Essendon midfielder Darcy Parish deservedly won the Yiooken Award for best afield in Saturday night’s Dreamtime clash in Perth.
Parish finished with 44 disposals – the most ever by a Bombers player – along with 11 clearances, 10 score involvements, nine inside 50s and five tackles to take out the award by two votes ahead of Richmond superstar Dustin Martin.
Martin was instrumental in Richmond’s 39-point win collecting 27 disposals and kicking three goals as the Tigers booted the last seven majors to run away with the match.
Two-time Richmond premiership defender Jayden Short was asked about the Yiooken Award post-game on AFL Nation.
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“I think he (Parish) is a well-deserving winner of the award. I suppose Dustin’s probably got enough awards that he can let Darcy have that one,” Short said with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
A crowd of 55,656 attended Saturday night’s match with Western Australian footy fans flocking to Optus Stadium to attend the relocated match.
“It was an amazing atmosphere,” Short said.
“The crowd was amazing, and we could definitely hear them and definitely hear Essendon’s fans when we got behind in the last quarter.
“We’re very lucky that we’ve got supporters all over the country that came out and supported us tonight (Saturday).”
Richmond (7-5) will begin preparations for next Sunday’s match against West Coast at Optus Stadium.