Parker named AFLW Under-18 All Australian Captain

Holbrook’s Alyce Parker has been announced as the Captain of the 2018 AFL Women’s Under-18 All Australian team.

Capping off what has been a stellar year for the 18-year-old, Parker received the honour at Adelaide Oval where the final team was announced following the All Stars versus Victoria Exhibition Match on Friday night. While Parker was rested for the match, her performances across the 2018 NAB AFL Women’s Under-18s Championships proved strong enough for her to receive the accolade.

For the ever-modest Parker, to be named the Captain of the team was an honour.

“To be announced as the Captain of the All Australian side was extremely humbling considering there a number of impressive young leaders involved in the Under-18 pathway, who I have been fortunate enough to play alongside or against in recent years,” said Parker.

“To be considered as a Captain of such a talented and exciting group of young women is extremely rewarding in itself, but personally it is almost a reward for the effort I’ve put into my development, not only as a footballer, but as a person over the last 12 months.”

Parker credits her AFL NSW/ACT Youth Girls Head Coach, Alicia Eva with much of her growth over the past season of football.

“To have Alicia there [when named Captain] also made the achievement more special, as she has had a huge impact on my journey in 2018, and has helped me do all the things I have been able to achieve this year. ”

In 2018, Parker has received the MVP Award for both the AFL NSW/ACT Rams and Eastern Allies sides across the 2018 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships where she also Co-Captained the Eastern Allies alongside Tasmanian, Lauren Stevenson.

Recently, Parker’s Thurgoona Bulldogs took home the AFLNEB Female Football League Premiership where she was also named Best on Ground in the Grand Final.

While it has already been a big year for Parker, the biggest moments are yet to come with the 2018 NAB AFL Women’s Draft Combine on October 2-3 in Melbourne, followed by the Draft on October 23. Among these events, Parker will also be sitting for her HSC exams.

“We are just a month out from the Draft Combine now, so my focus is getting my body into the best position to perform at a high level and hopefully end up on a list come October 23.”

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