COAST’S RIVALS TURN NEW PAIGE

Parker wins over Brisbane boss in Winter Series

PAIGE Parker’s dominant Winter Series display for the Suns has proven enough to open the door to the AFLW.

The 23-year-old yesterday joined four other Gold Coast athletes in earning selection in the league’s draft.

Parker, a tall rebounding defender, will link with Brisbane, ironically after a powerful effort against the Lions earlier in the year helped get her noticed.

“To see her play against people already on our list and to say ‘right, she can handle the level now’,” Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich said.

“She is making decisions and getting her hands on the footy and competing with people already on an AFLW list was probably the clincher.”

WATCHING Paige Parker take it to Brisbane during the Winter Series convinced Lions AFLW coach Craig Starcevich she was ready to join his side.

Parker, taken by the Lions with pick 9 in yesterday’s draft, has been part of the Lions training squad for the past two years, moulding her game after making the transition from representative touch football.

The 23-year-old, while play- ing for the Gold Coast Suns, took it to the two-time AFLW grand finalists earlier this year and Starcevich knew it was time to officially recruit the tall rebounding defender.

“To see her play against people already on our list and to say, ‘right, she can handle the level now’,” he said.

“She is making decisions and getting her hands on the footy. Competing with people already on an AFLW list was probably the clincher.

“She has really only been playing footy for three years, We have really liked her athleticism ... but it’s taken her a little bit of time to get her head around AFL and what she can bring to the table with the way she plays while getting her skills up to a really good level.

“This year in both QWAFL (for Coorparoo) and in the Winter Series for the Suns she has really stepped it right up and proven she is ready to go.”

Parker was one of three Suns players to be taken by the Lions along with ruck Lauren Bella (pick 45) and Tori Groves-Little (54).

Fellow Suns Winter Series players Jordan Membrey (Collingwood, pick 51) and Delma Gisu (GWS, pick 67) were also drafted. Brisbane spent the earliest stages of their time in the AFLW playing with undersized rucks but now have two genuine talls in the role with Bella, 188cm, set to join Jessy Keeffe, 186cm, at the club.

The Mackay product, twotime under-18 All-Australian and AFLW academy player was an obvious choice for Starcevich.

Fellow Suns hopeful Georgia Brehmer was not chosen.