Speaking to hosts Andy Maher and triple Carlton premiership player Mark Maclure on interactive fancast The Blueprint, the man who commandeered his teams to the Grand Final triumphs of 1981-’82 and ’95 believed Ratten had carried himself well throughout.
“I’d like to think that I’m particularly close to Brett and it’s been difficult for me to be making public comment because I’m seen to be biased,” said Parkin, who believed Ratten had the greatest understanding of the game of all the Carlton players he ever coached.
“ . . . but against the background of what he’s had to deal with - first of all with the unavailability of players - objectively when you look at the results and the team performances he couldn’t have done much better and nobody could have done any better,” Parkin said.
“What I’ve been most impressed with Brett is the manner in which he’s handled himself in the public domain - never got rattled, never got demoralized in any shape or form - he was very positive about what the team and the players were doing, his belief has become a reality and there is absolutely no doubt that if you’re going to judge him on whether they’re playing for him they are playing for him.
“That is the fundamental ask of every coach, that you have your playing group supporting you and they are.”
Typically candid in his commentary, Parkin not only anticipated that the Carlton players would secure eighth place on the ladder, but rattle the cage when they got there. As he said, “there might be few who sit above them who would be very pleased to see Carlton not make it”.
“I’ve been particularly proud of the way they’ve stuck at it when they’ve been undermanned . . . and they’ve also found some very good young kids along the way,” Parkin said.
When asked if he was confident Carlton would make the eight in the lieu of a Fremantle loss to North, Parkin responded: “I am actually . . . mostly because we’re not going to have to rely on what other people are doing. We have the capacity to do it ourselves”.
Parkin also rated Jarrad Waite as integral to Carlton’s successes through the remainder of 2012 and into 2013, and heaped praise on the developing Levi Casboult whom he confessed to initially rating “a mark and kick man”.
The former Carlton coach later fielded questions from Carlton Members by way of Google+ Hangouts.
The Blue Print streams live every Tuesday from 1pm.
