Essendon will unveil top draft pick, Darcy Parish, in the side’s first match of the season against Gold Coast on Saturday.

The former Geelong Falcon is among ten new faces named in the Bombers line-up that will travel north to Queensland.

Parish picked up 18 possessions and took five marks in his only NAB Challenge match against Carlton. 

Coach John Worsfold said Parish has been impressive in the way he has been able to transition from under age football to the AFL.

“He’s got a great attitude in preparing himself for the best he can be,” Worsfold said. 

“It hasn’t been a big step up for him in that regard. 

“It is in terms of training with an open age group, with the men and the pace of the game, but everything he has done shows he’s ready for it.”

Parish is a two-time All-Australian at under 18 level and was selected by the Bombers with the number five pick in last November’s National Draft.

Geelong Falcons Region Manager Michael Turner spoke to essendonfc.com.au shortly after Parish was picked up.

He said the Winchelsea product ticks a lot of boxes.

“Darcy’s a really hard working kid, he’s got a great attitude, he’s coachable, plays for the team and he obviously wins the football and makes good decisions,” Turner said.

“He doesn’t test extremely high. He’s probably about average, but the one thing you can’t test is reading the ball.  It’s the same with Dyson Heppell who is a great player because he reads the ball so well. Darcy is similar to that.

“He makes the decision and reads the play so quickly that he’s gone before the other players have thought about it.  

“He’s as good as any player that has gone through the Falcons and when I say that I mean at the same age. As a 17 and 18 year old he achieved the same as Jimmy Bartel in being a two-time All-Australian. 

“I’m sure as long as he works hard – and I’m sure he will – he’ll turn into an elite AFL player.”