Should Essendon use free agent Darcy Parish as an asset in trade talks?
Club great Matthew Lloyd believes it would be a smart play to offer Parish to a club in exchange for a star centre half-back.
While Parish is a free agent, he is in the restricted category meaning the Bombers can match any contract offer and force a club to trade for his services if they want to pry him out of Essendon.
Lloyd believes Parish could be a trade asset that allows the Bombers to target a centre half-back that’s currently under contract at a rival club.
“What I want to raise is, do they let go of Darcy Parish and go after, in a trade, a gun centre half-back?,” Lloyd asked on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“Do they say, ‘We can let go of a midfielder, because we’re not too bad in that area’, and can we go after not someone that’s available like a (Ben) McKay, but to a club that desperately needs a midfielder and get a centre half-back?”
While Parish is no doubt a star and potentially tracking for a second All-Australian blazer as he averages the second-most disposals per game in the AFL, Lloyd believes the 25-year-old is replaceable given his role.
“These guys are more replaceable than you think in my opinion, he’s kicked one goal for the year,” Lloyd said.
“What sort of calibre? You start from the top (in targeting the best centre half-backs).
“I just think that’s an area that is their biggest weakness at the moment.”
While Lloyd has concerns with Essendon’s defence, he believes they’re a chance to play finals in 2023 as they remain competitive in defeat and have a favourable fixture in the back half of the year.
“They’ve got a great run home in terms of playing North twice and West Coast twice,” Lloyd said.
“They may still make the finals even though they’ve lost four in a row which suggests they’re not good enough.
“But they’re competitive every week.”
Parish missed Essendon’s 42-point loss to Brisbane on Saturday night at the Gabba with a calf injury.
It’s believed he may be sidelined for a month with the calf concern.
"Do they let go of Darcy Parish and go after, in a trade, a gun centre half back?"
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) May 14, 2023
Matthew Lloyd floats a bold idea for the Bombers to help solve their 'biggest weakness'.#9AFLSFS | @Channel9 pic.twitter.com/QWulQv5W9D