Parker was one of the driving forces behind the Swans leaving Adelaide Oval with four points and a renewed vigour following defeat in the opening two rounds of the season.
After collecting 26 touches, nine clearances and booting four goals in the Saturday afternoon contest, Parker told SwansTV the team’s second-half performance in posting its first win of the season was encouraging.
“It was good to finally get a four-quarter effort,” Parker said.
“Probably in the third quarters and fourth quarters in the last two matches we’ve been challenged and not been able to stand up, so I think it was good to finally run out the game, and I think everybody stood up and all 22 were on board.”
Going into the game with the potential of a zero-and-three start to the season for the first time since 1999, Parker said there was no panic within the club, led by the experienced players, and the on-field result was testament to that.
“I think there was a good feeling in the whole lead-up to the game,” he said.
“The boys are still confident that we could get the job done, we just wanted to play pretty basic football.
“The pressure was right up, and Benny McGlynn did a great job on (Patrick) Dangerfield, and the blokes just shut down their midfield and really stood up – especially the leaders.
“(The leaders) had a talk to us before the game about what they were going to bring today, and they certainly stood up and did that.”
Having controlled the majority of the first-half, the Swans were put under pressure when Adelaide roared back to life in the third term.
When Matthew Jaensch goaled from just on the 50-metre arc in the middle stages of the third term, the Swans’ lead had been cut to two points and the momentum was with the home side and the bulk of the 47-thousand supporters in attendance.
Quick goals to Tom Mitchell, Parker, Kieren Jack and Lance Franklin before three-quarter time arrested the Swans’ slide, a pivotal period in the match according to Parker.
“I think every time they kicked a couple of goals in a row, we answered straight back,” he said.
“It was great to see that when we were challenged we really stood up and took it to them.”
Lewis Jetta echoed Parker’s sentiments, saying the difference between Saturday’s display and the two previous rounds was being able to perform better for longer.
“When Adelaide got the momentum, I think you saw Pykey’s tackle, the rucks smacking in, and Luke Parker crashing in as well, and the main thing was we got our momentum back and we just went from there” Jetta told SwanTV in the rooms after the game.
“We did pretty much the same thing in the first two weeks, I think this time we just played four quarters.
“The first two weeks we had lapses late in the third (quarters) and in the last, and this game we just played four quarters.”
Watch Lewis Jetta speak to SwansTV in the Adelaide Oval rooms after Saturday's win
Jetta proved to be a vital cog between defence and attack for the Swans on Saturday afternoon, finishing the game with 18 possessions, seven inside 50s, a game-high six running bounces and two goal assists.
The 24-year-old said he gained confidence early in the match and teamed-up well with other hard runners Harry Cunningham and the Swans substitute, Gary Rohan.
“I needed to get going from the start, and once I got going I felt pretty good and the team needs my run,” Jetta said.
“If I’m not running I rely on Harry Cunningham or Gary Rohan to back me up as well.
“We rely on each other and once we’re all up and going, we’re pretty hard to stop.”
The Swans host North Melbourne this Sunday afternoon in the first game of 2014 at the recently redeveloped SCG.
Jetta said it will be crucial to replicate the form shown in round three against a Kangaroos outfit that defeated Port Adelaide on Sunday.
“It’s very important for us, we’ve got to get another win, especially our home game,” he said.
“We’ve just got to get off to a good start, and it starts on the training track this Monday and Tuesday, and we’ll just go from there.”
