SPORT Fit Parker puts hand up

SYDNEY midfielder Luke Parker has made the stunning admission the Swans thought Hawthorn would hand the 2014 AFL grand final to them on a plate but vows his club won’t make the same mistake next weekend.

The Swans have booked the first spot in the 2016 season decider with a convincing 37point win over Geelong in Friday’s preliminary final at the MCG.

Parker yesterday declared himself a certain starter despite suffering a knee knock.

Sydney will contest their third grand final in the past five seasons after beating the Hawks in 2012 and getting thrashed by the same side in 2014.

“In 2014, at times we probably enjoyed the week and took it all in and obviously you don’t come with the right mindset,” Parker said yesterday. “This week you enjoy the win on the weekend but we move on pretty quick. There’s still one more job to be done.

“We think that’s probably the difference between last time (and now). We probably soaked it up a little bit too much and just took it for granted and thought the Hawks were going to hand it to us.

“Whoever we play next week, I’m sure it will be a different mindset.”

Parker gave Swans fans a fright when he hobbled off the MCG in the third quarter of Friday’s game.

“I’ll be in (the grand final) for sure. It would have to be a lot worse to pull out this week,” Parker said.

He had the injury strapped and returned to the ground and was certain he would be right after recovery work.

Parker was hopeful key defender and outstanding firstyear senior Aliir Aliir would also recover from injury.

“He’s been outstanding, Aliir, so hopefully he does get up,” Parker said. “But if not, the important thing is we’ve got such depth in the team that whoever comes in will do the same job and play just as well.”

He didn’t care who Sydney met in the grand final but admitted the Swans would like another crack at local rivals GWS.

He said the Swans’ poor performance in their qualifying final loss to GWS had driven them hard the next two weeks.