ONE meeting. That’s all it took for Wil Parker to know that Carlton was the place for him.
After finishing up at Collingwood, Parker was looking for his next home in the football world. That’s when the call came from Carlton’s Head of Football Chris Davies, who organised a meeting between himself, Parker and Carlton AFL Senior Coach Josh Fraser at IKON Park.
From that moment on, Parker was hopeful a move to the Blues would materialise.
“I met up with ‘Frase’ and Chris here at [IKON Park], and we had some good conversations about where this club is going and how they see me as part of this,” Parker told Carlton Media.
“Walking out of this stadium, I felt like I had to come back straight away. It’s been in the works since then, and finally it got done.”
Parker had to wait for the delisted free agency window to officially open in the first week of November for the move to be rubber-stamped, admitted there were nerves until he finally got the go-ahead.
It continues a wild football journey for Parker, who was playing cricket for Victoria and the Hobart Hurricanes as recently as 2023 before signing for the Pies as a Category B rookie.
Parker was no stranger to the Sherrin. He had the choice to make between the two codes, ultimately deciding on cricket in 2020. One of his last games of football was for the Eastern Ranges in the 2019 Talent League Grand Final in 2019… coincidentally, at IKON Park.
“When I first got back into AFL footy, I was pretty raw and had to learn how to play the game again. Now I’ve had a good three years under my belt, I’ve had the experience at AFL level and I think I can take the next step here at a new club,” he said.
“I grew up playing it, and I love the game. Finding the passion for it, learning the craft and being so new to it again, I feel like there’s no ceiling for myself.”
He played 14 games in three seasons at Collingwood, kicking a goal in his fifth game while also being selected for the Pies’ qualifying final in 2025.
One of his closest mentors while at Collingwood happened to be Fraser, who is now preparing to lead Carlton into his first full season as AFL Senior Coach.
“‘Frase’ is a great man.
“When I was first making the switch back over to footy, I would go to cricket training in the morning and then in the afternoons, I’d link up with ‘Frase’ and he’d teach me how to kick the footy again. He’s been there since the start of my AFL journey, he coached me at Collingwood VFL and in the development space.
“Having him coach me before, he knows what type of player I am, how I play, how I operate and vice versa – I know the type of character he is. I like to think he sees me as a good fit for this club.”
The work now begins for Parker, who will officially link up with his teammates for the first time when pre-season starts up again at the end of the month.
His first order of business? Getting used to his new colours, particularly considering where he came from.
“Carlton is a great fit for me: I’m excited to come to a place where the trajectory is so high and on the up. Here at Carlton, I’d be naïve to think it’s a guarantee to play AFL at all.
“It’ll be interesting crossing from Collingwood to Carlton. I’m not sure what the fallout will be, but I think I’m in a good spot.
“There’s been a lot of DMs reaching out, asking if it’s official and if I’m coming to the Blues. I can finally say I’m here and I can’t wait to get started.”
