Bulls stalwart splits Nola Marino medal

Harvey Bulls stalwart Fleur Parker was elated at tying for the 2019 Nola Marino Medal, but the courageous Bulls midfielder was almost a no-show at the event.

Parker’s husband was keen to go fishing, however, the 38-year-old encouraged him to ditch the tackle box and join her at the count.

“He wanted to go fishing as it was beautiful weather,” she said.

“We like to fish all of the time. We are always out there — sometimes I even go from fishing straight out of the boat and then head to our games.

“It’s probably the perfect way to enjoy things pre-game.”

No stranger to playing football at a high level, Parker played eight seasons for the Peel Thunderbirds in the former WAWAFL competition.

But now towards the end of her career, Parker is relishing a new element of football.

“It’s great to teach the young kids,” she said.

“A lot of the younger girls they are not always so confident to go in and get the ball. But we all start somewhere.

“There is also greater pathways now with the AFLW and those kind of programs. You can go further places now then when I first started in the WAWAFL.

“There wasn’t those pathways, so it’s good for them.”

Parker also enjoyed working with Bulls coach Adrian Kirk this season, who took over the reins from Bernie Murnane.

“He pushed us to have a really hard pre-season,” Parker said.

“He’s been lucky as well because he’s had Peter Worsfold around. Peter has been a great assistant coach as well.

“Adrian’s been the driving force behind it all and really got us fit. I think we’ve definitely been one of the fitter teams in the competition this year.”