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Luke Parker has been working on his leadership with Brett Kirk

SYDNEY captain Josh Kennedy is in no danger of losing his job but Luke Parker has been working on his leadership whenever the position becomes available in coming years.

Luke Parker takes time out during a Swans training session in Coffs Harbour. Picture: Nathan Edwards
Luke Parker takes time out during a Swans training session in Coffs Harbour. Picture: Nathan Edwards

LUKE Parker wants to captain the Swans and is doing everything he can to be ready for the job should he get the call up in the coming years.

The 25-year-old’s CV looks like he made it up when he was a teenager dreaming of playing in the AFL — 151 games, 2012 premiership, two Bob Skilton Medals (2014,2017), two Robert Rose Medals (AFL’s most courageous player 2015,2016) and All Australian selection (2016).

Incumbent Josh Kennedy is in no danger of losing his job and Parker will have plenty of competition for the job from his fellow lieutenants Dan Hannebery and Dane Rampe should Sydney stay with their single captain model.

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Right now the reigning best and fairest is just working on his leadership like it’s just another part of his footballing skill set.

“It’s something I continue to work on,” Parker told the Daily Telegraph.

“It’s an important thing for me to keep taking that next step forward. I don’t want to be one of those players who forces it, I want it to happen naturally. The older you get the more games you play the more mature you become.

“There are incredible players and past players at the club who you can feed off and develop that side of your game.”

Sydney’s Luke Parker recovers during a training session at Coffs Harbour. Picture: Nathan Edwards
Sydney’s Luke Parker recovers during a training session at Coffs Harbour. Picture: Nathan Edwards

Sydney do leadership well, the last two decades of Swans success has been characterised by great captains. Paul Kelly was one of the very best for more than a decade.

He was followed by Stuart Maxfield who was pivotal in the development of the famous ‘Bloods’culture. Then came the start of the co-captain era with Barry Hall, Leo Barry and Brett Kirk.

Kirk made a name for himself as only of Sydney’s great skippers after being delisted by the club twice before he had played a senior game. He is now working closely with Parker as the Swans midfield coach.

“You can see Brett’s care and passion for the club,” Parker said.

“He was a captain of the club and the sort of bloke you want to learn off. I’ve built a really good relationship with him and got to know him better. We know what works for both of us.”

Parker like incumbent captain Kennedy also has the benefit of two team mates who led the club until just a year ago in Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack.

“I have learned from Macca and Kizza,” Parker said.

“We’ve had such a variety of quality leaders and you can pick up things from all of them. We’ve got different sorts of leaders and he had his way of going about things, the way he spoke to his players and the way he led on game day. You can pick and choose what you want to be known for and I take a few things from him.”

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/teams/sydney/luke-parker-has-been-working-on-his-leadership-with-brett-kirk/news-story/37d567fd04a5347d524c4c6c2a07e164