Speaking on the manner of the decision, Parkin – a lifetime Demons supporter – revealed his disappointment regarding the process and the overall call to move on from their only living premiership coach.

14 minutes ago, Viscount Cardwell said:

Speaking on the manner of the decision, Parkin – a lifetime Demons supporter – revealed his disappointment regarding the process and the overall call to move on from their only living premiership coach.

David Parkin was my coach for a season.

He was doing his teacher training at my primary school so they naturally made him the football team coach.

He said I’d make a good cricketer.

3 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

David Parkin was my coach for a season.

He was doing his teacher training at my primary school so they naturally made him the football team coach.

He said I’d make a good cricketer.

Was he right ?

Just now, beelzebub said:

Was he right ?

Haha Yes

Who ? What? Parkin… the bloke that loves the Hawks and Blues. I’ve never heard him speak with any affection for the Dees at all.

Dux of Victoria 1959 doing his Matric

25 minutes ago, redandbluemakepurple said:

Dux of Victoria 1959 doing his Matric

Wow….are you sure that’s right? Amazing if true, though he’s obviously very smart.

I’ve heard him say he’s more interested in cricket than footy.

4 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Who ? What? Parkin… the bloke that loves the Hawks and Blues. I’ve never heard him speak with any affection for the Dees at all.

Pretty sure I read in the past he was a Demons supporter growing up and went to games regularly as a kid.

The spectre of Norm Smith is getting a bit much now. Why so much hand-wringing over moving on a premiership coach. Hawks can boot Clarkson and get praised. Eagles move on Simpson and everyone accepted it was time. We sack Goodwin and apparently it’s the curse 2.0 despite being extraordinarily different circumstances.

13 minutes ago, No. 31 said:

Pretty sure I read in the past he was a Demons supporter growing up and went to games regularly as a kid.

Yes he was. I heard him say so on a number of occasions. Given his age, he would have followed the team in the mid to latest 1950’s and into the 1960’s, golden times😀.

23 minutes ago, Dee Dee said:

Yes he was. I heard him say so on a number of occasions. Given his age, he would have followed the team in the mid to latest 1950’s and into the 1960’s, golden times😀.

Nothing wrong with having affection for both the Dees and the Blues but this Hawks business is just distasteful 😁

10 hours ago, The Panglossian said:

Wow….are you sure that’s right? Amazing if true, though he’s obviously very smart.

I’ve heard him say he’s more interested in cricket than footy.

He was/ is a very good judge of cricket talent

Edited August 12Aug 12 by Neil Crompton

I remember him being interviewed about 15 or 20 years and he said he was a member and supporter of three clubs and had been for a very long time (with Melb then the other two)

Off topic, but kind of on topic (Parking/Hawthorn theme) but Jeff Kennett's parents were die hard Melbourne supporters and he was willing to lead the club as president some years ago due to the connection.

13 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Off topic, but kind of on topic (Parking/Hawthorn theme) but Jeff Kennett's parents were die hard Melbourne supporters and he was willing to lead the club as president some years ago due to the connection.

Dodged a bullet there

Definitely a Demons supporter.

2 hours ago, Neil Crompton said:

He was/ is a very good judge of cricket talent

Hawthorn became my 3rd favourite side for a couple of years early 70's. I was a terrible cricketer, but somehow found myself playing i a social against a Hawthorn F.C team that was made up from the '71 Premiership team.

Parkin was wicket keeper from memory and we went back to their social club post match. It was a great night and they were very sociable.

Have to admit though, the club has slipped a long way down on my (short) list of liked clubs since then.

13 hours ago, KozzyCan said:

The spectre of Norm Smith is getting a bit much now. Why so much hand-wringing over moving on a premiership coach. Hawks can boot Clarkson and get praised. Eagles move on Simpson and everyone accepted it was time. We sack Goodwin and apparently it’s the curse 2.0 despite being extraordinarily different circumstances.

Spot on! But it's just true to form from the media and their bias towards us. They spent the last 2 years having Goodwin in the gun. So many articles that were critical of him. Calls to change coach. Bad for culture. As soon as we sack him, the tune changes and we were wrong to get rid of him. If people aren't awake to the media agenda in the AFL by now, then they aren't listening/watching/reading enough. They all need a spell. I miss Mike Sheahan

parko has always been clear that he was an mfc supporter as a kid, i'm pretty sure

he's great to listen to when he talks about footy

On 12/08/2025 at 18:10, spirit of norm smith said:

Who ? What? Parkin… the bloke that loves the Hawks and Blues. I’ve never heard him speak with any affection for the Dees at all.

I have. He was guest speaker at my local club's 'Before the Game' show a few years ago. He still has a soft spot for the Dees.

I don't think you can lose your love for the team you grew up supporting.

On 12/08/2025 at 17:53, Neil Crompton said:

David Parkin was my coach for a season.

He was doing his teacher training at my primary school so they naturally made him the football team coach.

He said I’d make a good cricketer.

Were you at Auburn South Primary school in the 60's?

On 12/08/2025 at 18:10, spirit of norm smith said:

Who ? What? Parkin… the bloke that loves the Hawks and Blues. I’ve never heard him speak with any affection for the Dees at all.

Yeah, I heard him speak at a function recently and he said he had been a member all his life.

36 minutes ago, The Reverend said:

Were you at Auburn South Primary school in the 60's?

No, Armadale Primary School.

3 hours ago, The Reverend said:

Yeah, I heard him speak at a function recently and he said he had been a member all his life.

Incredible. I’ve never heard him say anything positive or offer positive attitude towards the club. I would say he’s all Carlton and Hawthorn in word and spirit.