OF THE nine Carlton premiership coaches in league history, five of them – Jack Worrall, Brighton Diggins, Perc Bentley, Ron Barassi and David Parkin – all drew on the unique experiences that defined them as successful footballers at rival VFA/VFL entities.
Parkin’s place in Carlton history is of course assured. The Club’s honour board carries the words “Coach, D. Parkin” in gold leaf beside the back-to-back premiership years of 1981 and ‘82 and 1995, and its much-vaunted Team of the 20th Century is inextricably linked with the former Hawthorn mentor.
Fittingly, Parkin’s lofty contributions to both Hawthorn and Carlton are to be celebrated at a luncheon to be held in his honour at Zinc, Federation Square - on the Friday before the Round 16 contest between the two clubs at the MCG.
In keeping with Parkin’s long-held tenet of giving back, all proceeds are to be donated to the past players and officials associations of both clubs.
With the AFL this week acknowledging the 90s through its King’s Birthday Rivalry Clash, it’s also fitting to reflect on Parkin’s second stint as Carlton Senior Coach (1991-2000) – and the most recent Carlton Premiership earned by Stephen Kernahan and “The Recordbreakers” almost 30 years ago.
Some time back, Parkin shared his recollections of the 1995 Grand Final victory (and the planning) with this reporter for the book Out Of The Blue – Defining Moments of the Carlton Football Club.
“‘95 came after what was really the only time in my life that we had to build. We were pretty ordinary when I came back in 1991, we finished well out of it and we had to put that one together,” Parkin said.
While he contended that the 1995 Carlton outfit comprised of “some massively good players, it wasn’t nearly as talented in my mind as the ‘79 through ‘82 team”.
“But this team as a team worked harder in a more committed way. With the great assistance of the psychologist Anthony Stewart they took ownership like no other I’ve ever coached,” Parkin said.
“After the massive disappointment of ‘93 and the bigger disappointment of ‘94, the players were able to hold themselves together and produce one sensational year to win that premiership in the most defining way. There was never any doubt in any stage after Round 11 that we weren’t going to bolt it in. I could sense it, smell it, feel it on a daily basis. It was going to take a combined opposition from all other teams to actually take it away.”
Of season 1995 in its totality, Parkin doubted that he gleaned more from any other season in his time in the game.
“It (the 1995 season) was a great education for me. It was probably the greatest education I’ve had in life or footy – the understanding that if you’ve got a very committed, experienced and confident group then you as a leader have just got to give it over to them and trust them to do the job,” he said.
“They (the players) picked the team, they debriefed each other and they did all the things which are commonplace in football today – and they were the first to do it. I can’t take any kudos other than appointing Anthony Stewart and delegating responsibility to allow him to do it. It was a very exciting time, and the best education I think I’ve had in life or footy.”
A Celebration of David Parkin
Friday 30 June, 12pm Zinc @ Federation Square
For further information & bookings, go to https://www.hfchospitality.com.au/celebration-of-parko
