Parker’s three majors in the semi final was the second time in three weeks the young Swan has slotted three goals, after he also achieving the feat in the round 23 loss to Hawthorn.
An early injury to Kurt Tippett, which saw the key forward subbed out of the game in the first term, saw Parker move deeper into the Swans forward line, which the 20-year-old made the most of.
Following a first half goal, Parker piled on two more goals in as many minutes in the third quarter to help the Swans to a 54-point lead at the final change.
Speaking to SwansTV following the win, Parker said he was pleased to have provided another target in the forward line in Saturday night’s match.
“I had to change my role at the start of the game and play a little bit deeper forward,” he said.
“It’s just good to be able to get involved in a few goals, and a few gives off, and I just tried to be dangerous around goal and put forward line pressure on.”
With Tippett subbed out and midfielder Tom Mitchell ruled out for the match ahead of half time, the Swans battled on in the second half with just two on the interchange bench.
Parker, who gathered 22 possessions in addition to his three goals, said it was a gutsy effort from the Swans to grind out a win undermanned.
“A lot of us didn’t come off in the second half or get much of a rest, but just the effort by the boys and the leaders to stand up and the way everyone played their role was terrific,” he said.
“Everyone had a crack and the buzz was really out there and everyone had a great mindset the whole night.”
Another young Swan who made his mark in Saturday night’s win was finals debutant Harry Cunningham, who finished the match with 15 disposals and two goals.
Speaking after just his fifth AFL match, Cunningham said he loved his first finals experience and had plenty of support on and off the field from the club’s leadership ground.
“Finals footy really steps up in the running capacity and the hard work and the contested footy,” Cunningham told SwansTV.
“All the leaders were really good today, especially to us younger blokes who were in our first or second final.
“The likes of Jude Bolton, Jarrad McVeigh and Ryan O’Keefe, they were always up and about, and even Rhyce Shaw and Adam Goodes who aren’t playing were really good.
“They sort of settled me down a bit and just made me feel like it was just another game and that I should just go out there and play my role and stick to the structures and everything else will come.”
Cunningham highlighted Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh’s performance, who achieved a career-high 42 disposals and two goals, as the perfect example of leading from the front.
“He was massive today, not just with his possessions, but with his voice,” he said.
“He’s so loud out there and so instructional and always helping out everyone on the team and he definitely had a massive presence out on the ground today.
“Leaders do stand up in finals and Jarrad definitely did that today.”
Cunningham also marked his finals debut with his first ever AFL goal, which was achieved from a set shot in the second term.
“It was pretty exciting, actually,” he said.
“I suppose I got the hoodoo of the back pretty early so it was very exciting times and I’m glad it went through.
“I carried on a little bit with the celebration, but it’s alright!”
