Hard work, intensity and pressure are all hallmarks of the Sydney Swans’ best football, but Luke Parker says there is another element that has played a big role in the team’s success over the last six weeks - enjoyment.

Speaking to SEN 1116’s Morning Glory program following the club’s 101-point victory over Geelong, the 21-year-old said he and his team mates were thoroughly enjoying playing together and were looking forward to what they could achieve in the remainder of the season.

“(The team’s) really good to be a part of,” he said.

“Out on the field the boys are really enjoying being out there and are being really enthusiastic.

“It doesn’t matter who’s kicking the goals or who’s getting the touches, I just think everyone is loving the way that we’re playing and are just really enjoying it.

“We’re on a bit of a winning streak at the moment, so the main thing is hopefully we can keep that mindset and keep that going.”
The young midfielder said the team had developed trust in each other across the board, and highlighted the recent performance of the Swans’ big forwards Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett as evidence of the team’s cohesion.

“Obviously it’s taken ‘Buddy’ and ‘Tippo’ some time to get back, and for everyone to get back in the group and learn how each other play, but at the moment they are working really well together and the midfield are running hard and kicking goals as well,” he said.

“As a whole, including the backline, we’re all playing well together and everyone is just gelling really well and being really enthusiastic out there and really enjoying it.”

The Swans will be looking to notch up their seventh straight victory when they face the Gold Coast Suns this Sunday at Metricon Stadium.

Parker said he felt the key to the Swans’ continued success was to maintain the consistency and four-quarter efforts that the team have produced over the last month-and-a-half.

“We got run over a couple of times, and that was a big area earlier in the season in the third or fourth quarter the other team would go to another level and we weren’t stepping up and challenging them,” he said.

“I think we’ve been doing that of late and playing four quarters of football, and whether we’re down or in front, our pressure remains the same and our work rate remains the same.”


Speaking to Michael Christian and Mick McGuane on RSN Racing & Sports this morning, Swans defender Nick Smith said he also felt the team had really come together in the last six games.

“We weren’t on the same page and all together, and as individuals we weren’t playing well either,” Smith said.

“I think the boys have got themselves into form and we’ve done that by working harder.

“We’ve just gelled more as a team and are working more defensively together and probably offensively as well.”

Smith also praised the recent form of his fellow defenders over the last six weeks, including Nick Malceski and Rhyce Shaw who combined for 68 touches and 13 rebound 50s against the Cats last week.

“They were great on the weekend and were providing heaps of rebounds,” he said.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if more teams put a bit of time into them with the run they’ve been generating off half-back.”