The Carlton Football Club is pleased to announce defender Wil Parker has put pen to paper, joining the Blues as a delisted free agent.

A dual code athlete, Parker landed in the AFL system ahead of the 2024 season, when he signed with Collingwood as a Category B Rookie.  

Playing 14 games across three seasons at Collingwood, he made his league debut just three months into life as a full-time footballer, in Round 11 in a draw against Fremantle.  

One of his most notable performances included the Round 24 clash against Melbourne that season, where he collected 17 disposals and five tackles, and kicked his first AFL goal. 

Reuniting with his former development coach Josh Fraser, the 24-year-old has also shown plenty of promise at VFL level, recording nine games with 15 or more disposals this year.  

Regarded for his composure, decision-making and precise kicking, Parker's path to the AFL was far from conventional. In 2020, he put his football career on hold to pursue cricket, making his first-class debut for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield season and becoming the fourth-youngest cricketer to debut at first-class level for the state at just 17 years of age.   

He went on to play Twenty20 cricket for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League, with cricket running in the family, with his uncle, Geoff Parker, also having played first-class cricket for Victoria. 

General Manager of Football Chris Davies said Parker is a welcome addition to the Blues’ defence.  

"We're pleased to welcome Wil to the Carlton Football Club," Davies said.  

"At just 24 years old, he's shown some really promising signs at both AFL and VFL level. There's a lot to like about his game, particularly his poise under pressure and his ability to find good options by foot, and we think there's still plenty of development ahead of him. 

"We know his journey to full-time football has been a little different to most, but to be able to play at the top level of both codes says a lot about his character and work ethic, and with more opportunity in the system he has every chance of further developing his game."