Luke Parker breaks arm in pre-season game

Luke Parker has barely missed a game since 2016, so being without the veteran will be a fresh challenge for Sydney. LACHLAN MCKIRDY looks at the Swans options.

Luke Parker’s broken arm during the Swans’ practice match against the Giants last Thursday has thrown John Longmire an unexpected curveball just 10 days out from their season opener against Melbourne.

The incident occurred with barely 10 minutes remaining in the final quarter as Parker attempted to tackle Lachie Keeffe. Parker stuck out his left arm innocuously and immediately fell to his haunches as he held his arm.

Clearly in discomfort, Parker came from the ground with his left arm hanging by his side.

It’s a rare injury for the 31-year-old who has had incredible longevity since being taken with the 40th pick of the 2010 draft. Outside of the 2020 Covid season, Parker has played 22 or more games every year since 2016.

Parker underwent surgery for the break on Friday but an exact timeline for his return won’t be known until he consults with specialists later this week. He will miss the opening-round clash against the Dees but could potentially be out for a more significant period.

Parker suffered the injury in the final stages of the Swans’ hit out against the Giants. Picture: Phil Hillyard

It also puts in doubt a major milestone for Parker this season as he is just 17 matches away from bringing up 300 AFL games. He is already sixth on the list for the most games played at the Swans. He is still contracted at the club through to the end of 2025.

The 2024 season was always going to be a period of transition for Parker. He and Dane Rampe both stood aside from their captaincy duties earlier in the year to allow Callum Mills to transition into the stand-alone role.

Sydney’s midfield depth also was set to see him spend more time forward of the ball. No Swan attended more than Parker’s 74.3 per cent of centre bounces last year. However, he only attended 50 per cent during Thursday’s practice match.

Assistant coach Mark McVeigh admitted that Parker’s versatility meant that he was suited to a more hybrid role in the future.

“I think all mids need to be flexible because of the depth that we’ve got in there and the talent,” McVeigh said.

“Parks has been a wonderful player for a long period of time. And what’s made him great is he’s not a one-position player, he can play forward as well.

“So we’ve got to utilise that strength when we need to, so we’ve had a good look at him there at times, we’ve had a good look at him clearly inside. But when he goes forward he’s very dangerous.

“Chad (Warner) can go there, Taylor (Adams) can play there as well who’s done that role at Collingwood previously. So that’s the beauty of having a player like Parks that they can do that.”

New recruit Taylor Adams will get his first minutes as a Swan in Thursday’s match against the Lions. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Adams will likely get the first shot at filling in for Parker after sitting out last week’s game against the Giants.

The 30-year-old was brought to Sydney to add to the experience in the Swans’ engine room, but with both Parker and Mills out for the early part of the season, that will be more important than ever.

Parker’s injury could also see Errol Gulden spend more time on the ball, although his ability to have a multifaceted impact on the wing is still preferred.

A simple solution for Longmire’s side could be to finally deploy Isaac Heeney as an out-and-out midfielder who can occasionally drift forward. He also attended 50 per cent of centre bounces during the Giants’ match and it’s clear 2024 could be the chance we finally see him more regularly through the middle.

That move would then create a path for Robbie Fox to play as a defensive half-forward after impressing throughout the pre-season.

There is real excitement about Sheldrick’s potential and Parker’s injury could open the door for him to play in the opening round. Picture: Phil Hillyard

However, the exciting option could be to throw Angus Sheldrick straight into the mix. The 20-year-old quickly became a fan favourite after showing flashes of his ability in 2023 and earned a Rising Star nomination before a syndesmosis injury ended his season prematurely.

Sydney coaches are eager for him to make the full-time transition into the senior side and the young WA product had a big impact during last week’s AFL and VFL practice matches.

While losing a player of Parker’s experience so close to the start of the season is never ideal, Sydney’s midfield is probably the one area where they have the depth to recover.

The question now is whether Longmire goes all in with youth again alongside the likes of Warner and James Rowbottom, or whether he turns to his older heads to get the job done.