All drive, no park – Why AFL Draft smokey Charlie Parker is only just getting started
Written by Will Faulkner
In the space of just two years, Charlie Parker has gone from one of the best 1st Grade spin bowlers in South Australia, to being on the radar of AFL clubs.
With the second round onwards of the 2021 AFL Draft to be held tomorrow and Friday (25 and 26 November), Charlie has had interest from clubs hoping to add the athlete to their list for the 2022 season.
An elite runner off the wing and half-back flank, the 24-year-old shot to local stardom this year during his first season at SANFL level.
However, Parker’s road to a potential AFL contract has been much more left-field than others in this year’s draft pool.
Prior to a change in sporting code, the multi-talented athlete played several years of 1st Grade cricket at Sturt, which is also his local cricket club.
With dozens of wickets at 1st Grade level, the decision to convert his time and energy to AFL was naturally a hard one.
Before his time at the Sturt Football Club, Charlie was a leg-spin bowler for the district at 1st Grade level - Photo credit: Michael Marschall
“Ever since playing [cricket] in England a few years ago, I’ve made sure to play sport for the fun of it.”
“Halfway through the 2019/20 season, I realised that I wasn’t enjoying my cricket as much as what I used to, and had a fair idea I wasn’t going to play beyond that season,” noted Charlie.
His self-confessed desire to play and train for football all throughout summer was an indicator of where his heart was headed.
From there, a much clearer mindset allowed Charlie to finish out his final cricket season successfully and turn his focus to building his game at amateur level for Adelaide University.
A purple patch during the COVID-interrupted 2020 season for the Uni Blacks drew enough attention for him to be recommended for higher honours at district club Sturt.
Given the opportunity by Sturt, a club home to his father Stephen and an uncle of his as former players, inspired his drive to be the best player even further, particularly with a new sentimental connection.
The Parker family have always had blue in their genes - Photo credit: Dean Martin
A successful pre-season heading into 2021 with the Double Blues meant that an opportunity at league level was not far away, with Charlie quickly finding himself a popular squad member in the process.
“Players like Guy Page, Mark Evans and Matt Crocker all took me under their wing… I didn’t know them before coming to the club, so they’ve been really welcoming.”
“Steve Slimming and Joel Thiele have also been great; I’ve known them for a long time so it’s great to play alongside them.” Parker said of his childhood friends.
From there, it took Charlie just three reserves games to find himself at SANFL League level playing against the best of the rest.
In his nine games for the Double Blues in the League side, Parker looked beyond comfortable, and felt similarly.
“I felt really comfortable at league level… I guess you get a better idea of where you sit when you play current and former AFL-listed players, but I didn’t feel out of my depth at all,”
His high disposal efficiency, paired with elite fitness levels and a booming right foot have made for an already impressive highlights reel; headlined by a match-saving run down tackle on this year’s number one draft pick Jason Horne-Francis in Round 12.
Despite only nine league games, Parker's highlight's reel is full of content - Photo credit: Sturt Football Club
A last-minute bid for this year’s mid-season draft was encouraged by league coach and former AFL player Marty Mattner, after interest from AFL clubs was made apparent.
A lack of injuries on the lists of the interested clubs meant Parker continued to play at Sturt, before a broken collarbone in Round 15 ended his season prematurely.
Despite the physical setback, Charlie’s mental strength and attitude is undoubtably one of the best in the SANFL competition.
His ability to successfully manage football, study and work is commendable, and he attributes his success to having such a flexible working lifestyle.
Having seen first-hand the importance of holding a routine outside of professional sport in his time working at the West End Redbacks, Parker strongly emphasised how he goes about juggling life.
Composure on and off the field is a very strong asset of Charlie's - Photo credit: Sturt Football Club
“I still want to be able to use my brain intellectually away from football… if I’m not playing AFL next year, I’d love to be working and meeting new people at Lululemon,” exclaimed the first-year Sturt player.
Heading into the draft, Charlie stated that he will be ‘unphased’ if he doesn’t get picked up, knowing that he can continue to improve his game at Sturt; a place he says he has enjoyed playing footy the most out of any club.
Interest from clubs around the mid-season draft has carried through into this week's main and rookie draft; a testament to a player who has caught so many eyes in just his first year of semi-professional football.
Should he not be picked by one of the many clubs, the 24-year-old hopes to be accepted into occupational therapy next year as he continues to be the best player he can be.
For now, Charlie continues to control what he can, aiming to lock down a position in the league team for good and relish any opportunities that come his way.
As hundreds of friends, family members and supporters look on across the next two days in hope to see the cult figure’s name read out, they can watch with ease knowing that his extraordinary burst into the spotlight this year is a sign of things to come – whatever level Parker plays at.
His unmatched drive will keep Charlie on the road to success for many years to come - and he plans to enjoy every moment of it.