Victoria leg-spinner Wil Parker has interest from two AFL clubs as he weighs up a return to football, reports the Herald Sun.
The 21-year-old has played four First-Class matches for Victoria after choosing cricket over football after an impressive NAB League campaign in 2019 for the Eastern Ranges.
Parker was considered a potential first-round pick in 2019 and according to the report, both the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood are eyeing Parker as a Category B rookie option.
Just 10 months after plucking James O’Donnell from Premier Cricket, SEN’s Sam Edmund says the Bulldogs could do something similar with Parker although they’ll have some competition this time from the Magpies.
“I want to take you to The Kennel before we leave the lists alone,” Edmund told SEN Afternoons.
“10 months after they plucked James O'Donnell from Premier Cricket ranks as a Cat B rookie, the Western Bulldogs are trying to do something similar with a Victorian leg-spinner by the name of Wil Parker.
“But this time they've got some competition, it's from Collingwood.
“The 21-year-old is weighing up what avenue to take in what would be a return to the game after a pretty promising NAB League campaign back in 2019 for the Eastern Ranges.
“He's played four Shield games for Victoria but none since 2021.
“It’s a crossroads moment for Wil and he's choosing potentially between Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs if he is to go back to the footy.”
Parker was deployed as a running half-back during his underage football career. He had 27 possessions in the 2019 NAB League Grand Final which the Ranges lost to the Oakleigh Chargers.
The leg-spinner is a Victoria contracted cricketer for the 2023/24 season.
He last played at the top level in a tour match between Pakistan and a Victorian XI in December. He took 1/52 in that clash claiming the wicket of international opener Imam-Ul-Haq for 37.