Mate you haven't seen him play live and your poor basic analysis on him shows out something shocking.

Just quit digging that hole.

I agree Oli hasn't seen him play live.

The first time he referenced him was a youtube clip, followed by comments along the lines of "we have to get this guy". If he'd seen him play live it would have been a different narrative and he would have said so. He would have jumped at the chance to say he'd seen him live. He didn't. It's telling.

That said, I'm prepared to give the poor bugger his moment in the sun.

Saw him playing Playstation whilst peeping through his window probably.

The last time i changed my mind a few days out from the draft on a mid who we should pick up, i switched from Ollie Wines to Toumpas.

So does that mean if i was on the Parish train for quite a long time, but now on the Oliver one, Oliver is doomed to fail and Parish become an instant star? Or is it my second chance to get it right?

We have that player. His name is Jeff Gartlett.

Is it?

If we were to draft wideman and Oliver, it makes sense that wideman goes at three. If we take Oliver at three wouldn't essendon most likely draft parish and wideman?

I also seen Lynch play live and also wasn't keen on him until after I saw his highlights but beleive what you want.im pretty sure I know what I have done in my life better then random internet posters.

If we were to draft wideman and Oliver, it makes sense that wideman goes at three. If we take Oliver at three wouldn't essendon most likely draft parish and wideman?

The view seems to be that there's a queries over the talls this year to take them at 3.

Also, Essendon are linked to Francis ahead of Weideman.

A lot may depend on the types of players available later in the draft. Perhaps some good classy mids may fall through to a later pick? Or vice versa

Maybe, but i'd fine it hard to believe they'd be in the class of Parish.

your love child clayton averaged 14 contested possessions this season, Parish averaged 13, plus 16 uncontested and actually did something with them, his hands in tight are unbelievable always makes the right decision.

Maybe, but i'd fine it hard to believe they'd be in the class of Parish.

your love child clayton averaged 14 contested possessions this season, Parish averaged 13, plus 16 uncontested and actually did something with them, his hands in tight are unbelievable always makes the right decision.

That average includes Ollies first half of season which he was coming off injury and no pre season. I actually wouldn't mind us taking both if Parish slips to 7 and make Watts support Hogan.

Watts is 24 now and should be capable of holding his own down forward taking on 2nd best defender

That average includes Ollies first half of season which he was coming off injury and no pre season. I actually wouldn't mind us taking both if Parish slips to 7 and make Watts support Hogan.

Watts is 24 now and should be capable of holding his own down forward taking on 2nd best defender

my ideal picks.. Oliver and Parish

Parish’s highlights are magnificent and he suits our need for outside run. However, I query if his game is that well suited to the congested nature of AFL football, where there are 80 stoppages per game and formation team defence. Parish may well develop sufficient strength and size to play a role like Heppell, Murphy or even Ablett Jnr, but his lack of size is a clear risk and there is a chance he doesn’t play 100 games.

Oliver has a lot of traits of modern footballer – hard, strong, big body, agile, good hands and decent skills. He will also benefit significantly from being in a full time AFL environment. Our midfield has added a lot of similar types recently in Brayshaw, Vandenberg and hopefully Petracca, but still I feel Oliver is a relatively low risk option and we should look to minimise our drafting mistakes.

Francis is probably my favourite option (besides Schache and Weitering) but he probably plays a role we have a surplus of (key defender/third tall) and he has flight risk given he is from SA. His marking and kicking is superb and he looks an AFL footballer already.

Weideman looks a massive gamble given his injury history. I am also not as strong on the need for a key forward as the majority on Demonland. I think small forwards can be just as valuable and Betts, Wingard, Breust and Tory Dickson all finished top 10 in the Coleman last year with 50 goals plus.

Milera looks a real talent and is probably more outside than Parish. But he looks quick and suited to an outside midfielders role at AFL level. He would play straight away given our lack of outside run and the fact that he has played senior footy in the SANFL. I would prefer him to Curnow or Weideman.

Curnow looks a little like Jarryd Roughead and Jack Darling, but also a little like Matthew Bate. He looks an undersized key forward and talk of him being a midfielder is based on his endurance and body size rather than performance.

I hope we go for Oliver or Francis at 3 and then go for whoever remains out of Oliver/Francis, Parish or Milera at 7. If they are all gone, we take a key forward.

People talking about Parish's lack of size; you all saw Billy Stretch a few years ago and what he has/is becoming now.. You know they don't always stay that size forever right?

Parish will be fine in the modern game Tony because he wins his own ball, uses it extremely well and is brilliant in close, he makes amazing decisions in a split second that open up the whole game for his team.

Oliver has alot to learn about being a footballer and Parish has to develop the body of one.

both are going to take time, but 2 years of All Australian selections and brilliant form that matches or betters anything Oliver did in the good patch he had suggests Parish is the best option to me.

And we're not in the same position we have been in where we've had to throw first year players to the wolves- we can afford to sit a prospect at Casey for a whole year now to develop their game and body.

