SOUTH Fremantle dynamo Matthew Parker never aspired to play AFL until he met partner Shardah, and found inspiration to succeed and become a role model for their eight-month old son, Matthew jnr.
After lighting up the WAFL with 27 goals (and 21 behinds) this season, Parker, 22, has rocketed into draft calculations.
Next month, he could follow the path of ex-teammate and now Geelong star Tim Kelly by joining AFL ranks, with Gold Coast understood to be among the interested clubs.
Speaking to AFL.com.au, the electrifying 187cm forward admitted he never would have been in this position without his small family giving him purpose.
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"I've been through life lessons, hard ways, and now it's the best life I've been living," Parker said.
"I know I can do it for myself, but I've got that motivation for my partner and my boy.
"Definitely my partner changed me in the best way possible. She's great, we're heading on two years (together) now.
"She's just changed me completely, got my head screwed on with what I really want in life.
"It's not just for me, it's for my little family that I have now. I want to succeed so they can succeed as well.
"In the end, I just want to make them happy."
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Parker was grateful to family member and teammate Marlion Pickett – also on the Suns' radar – for pushing him to have another crack at the WAFL last year after a season with Perth's reserves in 2015.
"I didn't want (AFL) footy at all. I just went down a different track. I just played amateur footy here and there," Parker said.
"Then I think my mind clicked and I thought 'I'm pretty good down at amateurs, let's see if I can bump it up to WAFL'. Souths gave me an opportunity.
"All credit to Marlion, he got me down there and then he's just been a big inspiration.
"It's a great honour being there side by side with him as well."
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Parker spent most of last year in the Bulldogs' reserves after arriving at the club on the eve of the season, but forced coach Todd Curley to pick him late in the campaign through sheer weight of performance.
He booted 12 goals in seven senior games, including three against Fremantle-aligned Peel in a qualifying final loss, and kicked on in 2018 to become one of WA's brightest mature-age prospects.
He averaged 13 disposals and more than four tackles in 20 matches, modelling his high-pressure brand on retired Hawthorn superstar Cyril Rioli.
"I just try to play natural footy. Some fluky stuff, I try to say natural, but some fluky stuff," Parker said with a smile.
"I just try to make it defence first, pressure, all that fancy stuff will come but just do the team thing first."
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Curley has fielded calls from several clubs enquiring about Parker, and backed him to make the step up if given the chance.
"He's really quick and competitive, and got a knack for kicking goals," Curley told AFL.com.au.
"The things you would pick him up for are speed, agility – those raw aspects that you can't train for, you're born with them.
"He's not a big guy, physically, but he does crack in. In the right team, I think he could certainly have an impact.
"He's certainly grown up, but he's been great from the moment he walked in the door for us.
"Marlion took him under his wing a fair bit, they're pretty close."
Matthew Parker in action at the WA Combine. Picture: West Australian Football Commission
Invited to test at the WA Draft Combine, Parker showcased his pace by stopping the clock with a personal best 2.95-second 20m sprint.
He also ran a decent 20.6 in the Yo-Yo test, performing well under the watchful gaze of club recruiters.
"It's a great opportunity, being interviewed and getting spoken to," Parker said.
"It's the first time it's ever happened, so I'm pretty excited but I've just got to keep a cool head.
"I've been around, seen a bit, but seeing this is the best thing I've seen in my life."
