Longstanding Geelong Football League player Luke Parker is Carngham-Linton’s new assistant coach.
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Parker makes the move to the Central Highlands league after a longstanding playing career with North Shore.
He said he had been all set to have another season at North Shore when he received a call out of the blue from Carngham-Linton coach Matthew Beaston.
The 33-year-old, who lives at Bannockburn, said he had spent three years in his latest stint with North Shore helping develop a young group of players.
He said having a similar challenge at Carngham-Linton had been instrumental in convincing him to make the move – even though he believed North Shore was on cusp of playing finals.
Parker worked alongside former Geelong and Port Adelaide player Jason Davenport at North Shore.
Davenport has joined Carlton as a development coach.
Parker said he was keen to again instill his experience in a leadership role on an emerging group at Carngham-Linton. “I’m buying in to take them in the same direction.”
He said the club had developed a new football department with a focus on developing a defined pathway from under-18s to senior ranks.
Parker has also played with Geelong West in the GFL early in his career.
His other experience includes time at East Geelong in the Geelong District league in 2013 and 2014.
Parker said he was also looking forward to crossing paths with new Gordon coach Ron Watt, who had he worked with in Geelong.