Collingwood cricket recruit Wil Parker stars in VFL debut off half back

A former Victorian cricketer-turned Collingwood Magpie turned heads in his VFL debut, with the Category B rookie ‘comfortable’ at the level.

Wil Parker is now starring off Collingwood’s half back flank. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Collingwood’s newest recruit Wil Parker has hit the ground running with an impressive VFL debut as he tries to achieve a feat even Shane Warne and Kevin Sheedy before him never accomplished.

The former Victorian first class leg spinner joined Collingwood as a Category B rookie in February after playing four first-class games for his state, Twenty20 for the Hobart Hurricanes and the one-day Marsh Cup for Victoria.

On Sunday, Parker won 22 possessions and kicked a lovely long-range goal in three quarters playing halfback, with Pies VFL coach Josh Fraser telling the Herald Sun he looked totally comfortable at the level in his first game for Collingwood.

Warne is an Australian great, but only played reserves and under-19s for St Kilda before being delisted and concentrating on bamboozling cricket opponents with his leg spin.

Richmond back pocket and AFL legend Sheedy played first XI cricket with Richmond, but was eventually banned by his VFL club from playing in a cricket grand final when it clashed with a pre-season game.

Parker has plenty to live up to, but if his debut VFL clash is evidence, he is on track to play AFL at the highest level as well as state cricket.

Wil Parker. Picture: Craig Golding

Parker had been tipped as a possible top-20 draft selection in 2020, but chose a Victorian cricket contract when Covid denied him the chance to play football that season.

“I was pleasantly surprised with how comfortable he looked out there and I am sure he will continue to get better,” said Fraser, after Parker’s polished debut.

“He came in (late February) and you are trying to set him up through a hybrid pre-season, we didn’t want to put him out too early, but the way he’s progressed and the work he put in, the timing was right. He looked at home and slotted in well.

“He started at halfback; that’s where we will develop him in the short-term and there is no ceiling on where he could potentially play. I was impressed with his contest work and decision and execution with the ball. He just made really strong decisions. He wasn’t tentative or second-guessing himself at all. He looked really comfortable out there.”

Collingwood’s American Pie, Mason Cox, made his debut on Anzac Day as a Category B rookie and has won the club preliminary finals, while Irishman Marty Clarke played 73 games for the club across two stints.

“Speaking to Derek Hine and the recruiters, there was a lot of interest in him in his draft year and he ultimately went to cricket, but there was more than enough to suggest we could have a pretty handy player in time,” said Fraser of Parker.

“He hasn’t played a lot of footy in the last couple of years, but he’s certainly made an impressive start and not to say it will be all upwards from here. But (he will) keep working hard and you never know what is around the corner.

“He has got a really strong foundation to build from.”