Future face of the Tigers claims top AFL Townsville honour
HERMIT Park Tigers coach Darren Andrews believes Callaway Parker’s recognition as the best in AFL Townsville was an inevitable accolade. Now he has challenged the young gun to test himself at the next level if he desires to make the elite ranks.
Parker won a tight race for the 2021 WJ Williams Medal, fending off a challenge from Thuringowa Bulldog Callan Hobbs to claim the best-andfairest title.
Andrews, who was also named as coach of the year in the RMS Engineering Premiership, has known Parker ever since the dynamic midfielder was a kid, often labelling his abilities as “Scott Pendlebury-like”.
The 19-year-old has previously had stints with the Gold Coast Suns Academy, however the pandemic convinced him to move back to Townsville in early 2020.
Andrews said Parker had always been very committed to his family, a factor which may outweigh any desires to reach the pinnacle of the sport. But he said the young gun had all the tools at his disposal to become a topline talent, it was a matter of whether he truly wanted it.
“He’s very family-orientated, he’s very close to his brothers and he’s very protective of his sister,” Andrews said. “He’s two or three steps in front of anyone else in the contest. You saw that when we re-watched the grand final for the third or fourth time, and some of his ability in clearances he’s always thinking ahead to the next contest.
“I hope he hangs around for our club’s sake, but if he wants to, he can go south and have a good crack at the next level.
“There’s plenty of interest from down south, I’ve had that many coach calls for him to go down there. It’s up to Callaway now.
“I said at the start of the year he’s definitely the best player in the league and he can go a long way if he wants to.”
Should Parker’s long-term future remain in Townsville, Andrews said he would be the man Hermit Park could build a club dynasty around.
With a host of teenagers entering the Tigers’ senior ranks, Andrews said he needed emerging leaders for that developing crop to aspire towards. Parker fits the mould he is chasing.
“He is a bloke you build a team around. Our average age is 19, we are definitely a bunch of babies,” Andrews said.
“When it comes to grown bodies, these kids are playing well above their years … (and) they feed off players like Callaway.
“When he’s up, you can guarantee everyone else will get up too.”