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LATE CALL-UP
Young Swan the right man in an emergency JA MES DA MPNEY
M
oments before the Sydney Swans were due to take on Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium last Saturday night, emergency Luke Parker was sitting in the rooms while teammate Jude Bolton was attempting a seemingly innocuous kick in the warm-up. Since he made his debut in 1999, Bolton has been one of the Swans’ most durable players. He had played all 14 games in 2011 and had logged 145 matches on end, the longest streak among active players. Third on Sydney’s games list (271), Bolton hadn’t missed a match since round 14 of 2005 and had been in some of the best form of his career.
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AFL RECORD
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ANSWERING THE CALL: Luke Parker was
impressive after replacing Jude Bolton, who was injured in the warm-up.
But the 31-year-old hyper-extended his knee in the warm-up and was unable to take his place in the team against the Suns. Coach John Longmire was understandably surprised by Bolton’s late withdrawal, but quickly turned to first-year Swan Parker. “We literally walked straight in after the warm-up
and said, ‘You’re playing’,” Longmire said of his instructions to Parker. “He had 10 minutes to get himself mentally and physically ready to play. “It’s a real credit to his mental resilience to be able to prepare himself and then have a real impact on the game. “I think he might have (had his boots on), but that’s probably
standard for an emergency to be fully su suited up. “Obviousl “Obviously, you’re not allowed on the ground or to do any warm-up, (but) he’s a quality kid, so it was good to see him h perform the way he d did.” Far from b being rattled, the 18-year-old rresponded with 26 disposals and two goals in just his fifth AFL game. Pick No. 40 in last year’s NAB AFL Draft, Parker clearly has a level head on his shoulders. “It was basically five minutes before the game. The boys had come in from the warm-up and John came in and said, ‘Get ready’,” Parker said. “I was hoping I would get a go. You have to prepare as if you are playing (as an emergency). “I was a bit excited, but it was not a good way for Jude to go.” Longmire said Parker had done enough to retain his place against Fremantle this week, regardless of Bolton’s recovery. “It would be hard to put him out of the team anyway just in regards to that performance,” he said. “He was really good and showed some energy.”