Essendon great Matthew Lloyd believes his former club should look toward potentially trading star midfielder Darcy Parish at the end of the year in a bid to bolster their defence.
Parish has been a standout for Essendon this year as part of their heavily-stocked midfield group, leading Brad Scott's side for disposals, clearances, inside 50s and contested possessions per game to start the 2023 season.
The off-contract onballer, who is currently sidelined with a calf injury, is one of just seven restricted free agents across the AFL this year and is yet to confirm his future.
The Bombers managed to re-sign key forward Peter Wright in the pre-season and will also be looking to lock away defender Mason Redman to a new deal as the hard-nosed Bombers backman joins Parish in being eligible to exercise his rights as a free agent this year.
The Bombers pair join Ben McKay, Tom Doedee, Charlie Dixon, Harrison Himmelberg and Jade Gresham is falling under the restricted free agency band.
While both Redman and Parish are likely to be among the Bombers' top retention priorities for the coming months, Lloyd believes the latter could be utilised as trade capital if the club held plans to strengthen their tall defensive stocks.
Believing Scott is in need of further reinforcements for his rearguard after a fourth successive defeat, Lloyd raised the idea of parting ways with Parish in order to add a star key defender.
"Do they let go of Darcy Parish and go after, in a trade, a gun centre-half-back?" Lloyd said on theย Sunday Footy Show.ย
"So say, we (Essendon) can let go of a midfielder, because we're not too bad in that area, and can we (get a player in a player in return), not someone who's available or out-of-contract like a (Ben) McKay.
"Can we target (a club that) desperately needs a midfielder and we'll give you that centre-half-back?
"These guys are more replaceable than you think, in my opinion. (Parish) has kicked one goal for the year."
"Do they let go of Darcy Parish and go after, in a trade, a gun centre half back?"
Matthew Lloyd floats a bold idea for the Bombers to help solve their 'biggest weakness'.#9AFLSFS | @Channel9 pic.twitter.com/QWulQv5W9D
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) May 14, 2023
When quizzed on what calibre of tall defender Lloyd would like to see the Bombers target, the Essendon legend believed the club should look toward the league's top echelon.
"Start at the top," he said.
"Because I think that's an area which is their biggest weakness at the moment."
Essendon would still be eligible to trade Parish despite his free agency status, with the Bombers able to force a trade with a rival bidder should they be able to match an incoming offer.
