Luke Parker ELITE ?

[Jewels]

Just about favourite moment of the game on the weekend was in the last quarter when the commentators had been giving the Man Child a wrap and soon enough there was a loose ball behind the centre of wing, closest to camera, and two Weagles converge on it. Surging in comes the Man Child, he projects himself into the contest in the middle of the two, they go tumbling like ten pins, and away he heads forward with the ball.

Not a blink from the Man Child, flailing around on the ground from the Weagles. Gold!

Haha yep I noticed that, beautiful! Couldn't have scripted it better.

[mcs]

The guy is a superstar. Don't care whether anyone considers him elite or not.

His set shots this season have been magnificent. He almost never misses. And his courage... my god his courage. And football smarts. Premiership player at 19 years old. Consistent performer.

I can't believe we got him with such a low draft pick. It just goes to show that first round draft picks mean stuff-all in the grand scheme of things. He won all of his clubs best and fairests at a junior level from 8 years old up or something ridiculous like that and nobody seemed to notice.

It's only starting to click in the southern states how good this guy is due to all the Friday night matches we've played this season. They have no excuses for not getting this guy (Including their lame cola excuse), so they'd be absolutely spewing.

Anyone with an astute eye that hadn't seen him in junior footy, knew pretty much as soon as he had his first few games for the club, just how good he would be. He has come on in leaps and bounds in the last 18 months, but he is really turning into our latest lean mean, man child midfield machine.

He is up there with my favourite players to watch because of the way he goes about his footy - superb courage, hard as nails and gets in and dirty when he needs to. Reminds me so much of Jude, but with an upgrade in terms of his ability in front of goal. Jude Mach II he most certainly is!

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Just about favourite moment of the game on the weekend was in the last quarter when the commentators had been giving the Man Child a wrap and soon enough there was a loose ball behind the centre of wing, closest to camera, and two Weagles converge on it. Surging in comes the Man Child, he projects himself into the contest in the middle of the two, they go tumbling like ten pins, and away he heads forward with the ball.

Not a blink from the Man Child, flailing around on the ground from the Weagles. Gold!

That piece of play sums up just what makes Parker such a good player. He will do that many a time over his career for us, and I have no doubt that when called upon, will do it on the biggest matches as well.

[magic.merkin]

His ability over head and single handed leaves Jude behind as well.

[Melbournehammer]

The reality is that he and hanners make perfect foils for each other. hanners is very very good on the outside and reasonable on the inside and courageous as all hell. Parker is very very good on the inside, reasonable on the outside in the air and tackling, although he lacks leg speed - like mitchell and kirky and a few others and courageous as all hell.

It makes me incredibly proud to have a team where i can look at kids less than half my age, and who are in truth closer to my son's age than mine and still be able to cheer them on without embarassment

[Ludwig]

The reality is that he and hanners make perfect foils for each other. hanners is very very good on the outside and reasonable on the inside and courageous as all hell. Parker is very very good on the inside, reasonable on the outside in the air and tackling, although he lacks leg speed - like mitchell and kirky and a few others and courageous as all hell.

It makes me incredibly proud to have a team where i can look at kids less than half my age, and who are in truth closer to my son's age than mine and still be able to cheer them on without embarassment

I used to think Parker was slow as well, but this year he's added a lot of quickness to his first few steps, which is what really counts for an inside player. I wouldn't call him a slow player any more. In fact, in the contest he's become cat-like, a bit like KJ, which is something for such a big guy.

Hanners and Parker are both excellent either inside or outside and both are very good marks, but Parker is a better user of the ball and kick for goal.

[Melb Blood Bro]

Haha

You beat me to it MB bro , you also kinda stole my name, we're not off to a great start ..

[Conor_Dillon]

I used to think Parker was slow as well, but this year he's added a lot of quickness to his first few steps, which is what really counts for an inside player. I wouldn't call him a slow player any more. In fact, in the contest he's become cat-like, a bit like KJ, which is something for such a big guy.

Hanners and Parker are both excellent either inside or outside and both are very good marks, but Parker is a better user of the ball and kick for goal.

Parker is a better kick for goal without doubt but Hanners field kicking just about edges him out...some of his use by foot in the 2012 grand final was precision. It's hard to judge though because Hanners generally has more space on the outside when he gets it...and there's something about left footers, they just look better!

[MadCanuck]

I completely agree with that.

I'm a big Parker fan. I don't think he's even close to elite yet though. Not close on my definition of elite anyway.

I agree. He is still a Cortina.

[Auntie.Gerald]

hopefully we look back in 2 seasons and say to ourselves 2014 season was the start of Parker becoming an Elite inside midfielder of the competition !!

Just like 2009/10 was for Pendles

Just like 2012 was for Kennedy

Just like 2013 was for Jack and Hannes

But either way i have not dropped the scent and i am willing and able to continue the hunt

[Primmy]

Parker may look like he was a little slow because he was 18/19 and still working into his game. He is now 21. that makes all the difference, apparently. He knows what he is doing. He isn't fussed by the opposition. He has a very steady head and quick reaction times. Thinks on his feet and stays on his feet. Maybe not quite elite yet, but would we be willing to trade him. I think not. Ever. He will work his way into elite status, and sooner rather than later. It gives me a real kick to see him do what I thought he would be capable of doing from the getgo.

[0918330512]

Parker may look like he was a little slow because he was 18/19 and still working into his game. He is now 21. that makes all the difference, apparently. He knows what he is doing. He isn't fussed by the opposition. He has a very steady head and quick reaction times. Thinks on his feet and stays on his feet. Maybe not quite elite yet, but would we be willing to trade him. I think not. Ever. He will work his way into elite status, and sooner rather than later. It gives me a real kick to see him do what I thought he would be capable of doing from the getgo.

Careful Primmy, I can just see hundreds of posts following yours proposing he could be worth a high first rounder to pick up a mid with quick leg speed or to trade for a "much needed" KPD

[Matt80]

Careful Primmy, I can just see hundreds of posts following yours proposing he could be worth a high first rounder to pick up a mid with quick leg speed or to trade for a "much needed" KPD

I'm proud to announce that Parker is indispensable and will not be a Matt80 trade option. He is the gun who you build your team around. I want to keep him at the a Swans for the entirety of his career. He will be the next club Captain without a doubt.

[Bloods05]

Matt80, peel those tickets off yourself. You're covered in them.

[Matt80]

Matt80, peel those tickets off yourself. You're covered in them.

People on Red and White think I'm trying to sell the farm, because I speculate and strategise on players who may or may not want to leave the club.

Luke Parker is one player I will never speculate on as he is a superstar and the next captain of our club. I wanted to make this view clear otherwise the Red and White community will think I want to seell Parker, which I don't.

You call this "tickets on yourself", I call it communication.

[Conor_Dillon]

I don't think Parker will be the next captain...as swans tradition goes I'd say McVeigh will step down either at the end of this year or next and be replaced by JPK...then another year or two after that Jack could take a back-seat and allow a Hannebery or Parker to take over then...the co-captaincy thing works magnificently...can't see it changing any time soon!