We had a relatively great year last year with our boon recruit Pettracca sitting out the whole year (granted not by choice) but it just goes to prove all is not lost if a new recruit doesn't take the field at all in the first year of recruitment

I'm just hoping we land the better two of Parish, Francis, Oliver and Weideman (hoping Ah Chee or Milera go to the Suns).

I have no idea who will be the best in a few years time, I just hate the bombers and want to scoop them nor lose to them.

Parish will be fine in the modern game Tony because he wins his own ball, uses it extremely well and is brilliant in close, he makes amazing decisions in a split second that open up the whole game for his team.

Oliver has alot to learn about being a footballer and Parish has to develop the body of one.

both are going to take time, but 2 years of All Australian selections and brilliant form that matches or betters anything Oliver did in the good patch he had suggests Parish is the best option to me.

You cannot know that for sure. Parish wins his own ball at U18 level where there is space at stoppages. The stoppages at AFL level have as many as 30 bodies nearby. None of these kids are proven under AFL level pressure.

You cannot know that for sure. Parish wins his own ball at U18 level where there is space at stoppages. The stoppages at AFL level have as many as 30 bodies nearby. None of these kids are proven under AFL level pressure.

Oh for sure, but when you watch a kid playing in the national champs on in a midfield with several other likely top 20 players and he stands out like crazy because he makes good decisions that much quicker, i reckon you can take an educated guess that the kid will be okay.

Chris Judd written all over him...

People talking about Parish's lack of size; you all saw Billy Stretch a few years ago and what he has/is becoming now.. You know they don't always stay that size forever right?

Stretch is still small as he has a small frame - although he has bulked up some and looks toned/fit. he would not last long in the centre square. but he'll be fine on the wing

you cant say every player if they work hard will end up like Fyfe. some guys just dont have the frame and thats what the Dees will be looking at with Parish. genetically, is he more of a yze/bruce/fletcher or will he develop significantly with hard work - get that barrell chest and and broad shoulders you need to break a tackle

And we're not in the same position we have been in where we've had to throw first year players to the wolves- we can afford to sit a prospect at Casey for a whole year now to develop their game and body.

We had a relatively great year last year with our boon recruit Pettracca sitting out the whole year (granted not by choice) but it just goes to prove all is not lost if a new recruit doesn't take the field at all in the first year of recruitment

Didn't know a famous Australian cricketer could recruit afl players.

Good question to ask yourself is who would you prefer to be playing against. Parish or Oliver.

I would much prefer to play against Parish personally as I feel his impact could be negated much easier then Ollies.

Having not seen any of the candidates play but plenty of video footage and interviews I think this is the way we might go ( Or what I would do )

Darcy Parish does look partticularly good BUT he reminds me a bit of Tom Scully, and we all know how his scrawny body stands up to the heat in the corridor!

Not that I think this kid lacks courage and also he seems a very likeable fellow which whilst not footy oriented certainly gets a tick in that dept from me. I do worry about his size!

Curnow No so NO DH policy and will slide and I dont care how far!

Weiderman a big yes but only if he is over his injury concerns.

I really Like Clayton Oliver reminds me of the school yard footy bully, plays keepings of no one game to go near him, not even the teachers, has some grunt and tricks!

Harry Mc Kay is the bolter for mine KP TALL I like what I have seen and his twin Bro aint no shrinking violet either.

Weighing it all then for me its the combo of OLIVER & either WEIDERMAN or HARRY MCKAY in any order you like!

GO DEES

Good question to ask yourself is who would you prefer to be playing against. Parish or Oliver.

I would much prefer to play against Parish personally as I feel his impact could be negated much easier then Ollies.

That's probably because you haven't seen him play live.

Trust me, the only way Oliver controls a game is by winning clearances, Parish can do that ( granted not as well as Oliver but he still wins them) and he can impact a game far, far more in other ways, his pace, skills and decision making can open up the whole game for a team.

I'd much rather play against Oliver then Parish.

Oliver or Parish at 3 don't mind.

Pick 7 Weideman or McKay don't know jack shite about either but we need another tall.

I watched Francis on his clip but he seems a bit clumsy. He his a great mark forward or back, but it is a highlight clip after all.

You cannot know that for sure. Parish wins his own ball at U18 level where there is space at stoppages. The stoppages at AFL level have as many as 30 bodies nearby. None of these kids are proven under AFL level pressure.

Fair point...sure to have been part of the discussion on who to take. Given all the talk about bringing in competitors, that for me raises the question about how much of the ability to compete against hardened grown men stems from the mental qualities as much as it does the physical attributes. Viney's is a good example, but I suppose he was nailing grown men as a 16 year old which Parish doesn't do to the same level. Is there room to draft a more outside player high up the draft nowadays? I don't know.

If Roosy gets his say on getting in the bigger bodies then that swings it in favor of Oliver.