PARKER, Geoff

Geoff Parker was a skilful half-forward and centreman from Ringwood. He was an Under 17 All-Australian in 1984 and a member of the Victorian Teal Cup side in 1985. When still at school, he was selected in the Victorian Schoolboy squad to tour Ireland. Future team-mate Dean Bailey was from the same school and in the same squad.

He struggled to get into the senior side in 1987 and his only game was in a win over the West Coast Eagles in Round 15. However he did win the award for Best and Fairest in the Reserves that year.

Parker was also a talented cricketer and had captained the Under 19 Australian team for three tests and 12 ODI games in the 1980s, including captaining them when they won the 1988 Youth World Cup. He went on to play 37 first class games for Victoria and South Australia.

In 1989, he turned down a chance to play cricket in England to return to Essendon. He played two more games in Rounds 12 and 13.

Parker became head recruiting manager for Port Adelaide in 2012. His nephew, Wil Parker, became the fourth-youngest cricketer to make their first-class debut for Victoria when he played his first game in February 2020.