Why not kick off the young kids' threads with this bloke [from Knightmare on bigfooty]

Darcy Parish (VIC MID)

Height: 181cm, Weight: 73kg, DOB: 25/07/1997

Recruited from: Geelong Falcons

Player Comparison: Marc Murphy

Range: 1-10

Best position/role: Midfield combination.

Strengths:

Inside/outside ability Parish in this draft of all the midfielders has the best inside/outside game balance, and it is unusual for a midfielder to be proficient in both areas. Parish can win the contested footy to a good level and can win some clearances, but then also has the footskills, pace, composure and ability to find the outside ball in bunches.

Footskills Parish is a very good user of the footy. He uses it efficiently and can hit his targets over short, medium and long distance. In traffic he is quick getting the ball onto his boot. He has good penetration with a 50m 55m kick on him and can finish when within range from goal.

Vision Parish has excellent vision finding some good targets other will often miss. When a guy is in a central position and open hell find them and similarly kicking into the forward 50 he finds the open man and puts it out in front of them for the easy mark.

Decision making ability Parish is an excellent decision maker, particularly with time and space on the outside. On the outside he will find his targets up the field but also picks and chooses the right time to go to a target in the centre of the ground or go for a higher risk long target up the field.

Run and carry ability Parish is a very good run and carry player consistently showing a real willingness when he has space in front of him to take on the game with his run. He is not freakishly fast, but has above average pace and critically uses it in game.

Versatility Parish is a very versatile player. He is able to play both as an inside and outside midfielder to a high standard. He can also play in the back half having spent most of the 2014 season playing off a back flank where he showed he could set up play by foot, provide some run and carry and take some intercept marks.

Ability to read the flight Parish reads the flight very well behind the ball, reading the flight early on a consistent basis enabling him to peel off his direct opponent for easy intercept marks. He has clean hands overhead and uncontested is a reliable mark.

Contested ball winning ability Parish has developed into a very capable contested ball winner this season, managing high contested possession numbers throughout the season.

Inside game Parish has proven that he can win the contested footy and clearances this season, proving that he is able to play as an inside midfielder to a high level. When under pressure after winning the footy he can release the ball quickly by hand and foot, and generally do so reliably, which in combination with his good contested ball winning ability and good tackling ability makes him an effective inside player.

Production Parish has the performances behind him as a long time high level performer and accumulator and he has only increased that now that this year he is playing as a permanent midfielder. With his performances on the board with his ability to find the footy inside and outside the contest, provide run and carry, use the footy and the read the flight of the ball, it is fair to assume that he can play as soon as round one, year one as an AFL standard performer today.

Athleticism Parish is not a great but certainly a very good athlete. He has excellent agility and very good pace and leaping ability. His endurance is also good. So while he is not elite in any one athletic category and it is not a point of difference for him, he none the less athletically stacks up well in each category.

Questionmarks:

Height/size As a relatively smaller and shorter midfielder Parish to an extent may be limited as to just how good he can become. At 181cm he is hardly likely to get forward and take contested grabs or lead his team in contested possessions or clearances through the midfield. But its hardly stopping him from being a high level pro. Its more just what probably stops him from being the absolute number one best player in this draft class.

Weaknesses:

Lack of a point of difference Parish overall is a very well rounded footballer but he lacks that one thing that sets him apart from everyone in the competition which for me suggests he wont be a franchise level player for a team and more likely one of your better 2-3 midfielders.

Contested marking ability Parish while a clean and reliable mark overhead is not someone who will take contested grabs or 1v1 marks with frequency as evidenced by the fact that he only took one contested mark through 14 TAC Cup games last season.

For the first time in a while we can honestly say... May not be available when we have our first pick.

Parish sounds like a good prospect, but am I the only one who thinks we won't be drafting in the top 20 this year? I get the feeling we will be trading any top picks. Parish would be good if we can get him but I have the feeling we are going in a different direction.

Nothing can make you feel old quite like a draftee who was born in 1997.

Draft Profile: Darcy Parish

Won't get past the Saints at Pick 5 I wouldn't have thought.

Nothing can make you feel old quite like a draftee who was born in 1997.

only if you constantly looking at stats & numbers. don't focus there. be young, be a fool, be happy, enjoy life, & above all, stop counting numbers & making comparisons to others.

B irresponsible, & B Young at heart. smile

Won't get past the Saints at Pick 5 I wouldn't have thought.

Your optimistic. I don't think he'll get past Essendon's Pick 4!

