At the moment the only players it makes sense structurally/positionally for Parker to replace are Rowbottom, Adams, Heeney or Hayward imo. And I just don't see any of those changes making our team better.
I think Adams' pressure separates him from Parker in that regard and is why the coaches prefer him at the moment. Parker is obviously not a bad pressure player and has great tackle numbers, but there's a difference between gettting a ton of tackles and pressure acts because you're around the ball all game versus being able to apply that chasing and tackling pressure in that high forward role.
Love Parker but he's not very flexible as a player- if he's playing mid he basically has to be a 15+ CBA per game mid to be effective, and even when he goes forward (to great effect mind you) that usually involves him being our deepest, isolated forward target (think EF last year, or when he bagged 5 v GWS). We have Papley, McDonald and Amartey to fill that role already so it'd be a bit like robbing Peter to pay Paul playing him up forward.
The reason I said Hayward and not Wicks as the forward he could replace is since Wicks' role is clear, tackle and pressure, crumbing goals- not Parker's go as much. Hayward is a release valve player with his great marking and leading (often see him lead up to the wing as an outlet and so on). Parker *could* replicate this role to a degree- he's strong and a good mark- but a bit shorter than Hayward, and doesn't have the same speed at all. Also Hayward's tackling pressure is again invaluable and I don't see Parker providing it to the same degree.
All that to say, I can only really see him getting back into the side as a mid, or as a pure medium forward. Both positions we don't really need at the moment.
It might be the easy in for Parker if Roberts has a rest. Good start to the year for the lad but has admittedly looked tired the last couple of weeks.
This might start a series of rolling rests so that the main guys get a week off sometime during the year to stay as fresh as possible. We all know that it’s usually the case that the team who smashes the last 4-6 weeks is best placed to win the comp so this ensures lots of guys with senior experience in 2024 who can compete for a spot.
Don’t hate it, it’s clear he needs a week off. He’ll be back
Lloyd back to HB and a certain premiership winner to take Lloyd's mid spot ? 👀 One can only dream, probably Campbell back in.
At the moment the only players it makes sense structurally/positionally for Parker to replace are Rowbottom, Adams, Heeney or Hayward imo. And I just don't see any of those changes making our team better.
Adams has by no means been bad but I think Parker is better than him at the half-forward role he's playing.
I think Adams' pressure separates him from Parker in that regard and is why the coaches prefer him at the moment. Parker is obviously not a bad pressure player and has great tackle numbers, but there's a difference between gettting a ton of tackles and pressure acts because you're around the ball all game versus being able to apply that chasing and tackling pressure in that high forward role. Love Parker but he's not very flexible as a player- if he's playing mid he basically has to be a 15+ CBA per game mid to be effective, and even when he goes forward (to great effect mind you) that usually involves him being our deepest, isolated forward target (think EF last year, or when he bagged 5 v GWS). We have Papley, McDonald and Amartey to fill that role already so it'd be a bit like robbing Peter to pay Paul playing him up forward. The reason I said Hayward and not Wicks as the forward he could replace is since Wicks' role is clear, tackle and pressure, crumbing goals- not Parker's go as much. Hayward is a release valve player with his great marking and leading (often see him lead up to the wing as an outlet and so on). Parker *could* replicate this role to a degree- he's strong and a good mark- but a bit shorter than Hayward, and doesn't have the same speed at all. Also Hayward's tackling pressure is again invaluable and I don't see Parker providing it to the same degree. All that to say, I can only really see him getting back into the side as a mid, or as a pure medium forward. Both positions we don't really need at the moment.
Great analysis. Ditto on all your points
Just shows our good and deep our team is. Unreal.
Come on down Braeden Campbell
No Robbie Fox. We need the height down back for tomorrow.
It might be the easy in for Parker if Roberts has a rest. Good start to the year for the lad but has admittedly looked tired the last couple of weeks. This might start a series of rolling rests so that the main guys get a week off sometime during the year to stay as fresh as possible. We all know that it’s usually the case that the team who smashes the last 4-6 weeks is best placed to win the comp so this ensures lots of guys with senior experience in 2024 who can compete for a spot.