Alyce Parker committed to making GWS Giants great
THERE is no questioning the commitment of GWS Giants draftee Alyce Parker. From juggling exams to fully committing to footy for 2019, she’s determined to be a success.
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THERE is no questioning the commitment of GWS Giants No.1 draft pick Alyce Parker.
When the 18-year-old received her HSC timetable, the first thing she did was check whether the AFLW draft clashed with anything.
It did, her English exam.
Assurances from her manager that the draft would likely shift proved true and it was scheduled for a week later on October 23.
That didn’t help Parker. She had her agriculture exam that afternoon and biology the next morning.
She wasn’t to be deterred though.
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Distraught at the thought of having to miss the AFLW draft, she arranged to sit her agriculture exam in Melbourne so she could be at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday just gone to hear her name called as the Giants’ first pick. Not long after she left for HSC duties and flew home that night to be at school the next morning for take her biology final.
“Being at the draft and the hype of it, it was good to be a part of but I couldn’t enjoy it as much as other girls because I had to leave after,” Parker said.
“It was challenging to sit in a room by myself having come straight from the draft and wearing my Giants guernsey still.
“I think it went well considering and am really glad it’s done.”
Parker has hit the school books hard this year with the goal to “get an ATAR as high as I can”, but university will wait while she pursues her AFLW dream.
Pre-season starts mid-November for the Giants and the teenager will move from the farm in Holbrook, southern NSW in just a couple of weeks’ time.
She’s under no illusions how tough the transition from country life to the big city will be, but she’s ready to give it her all.
“It will be my biggest challenge, especially coming from a country area that I very much love,” Parker said.
“To pick up and leave this will be hard. I’m not expecting it to be easy but I’m willing to do that.
“At the same time, compared to the boys it’s a very quick season and I’ll have opportunities to come back home. I’m looking forward to the experience.”
Giants coach Al McConnell wanted the Thurgoona Bulldogs midfielder because she would bring skill, speed and aggression to the squad.
They’re attributes honed not only on the football field, but in pools, on the athletics track, cricket pitch and courts of netball, basketball and tennis.
A multi-talented athlete who hasn’t ruled out trying her hand at other sports down the track, but for now, she’s looking forward to officially joining the GWS fold after being in their system for a couple of years.
“I’ve been really lucky. I’ve spent the last two to three years building a connection with them (Giants squad),” Parker said. “With the likes of Alicia Eva and Nic Barr, who were my coaches this year.
“It’s pretty exciting going from the idea of them being my coach to my teammate.
“I’m moving in with Erin McKinnon, who has been a friend for the past five years. I started schoolgirls with Erin and moved to the under-18 program with her. It’s been awesome to see her get drafted and progress the last couple of years in AFLW.
“Who would have thought three years ago that we’d be housemates!”
GIANTS 2019 FIXTURE
(Home games in bold)
Sunday, Feb 3, 4.05pm v Brisbane (Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex)
Friday, Feb 8, 7.15pm v Nth Melbourne (Drummoyne Oval)
Saturday, Feb 16, 4.45pm v Carlton (Blacktown Int Sportspark)
Sunday, Feb 24, 2.05pm v Collingwood (Morwell Recreation Reserve)
Sunday, March 3, 2.05pm v Melbourne (Blacktown Int Sportspark)
Sunday, March 10, 1.35pm (CDT) v Adelaide (Unley Oval)
Friday, March 15, 7.15pm v Geelong (UNSW Canberra Oval)
2019 GIANTS AFLW List: Jacinda Barclay, Nicola Barr, Rebecca Beeson, Elle Bennetts, Christina Bernardi, Yvonne Bonner, Ellie Brush, Maddy Collier, Jess Dal Pos, Taylah Davies, Alicia Eva, Amanda Farrugia, Delma Gisu, Courtney Gum, Tanya Hetherington, Jodie Hicks, Tait Mackrill, Erin McKinnon, Phoebe Monahan, Ingrid Nielsen, Ebony O’Dea, Alyce Parker, Brittany Perry, Pepa Randall, Aimee Schmidt, Cora Staunton, Louise Stephenson, Emma Swanson, Renee Tomkins, Lisa Whiteley, Haneen Zrieka
Originally published as Alyce Parker committed to making GWS Giants great
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