The former Golden Point player is excited by the prospect of playing firsts with the Roosters, but the main drawcard to the club was the challenge of improving its junior program.

Parker, a wicket-keeper, comes from a successful junior environment. Golden Point regularly gets 60 juniors to its training sessions – for North Ballarat it had only two junior teams last year and is “struggling” in the older-age bracket.

“It’s something I’d aim for to get North up to those levels, it’s just an opportunity I couldn’t let go,” Parker said.

“It is hard, you don’t get it immediately, but there’s a lot of kids out there interested, it’s just trying to coax them across. It’s not going to happen overnight...if you can build a good foundation at the start it’s only going to help your club.”

The program begins June 30, for more details contact Parker on 0417 898 877