Post the publishing of “Stalking David Parkin Part 1” it was suggested by my best mate Greg to send a copy to Parko as he thought he would find it mildly amusing. After some trepidation I Googled Parko and found a Deakin Uni email address where Parko has been lecturing for decades. 2 weeks later and virtually having forgotten I’d sent the email, a late night email arrives….

 

Hi Willow. 

My apologies for the slow response to your writings. Have not been downloading emails via Deakin with the same regularity as normal. Lecturing duties have diminished dramatically this year as I become more and more obsolete. Not sure, despite us providing the best online education in the country, that I’m comfortable and convinced, that you can train/prepare/qualify teachers to teach, coaches to coach, doctors to doctor, and nurses to nurse, basically via the cloud with little actual engagement. But that’s an old man’s view. 

Whilst my reputation as a person and a professional, probably won’t be significantly enhanced by your article, “The Imbecile and David Parkin – A Light Read”, it was a great insight into what must have been a relationship (or non-relationship ) which has been repeated more times in my life, with numerous others, than I would like to ponder – which I have!? 

I did not (sorry) remember you, but certainly enjoyed the irony of the piece. So much so, I’d like to buy you lunch when we can organize a suitable day, time and venue. 

Give me a call on mob…, or provide me some alternatives via this email. 

Regards, Parko

 

Fast forward to today, AFL Grand Final Day 2016 (my Xmas Day!) and I have just returned from shopping for all things carcinogenic…hot dogs, iced coffee, chocolate, and lollies. Yesterday was breakfast with Parko. 90 minutes of conversation that will live with me forever.

With Parko’s permission, I invited my best mate Greg who Parko actually remembered as an under 19 at Carlton and now our physical conditioner/runner/psychologist at Box Hill. We met near his home in Kew and headed to a café.

It was funny that Greg and I agreed to meet 15 mins early (and Greg is never early for anything!) but as it turned out we parked side by side 30mins early like the nervous school kids we were! As a result, we spent 30 mins edgily wandering around empty Kew streets waiting for the great man to materialise.

Finally, dressed in shorts, runners, windcheater and rain jacket, Parko comes around the corner 40m away from us. Strangely after spending 30 mins shuffling around the streets at half rat power, Greg and I got into a gallop, strode purposely full of nervous energy towards Parko then guided him to the café!

We shared a passionate conversation for 90 minutes and the true mark of the man is that he takes a genuine interest in what you say although frankly, I was keen to switch the bulk of the conversation to him.

Interestingly despite the thousands of people he has influenced, Parko doesn’t have many close friends of those he coached. Probably he says due to having to sack so many of them over the years! Having said that, his closest is Mark “Sellers” McClure, now a broadcaster and successful businessman. Typically it’s the work and life skills that Parko coached Mark with, that have had a lasting legacy.

Parko has an extraordinary network within the AFL right across the country due to his passion for the game. He has never been restricted by borders and has this amazing passion and love for the history of the game. Many of the stories regarding individuals I won’t be repeating but I did ask him about the unique personality of Greg Williams.

Williams is one of my all-time favourite players alongside Malcolm Blight, Jimmy  Krakouer, Nicky Winmar and Robert Harvey. He was an enigma. Originally from Bendigo, rejected by Carlton, became a star at Geelong, Brownlow Medal in Sydney then a Brownlow/Norm Smith/ Premiership at Carlton under Parko.

Greg and I remembered Williams’ Brownlow Speech where he thanked “Parkin, Silvagni, Kernahan, Bradley, and Dean”! It was like he was reading Thursday night Teams! Clinical and completely devoid of warmth! That was how he played. Parko confirmed that he did in fact never use Christian or Nicknames as a player. Simply cold, ruthless and a hatred of losing.

I mentioned in Part 1 that Parko thought in 2001 that Sam Mitchell was very similar to Greg Williams. Years later, Parko was asked on radio if he thought Mitchell was better than Williams. After much deliberation, he said something like, “probably yes”. 5 minutes later Parko’s phone rings and an irate Williams demanded an explanation!

How Parko devoted so much time to education is beyond me. He struggles with the notion of social media, reliance on phones and the gradual decline of face to face education. In this fast-paced world where technology is obsessed with the speed of information, we both agreed that genuine connectivity between people has been lost.

Parko’s life is now shared in semi-retirement with his wife and family. He has some media commitments to finish next year but much of his time is spent as a philanthropist. We spoke about the late Max Walker’s philosophy, “If you can, then you must” ringing so true.

I had to leave at the 90-minute mark, leaving Greg and Parko to discuss all things academia. I had to pick up some Mt Waverley Demons and get them to the Grand final parade as guests of Toyota. As we marched down Wellington St through a hundred thousand screaming footy lovers, I was still buzzing from the breakfast.

My focus then shifted to my players and what they were getting from the experience. The joy on their faces was priceless. No phones, twitter, snapchat, instagram,.….just 10 cent stress balls being handed out by intellectually disabled footballers to adoring, appreciative strangers. That’s the sort of connectivity Parko would have liked.

The author and Parko

Greg and Parko

The Waverley Demons FIDA team on the Grand Final Parade 2016

 

Finally, did Parko remember me? Of course not. I’m glad that’s the case otherwise the irony would have been destroyed. Love you, Parko, and may you continue sharing, as it will always mean so much to so many.

The 2016 Grand Final was Parko’s 69th he attended either as a player, coach or spectator.