The 21-year-old, who has been among the club’s most consistent players this season averaging just under 24 touches per game, produced another strong performance against Hawthorn on Friday night, finishing the match with 26 touches and eight tackles.
Not only has Parker become one of the club’s leading ball getters this season, he has also continued his form as an important goal kicker having slotted ten goals for the season, including two critical goals in Friday night’s win.
Parker’s second goal was the most important, which came after he laid a desperate tackle on Ryan Shoenmakers late in the third quarter, keeping the Swans in touch ahead of the final change.
Speaking to SwansTV following the Swans’ big win, Parker said his effort helped swing the momentum back the home side’s way.
“It’s good to be involved in a momentum swing like that,” Parker said.
“To get a tackle like that, I know it lifts the boys a bit and you get a bit of confidence and a bit more energy.”
Parker’s pressure act was one of many in Friday night’s win, with the Swans winning the tackle count 85-54 and the one-per-c enters 63-40.
Parker said the Swans’ pressure on Friday night was an indicator of their best football.
“It was a great win and I think the boys were really challenged after half-time and it was good that we finally stood up and played the full four quarters,” he said.
“We know that our pressure is basically our benchmark and is where everything starts.
“When we get our pressure right and our press, then our offence flows from there.”
Parker added that the inclusion of Kurt Tippett and Lance Franklin also played a big role in the win, with the key forwards giving the midfielders confidence to send the ball long inside 50.
“Our pressure was right up there, but it was also really good to have the two big fellas out there,” he said.
“It’s pretty good when you’re under pressure and you know where to put it - just pretty high and to the advantage of those blokes.
“It’s good as well for the little blokes to get there at their feet if they ever drop one, which doesn’t happen too much.”
The Swans face another big challenge this week, when they travel to Melbourne to take on Essendon on Friday night at Etihad Stadium.
Parker said the Swans needed to produce the same level of effort against the Bombers to secure a fifth consecutive win this week.
“We just need to regroup for next week and come with that pressure again,” he said.
“It’s just a basic mindset and it doesn’t have much to do with any of our skills or anything, it’s based on our pressure and everything comes from that.
“That’s the main thing to come out of it and we’ll go into next week with a lot of confidence.”
