LUKE Parks has started the VFL season in a similar vein of form to his first season at the Club 12 months ago. 

Entering his second year with six senior games under his belt, Parks has been among the Carlton Reserves’ finest performers in their perfect start to the campaign.

After he enjoyed a positive showing in the opening round clash with Brisbane, Parks has been named among the team’s best in the last fortnight as voted on by the coaches.

His performance against Gold Coast on the weekend, where he accumulated 19 disposals and kept Sam Day to just four marks, was another strong showing in the eyes of VFL Senior Coach Daniel O’Keefe.

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Carlton Coaches' Corner | Luke Parks

VFL Senior Coach Daniel O'Keefe speaks about defender Luke Parks in this week's edition of Carlton Coaches' Corner, presented by OnTime Group.

“He’s one of our most reliable players we have in our squad because he backs up and plays to his strengths every week,” O’Keefe said on Carlton Coaches' Corner.

“A lot of the time, that’s all we ask our players to do. We can count on him to be able to compete in the air, and he gives 100 per cent effort all the time.”

From the moment he stepped foot through IKON Park after being drafted as a rookie from Glenelg, his aerial strength has been a stand-out asset.

Coupled with his courage, it makes Parks a worthwhile opponent for anyone: that propensity to put his body on the line has been evident in the early stages of the VFL season.

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VFL R3 | All Carlton highlights v Gold Coast

Enjoy all the highlights from the Carlton Reserves Round 3 win over Gold Coast.

“He’s one of our most courageous players, there’s no doubt about it,” O’Keefe said.

“We’ve continually seen him flying, but running back with the flight — we see it all the time with ‘Parksy’, and his teammates trust him so much.

“When you throw these uncompromising acts in from individuals, it makes coaching that little bit easier. He doesn’t think about it, he just puts his body on the line and that’s what his teammates love.”

Parks has added to his aerial prowess this season, using the ball well by foot. 

Adopting the mindset of ‘being reliable, not remarkable’, he has been consistent with his ability to take the right option — even if it’s the easy one.

“We don’t need him to do anything sensational,” O’Keefe said.

“What he has been able to do is be extremely efficient. His ability to get the ball through the air is something he has been working on, and it’s been helping us enormously.”