He’s not talking up his own team’s bright prospects, but Swans midfield star Luke Parker has surprisingly declared he expects cross-town rivals GWS Giants to go deep into the AFL finals.
The Swans and Giants both have a 6-2 record and are running third and fourth respectively after each won their latest game.
The Swans shaded the Hawks by four points in the MCG rematch of last season’s grand final, with Parker kicking the match-winning goal.
A few hours earlier on Saturday, GWS scored a 24-point home victory over Adelaide to clinch their first three-game winning streak.
With less than half the competition played the Giants have already equalled their best-ever complete season haul of wins set last year and may have half the victories needed to make a maiden finals appearance.
“They are doing really well at the moment, I think their list is running out games well,” Parker said.
“They are improving each game and you see their confidence is up.
“Blokes like Jeremy Cameron and Dylan Shiel are really taking their game to another level.
“I think they are a great team. They are going to be a big contender this year and I think they will go definitely deep into finals.”
Although prepared to talk the Giants up, Parker was predictably more circumspect about the Swans’ prospects, despite them notching a third straight win and knocking off the reigning premiers.
Asked about trying to catch unbeaten ladder leaders Fremantle, who are eight points to the good, Parker said: “we don’t look too far ahead.”
He wants the Swans to show the same attitude at home to lowly Carlton on Friday as they did in their intense clash with Hawthorn.
“We knew if we won this game (against Hawthorn) it puts us two (wins) ahead of those blokes,” Parker said.
“It’s really good to set up our season and the main thing is we come out next week and bring that same aggression and same intensity.
“It’s great to win against quality teams so early in the season, it gives you confidence going through the rest of the season.”
Superstar forward Lance Franklin went goalless for the second time in three games.
However, Parker wasn’t expecting Franklin to get another box of doughnuts like he did two weeks ago, after missing out against Melbourne.
“We’ll leave him alone this week,” Parker quipped.
