Hawthorn Football Club elevated 2003 Hall of Fame inductee David Parkin as the sixth Legend of the Club at the Season Launch and Hall of Fame on Thursday night.
Read about the career of David Parkin.
Born: 12 September 1942
Recruited: Melbourne High School
Played: 1961 – 1974
Guernsey: 27
Games: 211
Goals: 21
Captain: 1969 - 1973
Premiership: 1971
Night Premiership: 1968, 1969
Best and Fairest: 1965
2nd Best & Fairest: 1971
State representative: 5
Coach: 1977 – 1980
Premiership: 1978
Night Premierships: 1977
Director of Football: 2001 – 2002
HFC Life Member: 1970
HFC Hall of Fame Inductee: 2003
AFL Hall of Fame: 2002
David Parkin was one of Hawthorns’ outstanding team leaders. Playing mainly as a back pocket specialist his football abilities were matched by great physical and mental courage. The physique of his opponents did not deter him from meeting them head on when required. He was appointed captain in 1969 and led the team in one of the most rugged finals series in the history of the game in 1971. The Hawks defeated St Kilda in an epic grand final by 7 points. He won the Best & Fairest Award in 1965 and represented Victoria 5 times.
Retiring at the end of 1974, Parkin went to Western Australia and captained-coached Subiaco. He returned to Hawthorn as an assistant coach to John Kennedy Snr in 1976 taking over the senior role in 1977. Considered an innovative coach he left little to chance. His player’ physical and psychological abilities were charted and analyzed and his match-day preparation was exhaustive. He also brought a new language to the game when describing his playing instructions, talls, smalls, corridors, back half, etc. Parkin became the second person to coach Hawthorn to a premiership winning in 1978.
Parkin later coached Carlton and Fitzroy. At Carlton he inspired them to 3 premierships, 1981, 1982 and 1995. His coaching style has been determined adherence to his methods combined with his genuine concern for the all-round welfare of his players. He has become one of the recognized spokes-man for the game with an influencing role as a commentator in the media.
Despite his great success at Carlton and Fitzroy he always said Hawthorn was his home. He was inducted into the HFC Hall of Fame in 2001.
