GIANTS superstar Alyce Parker will add 50 AFLW games to her growing list of incredible achievements when the GIANTS host the Western Bulldogs in their 2024 season opener in Canberra on Saturday.
Drafted ahead of the 2019 season, Parker has quickly cemented herself as one of the competition’s A-graders, with the recently turned 24-year-old already a record four-time club champion, a two-time All Australian and a two-time 22Under22 selection.
As she prepares to celebrate her 50-game milestone, we’ve compiled a list of Parker’s top 10 performances across her brilliant 49-game career to date.
- Round 3, 2022 v Swans
Coming in at number 10 in Parker’s best performances in orange and charcoal is the historic first AFLW Sydney Derby in 2022.
While not as high as some of the numbers she has collected, Parker’s influence in helping the GIANTS hand the Swans a 47-point loss at the SCG was immense.
Parker finished the inaugural AFLW Battle of the Bridge with 22 touches (14 contested), five marks, five clearances and three tackles to earn herself the three AFLW Best and Fairest votes as well as eight coachesvotes.
- Round 1, 2021 v Dockers
Parker opened her 2021 campaign with a superb round one performance in a tough loss to the Dockers, finishing with 28 touches (18 contested), seven clearances and 409 meters gained.
Receiving eight coaches votes and one AFLW Best and Fairest vote, the performance kick-started a brilliant 2021 season for Parker which saw her claim her second successive All-Australian blazer.
- Round 3, 2021 v Suns
Parker continued her brilliant 2021 campaign two weeks later with a best-on-ground performance in a win over the Suns in Blacktown.
The midfield bull finished with a match-high 24 touches to go along with five tackles, five inside-50s and six clearances in the 10-point win.
Parker received all 10 coaches votes and the three AFLW Best and Fairest votes for the display.
- Round 6, 2023 v Eagles
A clearance clinic comes in at number seven, with Parker collecting a match-high 23 touches (16 contested) and a whopping 10 clearances in a 20-point win over the Eagles in Blacktown last season. The midfield masterclass earned Parker three AFLW Best and Fairest votes.
- Round 8, 2021 v Cats
Coming in at number six was a brilliant all-round performance in 2021 that helped the GIANTS keep their finals hopes alive with an epic seven-point win over the Cats at GMHBA Stadium.
Parker continued her emergence as a star of the competition to finish with 25 disposals, five marks, four tackles and five clearances to claim best-on-ground honours once again.
The clutch performance garnered Parker all 10 coaches votes and the three AFLW Best and Fairest votes.
- Round 4, 2023 v Crows
Despite a big loss at Manuka Oval, Parker was at her brilliant best against the Crows last season to finish with 31 touches (the second most of her career), 21 of which were kicks (a new career-high) and 10 clearances – the second most of her career.
- Round 7, 2021 v Saints
An inspirational performance in torrential rain in Moorabbin comes in at number four, with Parker helping lead the GIANTS to a 20-point win over the Saints at RSEA Park.
Just 20 years old at the time, Parker continued her emergence as one of the best young talents in the competition to finish with 28 touches (20 of which were contested to set a new career-high at the time), seven inside-50s, six clearances and four tackles.
The inspired performance earnt the young gun eight out of a possible 10 coaches votes, as well as the three AFLW Best and Fairest votes.
- Round 5, 2023 v Kangaroos
Coming in at number three is a record-breaking performance from last season. Despite a 30-point loss to the eventual grand-final runners-up, Parker was dominant against the ‘Roos to set a new club-record with 34 touches in a brilliant performance at Arden Street Oval. Parker added a career-high 10 tackles and five clearances to receive eight coaches votes despite the loss.
Interestingly Parker received no AFLW Best and Fairest votes in the loss.
- Round 6, 2020 v Crows
Parker’s second-best outing to date remarkably came as a teenager in just her 13th AFLW game.
Just 19 years old, Parker put in a historic performance to help the GIANTS upset the reigning premiers in the last round of the home and away season to book the GIANTS into their first-ever AFLW finals series.
Parker was brilliant in the five-point victory over the Crows in Adelaide, finishing with 30 disposals, a career-high eight inside-50s, and six clearances in a starring performance. Parker also set a career-high - which still stands - with 574 metres gained.
Amazingly, the talented teenager’s breakout performance received the full 10 coaches votes but no votes in the AFLW Best and Fairest count.
In just her second AFLW season, Parker was rewarded with her maiden selection in the All-Australian team just a few weeks later.
- Round 8, 2022 (S7) v Hawks
An inspirational performance in a thrilling win over the Hawks in season seven comes in at number one in Parker’s long list of starring performances across her 49 games to date.
While a behind from teammate Nic Barr with four seconds left gave the GIANTS an epic one-point win at Henson Park, it was Parker who led from the front all day to finish with 30 touches (18 contested), a career-high 11 clearances and seven inside-50s in a brilliant best-on-ground display.
Parker received 10 coaches votes and three votes in the AFLW Best and Fairest for the display.
Parker will look to continue her brilliant career on Saturday in her 50th AFLW game as her and the GIANTS aim to kick-start their 2024 campaign with a win over the Bulldogs at Manuka Oval.
The clash will get under way at 1:05pm, with gates open at 12:05pm.
Don’t miss out on being part of a big big AFLW season by becoming a member today, with tickets also now on sale.
