Luke Parker (footballer)

Luke Parker (born 25 October 1992) is a professional Australian rules footballer & Co-Captain of the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL). He plays as a midfielder.

Luke Parker
Parker playing for Sydney in March 2017
Personal information
Full name Luke Parker
Date of birth (1992-10-25) 25 October 1992
Original team(s) Dandenong Stingrays (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 40, 2010 National Draft
Height 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 85 kg (187 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder / Forward
Club information
Current club Sydney
Number 26
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2011– Sydney 199 (155)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2019.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Originally from Langwarrin, Victoria, Parker played for the Dandenong Stingrays before being drafted by Sydney with the 40th pick in the 2010 National Draft. He made his senior debut in round eight of the 2011 season, and quickly established himself in the line-up. Parker won a premiership in his second season, and has since played in two more losing grand finals (in 2014 and 2016). He won the Bob Skilton Medal as Sydney's best and fairest player in 2014 and 2017. He also finished runner-up to Patrick Dangerfield in the 2016 Brownlow Medal, a season in which he was also named in the All-Australian team for the first time.

Early life

Parker grew up in Langwarrin, Victoria, on Melbourne's south-eastern outskirts. He played both basketball and football as a youngster, eventually choosing to pursue the latter at the age of 16. In the TAC Cup, Parker played for the Dandenong Stingrays and won the club best and fairest in his first season. He made the TAC Cup Team of the Year in 2010, although he broke his jaw in the competition's preliminary final. Parker also played for Victoria Country in the 2010 AFL Under 18 Championships.[1][2]

AFL career

Parker was drafted by Sydney with the club's second pick (and 40th overall) in the 2010 National Draft. He made his debut in Round 8 of the 2011 AFL season against Port Adelaide.[3] He received his first career Brownlow Medal vote in the Swans' Round 16 victory over the Gold Coast Suns where he had 26 disposals and kicked two goals.

It was an impressive debut year from Parker playing as small, tackling forward and in the midfield. He was compared to his teammate Jude Bolton, due to his hardness at the contest, strong tackling and ability to win contested possession.[4]

The young midfielder took a significant step forward in 2013, moving from a regular substitute at the back end of the previous season to a dangerous and highly valued member of the starting line-up. Playing every game, he averaged 21 disposals and five marks and proved a more than handy forward, finishing with 22 goals.

In 2014, Parker further made his mark on the team becoming the youngest player since Michael O'Loughlin in 1998 to be awarded the Bob Skilton Medal and the Paul Kelly Players’ Player award which is voted on each week by the playing group.

In 2015 Parker won the Robert Rose Award for the AFL’s Most Courageous Player.[5] Unfortunately his season ended prematurely when he suffered a fractured fibula when had his right leg twist awkwardly in a tackle against Collingwood in round 20.[6]

Parker has made a strong comeback into the 2016 season being awarded the Brett Kirk Medal (Sydney Derby - Best on Ground) in round three.[7] He won the Most Courageous Player award for the second year running and polled second in the Brownlow Medal with 26 votes, only beaten by Patrick Dangerfield for the Geelong Cats. He was also rewarded with his first ever All Australian honours in a career best season.

Parker had a consistent year in 2017, averaging 25.4 disposals a game

Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2019 season [8]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2011 Sydney 261388718115228240.60.65.56.211.72.21.8
2012 Sydney 26195514016430454530.30.37.48.616.02.82.8
2013 Sydney 26252212265259524761250.90.510.610.421.03.05.0
2014 Sydney 262525142863626481041511.00.611.414.525.94.26.0
2015 Sydney 2619181421926748665401.20.811.614.526.14.05.0
2016 Sydney 26262518330369699901701.00.712.714.226.93.56.5
2017 Sydney 26241417304304608851340.60.712.712.725.33.55.6
2018 Sydney 2622259261245506881231.10.411.911.123.04.05.6
2019 Sydney 2622137302256558911140.60.313.711.625.44.15.2
Career 195 155 104 2178 2307 4485 681 984 0.8 0.5 11.2 11.8 23.0 3.5 5.0

References
  1. Parker drives on
  2. Young gun Luke Parker firing for Sydney Swans in AFL
  3. Adelaide dump three players for clash with Suns
  4. Bolton's record run spoiled, but Parker makes presence felt
  5. "Sydney Swan Luke Parker the AFL's Most Courageous". AFLPA. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  6. "Season over for Parker as Swans count cost".
  7. "Luke parker wins the brett kirk medal for best on ground. #goswans #aflswansgiants - scoopnest.com". Scoopnest. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  8. "Luke Parker stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
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