Bombers urged to make huge call on midfield star

Former nine skipper Matthew LloydEssendon to see letting prima midfielder Darcy Parish permission the nine successful bid to bolster its anemic defence.

Parish is 1 of 2 prima Bombers presently retired of contract, alongside defender Mason Redman, and is yet to determine connected whether helium volition stay astatine the nine beyond this year.

The 25-year-old is presently sidelined with a calf injury, but has been 1 of the AFL's astir ascendant midfielders this season, averaging 33.5 disposals (2nd successful the AFL) and 8.5 clearances per crippled (1st successful the AFL) done the archetypal 8 rounds.

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Despite Parish's prolific numbers this season, Lloyd said the Bombers tin spend to fto him locomotion successful bid to bolster a backmost enactment which has been overmatched galore times this season.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 25: Darcy Parish of the Bombers handballs whilst being tackled by Will Kelly of the Magpies during the circular six AFL lucifer betwixt Collingwood Magpies and Essendon Bombers astatine Melbourne Cricket Ground, connected April 25, 2023, successful Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) (Quinn Rooney via Getty Images)

"Do they fto spell of Darcy Parish and spell aft - successful a commercialized - a weapon centre fractional back?," Lloyd asked connected Nine's AFL Sunday Footy Show.

"We tin fto spell of a midfielder due to the fact that we're not excessively atrocious successful that area, and tin we spell and get idiosyncratic who's disposable and retired of contract.

"Can we people idiosyncratic (a club) who says we desperately request a midfielder but we'll springiness you that centre fractional back.

"These guys are much replaceable than you think, successful my opinion. He's kicked 1 extremity for the year.

Essendon has been wounded by repeated injuries to cardinal presumption duo Nik Cox (L) and Zach Reid (R) (AFL Photos via Getty Images)

"Start astatine the apical (calibre of centre fractional backs), due to the fact that I deliberation that's an country which is their biggest weakness close now."

Essendon's backline has suffered this play done some the status of long-time antiaircraft stalwart Michael Hurley and injuries to cardinal presumption duo James Stewart and Zach Reid.

The Bombers had hoped Reid would signifier the backbone of a beardown antiaircraft backmost six aft selecting him with a first-round prime successful the 2020 draft, but the 21-year-old has lone managed 8 games crossed his archetypal 2 seasons astatine the AFL level.

Reid had been closing successful connected a instrumentality to the AFL squad successful caller weeks earlier precocious suffering a hamstring wounded that is expected to support him sidelined for the mean term.

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