Unfazed by speculation about his future, veteran midfielder Luke Parker is confident he belongs in Sydney’s best side.
Parker wasted no time to remind Swans coach John Longmire why he was a three-time club champion, former captain, All-Australian and 2012 premiership hero when he took to the field against North Melbourne for his first AFL game of the year.
Brought on as a third-quarter substitute, the 31-year-old kicked two goals, had 13 touches and laid six tackles — the equal most for Sydney — in their 79-point mauling of the Kangaroos.
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It was only in May when the decorated Swans hero struggled to break into a senior midfield group that had fired the league leaders to an 8-1 start.
Parker, in the penultimate year of his current contract, had missed the opening seven rounds after breaking his arm in a pre-season match.
He was expected to return once available, but instead plied his trade in the VFL before a heavy bump on Frankston’s Josh Smith in his fourth game back resulted in a six-week suspension — one Parker refers to as “long service leave”.
It was Isaac Heeney’s one-week ban that opened the door for Parker’s return to the AFL.
“To get out there, I felt like I was debuting again,” Parker said.
“I try block out all the noise outside of what’s happening in the football club.
“I probably had some dark times at the start of the season and once I was available and playing a bit of VFL, there’s times you question yourself a bit and where you’re at.
“For me, it was just to really embrace the journey and know that I’ll come out the other side and that I’ll always find a way back. I never lost sight of that.
“I’ve got immense belief in myself that I can definitely add to what we’re building and especially the pointy end of the year.”
Club captain Callum Mills also lined up against North for his first AFL appearance of 2024.
Sidelined for eight months after suffering shoulder and calf injuries, Mills had 12 disposals and one goal.
“It’s been a long journey for myself and ‘Millsy’. We’ve kind of been in the trenches for a while,” Parker said.
“To get the opportunity to be back out there. I was always going to grab it.
“I was just excited to be out there with the boys. The fun they’ve been having out on the field, you just get a bit jealous if you’ve been missing out on it.”