“They’re not for run-of-the-mill good midfielders”: Whateley says Parish not deserving of six-year deal
Gerard Whateley believes Darcy Parish and his management are asking for far too much in a six-year contract, stating the Essendon midfielder doesn’t have the status to warrant such a deal.
With Essendon’s season now over, Parish still hasn’t put pen to paper on any contract for next year and beyond. While all suggestions say that he wants to remain at the club, SEN’s Tom Morris reported earlier this week what was behind the holdup.
Parish’s management and the Bombers are understood to still be someway off in payment, a clause on the projected uptick in the CBA and also the length of the deal.
Essendon is said to have offered five years, with Parish wanting six.
But Whateley says the 26-year-old midfielder is not worth a six-year deal and called on the Bombers to remain firm.
“His management has got delusions of grandeur… I think five years is a generous deal,” Whateley told SEN's Crunch Time about holding out for a six-year contract.
“(Signing a big contract) is not for everyone. Those tenures are for (Clayton) Oliver and (Christian) Petracca, who are in Brownlow contention. They are for dominant key forwards… they’re not for run-of-the-mill good midfielders.
“There’s a big difference between the captain (Zach Merrett on a six-year deal, and Parish)… there’s a status Parish doesn’t measure up to.
“I just think (with) managers, you can sign a wrong contract for your player and you can put them in the wrong circumstance, and I truly believe they are putting Darcy Parish in the wrong circumstance here.”
WATCH THE FULL CONVERSATION HERE
EXTENDED | Gerard Whateley believes Darcy Parish's management has got "delusions of grandeur" as Tom Morris reveals why there's a hold up on negotiations. pic.twitter.com/tJX2GTr9p6
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) August 26, 2023
Parish, taken with pick five in the 2015 National Draft, won a best and fairest and a maiden All-Australian blazer in 2021 but hasn’t reached the same heights since.
His 2023 season was interrupted by a calf injury but did play game 150 on Friday night.
Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge also believes Parish isn’t worth paying overs for.
“I wouldn't be signing him on a six-year deal. He hasn't played consistent, dominant footy enough to put into the Petraca, Oliver status. He is still building,” Hodge said.
Despite the standoff, Morris reports there is not a huge market for Parish with rivals believing he will eventually re-sign.
Parish averaged 30.8 disposals, 6.1 inside 50s and 7.7 clearances across 18 games this year. Intriguingly, they're all numbers bigger than his 2021 averages.