Edited October 6, 20159 yr by AngryAtCasey

Your optimistic. I don't think he'll get past Essendon's Pick 4!

i dunno judging on his draft profile

seems to have as many bad points as good ones. doesn't seem to have a lot of upside

but it's just a raffle at this level

agree top 5 prospect... likely to go to Suns or Bombers.

i dunno judging on his draft profile

seems to have as many bad points as good ones. doesn't seem to have a lot of upside

but it's just a raffle at this level

We won't have to worry about picking him up. Funny how the profile talks about him compared to Kelly at a similar stage, from the games I watched Kelly was a far better prospect. I guess time will tell.

I'm a little worried about moving up to pick 3 to take this kid or any kid, because I think it's a throw back to the messiah days. Especially given our need for pace and skill I think a lot of pressure on him to improve our ball movement which is quite ridiculous given there are 18 players on the field at once.

If we did do it and it's a decision based on a player we think is head and shoulders above the rest then I still think he'd need to be managed cleverly. The idea that a kid is going to step in on to a wing in his first season and revitalise a stagnate team is quite silly.

If we did do it and it's a decision based on a player we think is head and shoulders above the rest then I still think he'd need to be managed cleverly. The idea that a kid is going to step in on to a wing in his first season and revitalise a stagnate team is quite silly.

I highly doubt anyone at the club is thinking that way.

I highly doubt anyone at the club is thinking that way.

No but if we trade up the supporters will

I'm a little worried about moving up to pick 3 to take this kid or any kid, because I think it's a throw back to the messiah days. Especially given our need for pace and skill I think a lot of pressure on him to improve our ball movement which is quite ridiculous given there are 18 players on the field at once.

If we did do it and it's a decision based on a player we think is head and shoulders above the rest then I still think he'd need to be managed cleverly. The idea that a kid is going to step in on to a wing in his first season and revitalise a stagnate team is quite silly.

I don't think it's about immediate results. It's more about building your team around a nucleus of A grade talent. You have too look at it long term & back the recruiting team to find the right players. If they want to move up the draft order to get pick 3 they must be confident that player will be a 200 gamer to build a team around, otherwise I'd agree with you & say there's not much point. So far the new footy department seem to be right about Tyson, Salem, Petracca & Brayshaw so you have to back them in on this decision as well.

Toumpas or Wines

Kelly or Bontempelli

Watts or Hurley

Parish or Curnow

I know who I prefer

Toumpas or Wines

Kelly or Bontempelli

Watts or Hurley

Parish or Curnow

I know who I prefer

Stephen Hill or Jack Ziebell

Andrew Gaff or Josh Caddy

The skinny smaller guys might be a bit hit or miss but they are also incredibly valuable to your team.

By the way Kelly isn't a Bont (in size or ability) but he's not exactly small. Even with the growth in size of midfielders 183cm isn't going to be small and he's skinny but not tiny and is building his frame. Treloar leaving will only up a spot for him to get more midfield time and I think he'll develop pretty nicely.

Can he take a lie detector test for us: Do you harbor any intention to return to your home town of Geelong to be close to mummy and daddy when your contract expires ? Has the thought "gee i'd at least like to have a few years back home before i finish?" ever crossed your mind?

Edited October 14, 20159 yr by johndemons

I'm not having a go at Knightmare or this thread... but I always find it interesting comparing these write-ups to players we know down the track - who could forget Sylvia's??

This was by Knightmare in the middle of 2012:

#4 Melbourne (Compensation Pick) – Jimmy Toumpas (SA – Mid/Def)
Height: 183cm, Weight: 77kg, DOB: 02/01/1994
Recruited from: Woodville West Torrens
Style: Luke Hodge
Player comparison:
Range: 2-5
Profile: Really damaging player with some versatility. Can take over and influence games as well as just about anyone in this draft and throughout the u18 champs for bursts really imposed himself on games which was impressive. Skill level excellent by both hand and foot, has that combination of hurt factor with the penetrating kick he has and clean ball use that will make him a big time weapon. Very capable of unloading for long goals. Consistently good decision maker. High level athlete and has that combination of explosive speed and agility that will make him desirable as well as in game work rate. Endurance excellent. Also has shown very early on that he can lift for the big games which is I strongly believe is something that he will take with him to AFL level. Can play as a midfielder, forward or back which is a big advantage but long term will no doubt develop into a midfielder. Has the ability to play both as an inside and outside midfielder. One important note with Toumpas is that throughout the u18 champs he was playing with hip problems so to play through injury and influence games in the way he did was very impressive.

The description is of exactly the type of player we need! Does this mean it's worth trying to get a bit more out of Toumpas... or should we be a bit wary of these types of write-ups... or neither / both.

I'm no expert with this but the way the game is going I like the sound of a Curnow type... although I suspect the comparisons to Stringer are equally unfounded

I don't think it's about immediate results. It's more about building your team around a nucleus of A grade talent. You have too look at it long term & back the recruiting team to find the right players. If they want to move up the draft order to get pick 3 they must be confident that player will be a 200 gamer to build a team around, otherwise I'd agree with you & say there's not much point. So far the new footy department seem to be right about Tyson, Salem, Petracca & Brayshaw so you have to back them in on this decision as well.

