Former Hockeyroo joins Collingwood in AFLW

Retired Hockeyroos player Georgie Parker is the latest athlete from a rival sport to join the AFLW after signing with Collingwood for next season.

Parker featured prominently in Australia’s unsuccessful Rio Olympics campaign last year but quit the national hockey team at the Games’ end.

The 28-year-old Commonwealth Games gold medallist joins the Magpies as a rookie-listed player.

Meanwhile, Collingwood have traded club champion runner-up Alicia Eva to Greater Western Sydney.

Parker’s recruitment comes a day after Collingwood signed former volleyballer Eliza Hynes, also as a rookie, on Monday.

After the disappointment of missing out on an Olympic medal, Parker’s interest in the AFLW piqued when she attended the opening match of last year’s inaugural season.

But her football education began much earlier.

“Growing up I was the only girl at footy clinics,” Parker told the club’s website.

“So I’m over the moon to have an opportunity to play the sport I have always been so passionate about.”

Parker and Hynes this week joined the list of AFLW players recruited from rival sports.

Last season’s league best-and-fairest winner Erin Phillips of Adelaide is an accomplished basketballer, playing for Australia in multiple Olympics.

Fremantle’s Kim Mickle (javelin), Brianna Davey (soccer) of Carlton, Greater Western Sydney player Jessica Bibby (basketball) and Emma Kearney (cricket) from the Western Bulldogs are also among those to switch from other sports.

In return for Eva, Collingwood receives draft picks one and nine but relinquishes its pick No.5.

It has on-traded its picks one, four and 12 to the Western Bulldogs in exchange for midfielder Jaimee Lambert and their third draft pick.

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