A broken collarbone in round 10 kept Parker out for six matches and, one week out from the finals, he was named in the bright green substitute's vest to face Geelong.
It was a role he would then fill throughout the finals series, including a fourth-quarter cameo in the Grand Final victory over Hawthorn.
Next season, however, don't expect to see any extra colours added to Parker's guernsey, apart from the mud and grass stains of battle.
He is in the midst of an intense pre-season, determined to improve his fitness and become a mainstay of the competition's most improved midfield.
It only takes one question aimed at Swans coach John Longmire to elicit considerable praise for Parker, who turned 20 in late October.
"After missing six weeks, we got him back into the senior side pretty quickly last year," Longmire said.
"The team was playing pretty well and he played the sub role a few weeks in a row, but clearly the way he's come back now, he wants to improve.
"We think he's a really good player. He's a fierce competitor, he's just got a want to be the best player he can be, and we're confident he's going to be a very good footy player for our club."
Pick No. 40 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, Parker exceeded all expectations by playing 13 senior games in his first season.
Renowned for his toughness, Parker shrugged off a cracked jaw in round one to appear in the opening 10 matches last season until his collarbone injury against the Western Bulldogs.
While he had to nervously bide his time as a Grand Final sub, Parker knows how lucky he was to experience a premiership as a teenager.
"That was unbelievable," Parker said.
"Even though I was the sub and played the last quarter, I was just grateful to be part of it.
"At 19 years of age, I didn't expect to have a Grand Final medal.
"The celebrations after that were pretty fun. We had a big few weeks, but back into it now."
Parker's off-season included a trip to Los Angeles and Cancun with teammates Sam Reid and Shane Mumford, plus Sam's brother and Collingwood defender Ben Reid.
Yet it is a sign of his professionalism that the former Dandenong Stingray returned for the start of pre-season in outstanding shape.
"I wanted to come back a little bit lighter and get my fitness up even a bit more," he said.
"I want to improve every aspect of my game really, but I want to be able to run in the midfield for a lot longer and play a lot more consistent football - and hopefully not break another bone."
Earmarked as a long-term replacement when Jude Bolton retires, Parker is well ahead of schedule, and has quickly bought into the Swans' ethos.
"I guess teams will be hunting us this year, but we don't really change our mindset," he said.
"The boys have come back in really good shape.
"A lot of younger guys like Jed Lamb are stepping up now and putting pressure on and guys like Kieren Jack and Dan Hannebery have come back in really good nick.
"So I don't think the boys are taking their minds off it and thinking 'That's enough'. I think they're coming back for another one."
