Despite producing his best year to date, where he played every match, it wasn’t until the last moment in Dennis Carroll’s speech that the 20-year-old knew his name was about to be called.
“I really wasn’t expecting it at all until Dennis (Carroll) started to talk really and then I’ve gone ‘Oh no, this is me’ so I chucked the jacket on quickly and ran up there,” Parker told SwansTV.
“It was an absolutely amazing feeling.
“It was an absolute honour.”
In his third season at the club, Parker developed into one of the Swans’ most consistent young players, and averaged just over 20 disposals and five tackles per game in 2013.
Parker recorded a top-ten finish in this year’s Bob Skilton Medal count, where he finished in sixth place with 542 votes behind only Jarrad McVeigh, Kieren Jack, Josh Kennedy, Dan Hannebery and Ryan O’Keefe.
The young Swan said his improvement in 2013 was a direct result of playing on a more consistent basis.
“The more games you get into, the more you get a feel for the game and it slows down a bit for you,” he said.
“I guess the amount of games I was able to play this year really helped in improving my awareness around the football.”
Parker follows in the footsteps of previous Most Improved Players including Lewis Jetta, Mike Pyke, Ted Richards and Jarrad McVeigh, all who have gone on to play important roles at the Swans.
Parker, who will celebrate his 21st birthday as well as travel to Bali with his team mates during the off-season break, said he hoped to further improve his game when he returns to the club in November for the start of the Swans’ pre-season training program.
“Obviously I want to work on my engine still, so spreading from the contests and stuff like that would be things I want to improve,” he said.
“It will all come in time and hopefully it will go to another level next year.”
