Essendon’s Darcy Parish is one of the highest-profile names on this year’s AFL free agency list.
The 25-year-old midfielder already has an All-Australian blazer to his name and currently leads the AFL in clearances through two games in 2023 with 24 to his name.
With Parish clearly a quality player, Channel Seven football reporter Mitch Cleary discussed what the on-ballers worth could be on the open market.
“I want to put Darcy Parish on the whiteboard,” Cleary told the Tradies Podcast.
“We’ve spoken about him a little bit around the gap holes at Essendon and what they need, but I want to put him officially on my whiteboard.
“After two weeks he’s leading the AFL in clearances, and Essendon have a conundrum with Darcy Parish this year.
“I think on the open market – for a player I think is an A-grade talent – is worth $750,000-800,000.
“As a free agent, I don’t think they need him, but North Melbourne paid $750,000 a year for Jared Polec and Darcy Parish is twice the player (of Polec).
“Free agents are always worth more salary-wise.
“We’ve just seen Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto leave essentially on $750,000 a year deals each, I think Darcy Parish is not far, if not the equal of those blokes.”
While the Bombers will hope to keep Parish at The Hangar, Cleary believes there’s an argument to be made to let him walk in free agency should he get a big enough offer from a rival club to garner a first-round compensation pick.
“I think there’s an argument they should let him go,” Cleary said.
“That’s if they command a first-round compensation pick for him if there’s enough money in the market and he commands a $750,000-800,000 offer for him.
“If they finish bottom six - even though they’ve won their first two games many think they’re a bottom two side – that’s a top-six pick coming in.
“When you have a look at some of the midfielders they’ve got on their list – Merrett, Shiel – the youngsters in Hobbs and Tsatas – two first-round picks.
“Caldwell is just starting to make his way, Archie Perkins is finding his feet as a mid who will end up as a forward, and there’s Will Setterfield as well.
“There are seven midfield options for them, that’s not including Darcy Parish.
“I think with Essendon and the holes on their list, the midfield is well stocked but the key backs and key forwards are a different question.”
Cleary thinks a club like Port Adelaide could be the one to offer Parish a sizable deal as he highlighted them as a club that could use the midfielder.
“I think he’s an A-grader,” Cleary said.
“One I did think about was Port Adelaide for Darcy Parish.
“They’ve got Butters, Rozee and Horne-Francis, but they’ve got no young inside and under burrowing midfielders – they’ve got Willem Drew – but with Travis Boak (and Ollie Wines eventually) leaving.
“I think there’s a role for someone like a Parish at a club like Port Adelaide.
“They’ve got salary cap.”
As a restricted free agent, Essendon will have the option to match any offer tabled to Parish during the free agency window.