Essendon’s top draft pick, Darcy Parish has made a seamless transition to AFL football in his first game for the Club.

The 18 year old entered the match against Gold Coast with just one NAB Challenge match under his belt.

But he was able to produce a strong four-quarter performance that netted 25 possessions, five marks and six tackles.

“I was really pleased with Darcy,” Essendon Coach John Worsfold said after the match.

“You can’t underestimate that sort of turmoil that he’s gone through in the early days of his career.

“But he’s stayed really focused – it’s a credit to a lot of the senior players around him that have helped him through this period and helped him prepare for the season.

“He’s got the attributes to say he deserved to be picked today and he delivered on that.”

Parish was rated one of the best midfielders in the country prior to last year’s National Draft and it didn’t take long for him to endear himself to a strong band of travelling Essendon fans.

The debutant was busy around the contest, threw himself at the ball and belied his slight frame with some crunching tackles.

Here is how Parish’s debut performance compares with the first game displays of some of the stars of the game from the last decade.

Darcy Parish

Kicks: 8

Handballs: 17

Possessions: 25

Contested possessions: 12

Marks: 5

Clearances: 6

Tackles: 6

Chris Judd

Kicks: 15

Handballs: 4

Possessions: 19

Contested possessions: 12

Marks: 1

Clearances: 5

Tackles: 4 

Gary Ablett

Kicks: 4

Handballs: 4

Possessions: 8

Contested possessions: 4

Marks: 4

Clearances: 1

Tackles: 1

Trent Cotchin

Kicks: 8

Handballs: 8

Possessions: 16

Contested possessions: 7

Marks: 6

Clearances: 0

Tackles: 1

Dyson Heppell

Kicks: 10

Handballs: 10

Possessions: 20

Contested possessions: 6

Marks: 7

Clearances: 1

Tackles: 2

Joel Selwood

Kicks: 5

Handballs: 3

Possessions: 8

Contested possessions: 3

Marks: 1

Clearances: 1

Tackles: 1