving on Guelfi, Gresham and Setterfield would be more than enough). If we can get some better veterans into the club, then I think we’ll go for it. I doubt we’re willing to get rid of all our oldies (Merrett, 2MP, Langford, Parish) unless we’re not confident they can be replaced with premiership (or prelim finals experience).
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Why not pay Lachie Neale 3 years on big dollars?
Brisbane need to reboot their forward line.
He has the premierships
Merrett wants out to go find his.
to me if you swapped out Merrett
Were allowed to go after Neale without costing you like the Eagles got with Waterman.
And we got Lachie Neale in?
well I think we would be a better side for the next 3 years with more young talent and a bloke whose captained a premiership side with 2 brownlows.
I mean he may laugh at us and so thank you but no thanks. But surely Neale likes money and likes helping a young group.
Brisbane have the elite talent waiting for the CBAs. We don’t yet….
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Why does he need big money?
Hodge wasn’t overpaid to be the mentor / teacher at Brisbane. Parker wasn’t either.
If we’re paying him big money and for three years, I think we’re just painting a target on his back given he’s 33 now.
I also do question his ‘defensive intent’. We’ve got Merrett who has averaged more tackles and we can’t stand his defensive running. I’m not sure Lachie’s is any better when he doesn’t have the same midfielders around him.
Plus, Neale can get to any other finals challenging team like Adelaide, Collingwood, Geelong, Hawthorn, etc.
If he’s interested, then great, I just wouldn’t be going overboard trying to get him here if it’s not in his interest for that mentor / on ground leadership role.
Whoever comes need needs to accept the role in place. And it’s more of an gameday leader with team setups than a high performing individual requirement.
To be honest, I’m struggling to find players who would want to come to us in the first place.
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Big enough money to play for Essendon
Picks and chooses when he wants to put in the effort.