DARCY Parish has proven two things to Essendon in the past fortnight: that he's best suited playing as a ball-winning midfielder, and that he should be a priority re-signing for the Bombers. 

The No.5 pick from the 2015 NAB AFL Draft started the season out of the side, forced to play VFL when the Bombers opened the year with a loss to Greater Western Sydney.

He was back in the following week, but was dropped ahead of the round six Anzac Day clash with Collingwood before winning a reprieve against the Magpies after Orazio Fantasia was a late withdrawal. 

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But the biggest change in his game in recent weeks has been positionally, with the 21-year-old spending far more time in a primary midfield role compared to across half-forward.

In round 10 against Richmond, when he gathered a career-best 31 disposals and was Essendon's best player, Parish spent 61 per cent of his game on the ball and 67 per cent of his game in the midfield (total midfield time is a combination of minutes spent on the ball and on the wing). They were the highest percentages of his season.

But those numbers jumped last week against Carlton, when he again collected 31 touches, but also had a game-high 11 clearances and booted two goals.

He had a season-high 69 per cent on the ball against the Blues, and 76 per cent of his game time in a midfield role. His 24 per cent of time as a forward was the lowest of his year, after spending more than 50 per cent of games against Melbourne, Brisbane, Collingwood, Geelong, Sydney and Fremantle in attack.

Against the Swans in round eight, when he had 10 disposals and kicked two goals, Parish played as a forward 80 per cent of the game according to statistics from Champion Data and attended just one centre bounce.  

Before the past two weeks, he had averaged 25 per cent of time on the ball and 35 per cent in a midfield spot for the season.

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Having started the season as a regular wing option – he averaged 15 per cent of his first four games on a wing – that has dropped to an average of five per cent the past six weeks. 

Parish was drafted as a ball-hunting midfielder after averaging 28 disposals a game at under-18 level. In his debut season that's how he played, with midfield spots open due to season-long bans to some of Essendon's premier onballers.

But Essendon has since used him regularly as a half-forward option, where he has improved his craft but been away from his most natural and instinctive skills.

With Dylan Shiel and Jake Stringer missing last week through injury, plus the extended absence of Devon Smith, Parish attended six centre bounces against the Blues, having been to eight the previous week against Richmond. 

He's shown what he does best – tuck in, find the ball in tight and get it going Essendon's way – and where.

With Parish in the centre square, Essendon has won the clearance 60 per cent of the time (31 clearances from his 52 centre bounce attendances).

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It ranks him as the second-best club win percentage of any player in the competition with 50 or more attendances, behind Port Adelaide's Willem Drew (61 per cent), and ahead of Power midfielder Ollie Wines, Bulldogs ruckman Jackson Trengove and Giants gun Stephen Coniglio, who are also in the top five at 55 per cent.

Without him in the middle, Essendon wins the clearance 46 per cent of the time (90 out of 196 centre bounces).

Parish, who has played 65 games for the Bombers since making his debut in round one, 2016, remains out of contract at the end of this season.

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Rivals have been keeping a close eye on his performances since he couldn't break into the Bombers' round one side, and talks are likely to be parked until deeper into the season. 

He is one of a number of younger players yet to recommit beyond this season at Essendon, along with Aaron Francis, Mason Redman and Matt Guelfi. Francis looks headed towards a new two-year deal, while discussions have started for a new contract with Redman, and it is important the Bombers retain their developing group of youngsters.