As Bonkers points out, over the last two years (post Roos) we have utilised our top ten picks to gain four long-term players who will represent our future going forward. None seem to be duds. I trust our recruiters to make the right call again this year, whether it be Parish, Francis or Curnow!

This was by Knightmare in the middle of 2012:

#4 Melbourne (Compensation Pick) – Jimmy Toumpas (SA – Mid/Def)

Height: 183cm, Weight: 77kg, DOB: 02/01/1994

Recruited from: Woodville West Torrens

Style: Luke Hodge

Player comparison:

Range: 2-5

Profile: Really damaging player with some versatility. Can take over and influence games as well as just about anyone in this draft and throughout the u18 champs for bursts really imposed himself on games which was impressive. Skill level excellent by both hand and foot, has that combination of hurt factor with the penetrating kick he has and clean ball use that will make him a big time weapon. Very capable of unloading for long goals. Consistently good decision maker. High level athlete and has that combination of explosive speed and agility that will make him desirable as well as in game work rate. Endurance excellent. Also has shown very early on that he can lift for the big games which is I strongly believe is something that he will take with him to AFL level. Can play as a midfielder, forward or back which is a big advantage but long term will no doubt develop into a midfielder. Has the ability to play both as an inside and outside midfielder. One important note with Toumpas is that throughout the u18 champs he was playing with hip problems so to play through injury and influence games in the way he did was very impressive.

Sounds like just the player we need to complete our list. We should take him.

#4 Melbourne (Compensation Pick) – Jimmy Toumpas (SA – Mid/Def)
Height: 183cm, Weight: 77kg, DOB: 02/01/1994
Recruited from: Woodville West Torrens
Style: Luke Hodge
Player comparison:
Range: 2-5
Profile: Really damaging player with some versatility. Can take over and influence games as well as just about anyone in this draft and throughout the u18 champs for bursts really imposed himself on games which was impressive. Skill level excellent by both hand and foot, has that combination of hurt factor with the penetrating kick he has and clean ball use that will make him a big time weapon. Very capable of unloading for long goals. Consistently good decision maker. High level athlete and has that combination of explosive speed and agility that will make him desirable as well as in game work rate. Endurance excellent. Also has shown very early on that he can lift for the big games which is I strongly believe is something that he will take with him to AFL level. Can play as a midfielder, forward or back which is a big advantage but long term will no doubt develop into a midfielder. Has the ability to play both as an inside and outside midfielder. One important note with Toumpas is that throughout the u18 champs he was playing with hip problems so to play through injury and influence games in the way he did was very impressive.

This description makes it sound like he either has played injured with us, didn't try or the description is totally wrong. Wish I knew the answer before he is traded.

#4 Melbourne (Compensation Pick) – Jimmy Toumpas (SA – Mid/Def)Height: 183cm, Weight: 77kg, DOB: 02/01/1994Recruited from: Woodville West TorrensStyle: Luke HodgePlayer comparison:Range: 2-5Profile: Really damaging player with some versatility. Can take over and influence games as well as just about anyone in this draft and throughout the u18 champs for bursts really imposed himself on games which was impressive. Skill level excellent by both hand and foot, has that combination of hurt factor with the penetrating kick he has and clean ball use that will make him a big time weapon. Very capable of unloading for long goals. Consistently good decision maker. High level athlete and has that combination of explosive speed and agility that will make him desirable as well as in game work rate. Endurance excellent. Also has shown very early on that he can lift for the big games which is I strongly believe is something that he will take with him to AFL level. Can play as a midfielder, forward or back which is a big advantage but long term will no doubt develop into a midfielder. Has the ability to play both as an inside and outside midfielder. One important note with Toumpas is that throughout the u18 champs he was playing with hip problems so to play through injury and influence games in the way he did was very impressive.

This description makes it sound like he either has played injured with us, didn't try or the description is totally wrong. Wish I knew the answer before he is traded.

The description was correct at the time as JT was regarded as a top pick by the industry. What happened? Was it the hip problems? We have not seen the explosiveness or genuine speed as described and without the speed to give him time and space perhaps that impacts on his decision making because he has really struggled for composure at the top level.

Alternatively, there was another phantom draft done at the time on bigfooty, and they were less than glowing about Toumpas at a time when a lot of "experts" were.

You win some and you lose some, but if you're using Knightmare as a draft resource, you're gonna have a bad time.

I think he is a bit short, we have a pretty small midfield at the moment and i would like to draft taller potentially bigger bodies midfielders at this point.