David Parkin

[Roysforever]

Can I ask what is the general consensus about David Parkin's time as coach of the Roys. I know he rated 1986 as the best of his career and cited an ageing list as contributory to a decline in on-field performance and his capacity to coach. Certainly the departure of 50+game players in Barwick, McIvor, Harris and Turner didn't help this facet. Nonetheless by the end of 1988 it seemed he lost the support of senior players. What was his legacy at the Roys?

 

[western royboy]

My memory of it all was that we lost Walls in his prime with a list that he had taken to a level we hadn't seen for awhile and right when it was ready to go BANG, the filth came and lured him back home with truckloads of cash and the dream job of coaching the best list in the land with a sort of guaranteed premiership - which eventuated.

Parko was left without a seat on the merry go round and so we picked him up in a straight swap.

Both men have mentioned that had they had their time again they may have done things differently and that Fizroy "could have" won flags. I think they are both on record as saying their time at Fitzroy was the most enjoyable of their coaching lives.

Parko was a hard bastard - he'll admit that but it did burn a few players and a few potential players as well (Fitzroy zoned players in the Hampden League). With hindsight he reckons he would have been better off having a year out but what can you do.

I watched the 1987 GF in the FFC group in front of Parko and next to a young recruit from Tas named Alistair Lynch. You could see the "what if" look in Parko's eyes.

Genuinely a nice bloke and nothing but good memories about his time there.

 

[3KZ is Football]

If you ever get the chance, ask Bernie Harris about him.

 

[Roysforever]

Dare I say Bernie's feedback wouldn't be overly positive given he was sacrificed as one of the three compulsory offers for the Bad News Bears entry into the competition - the Gold Coast certainly scooped the player concession prizepool by comparison. Am I right in guessing Michael Gibson and Chris Stacey were the other two players offered up?

 

[Horace]

I have heard Parkin talk about his time at Fitzroy and he believes that it was his fault that he lost the players in 1987. His version of why he lost the players is that in one of his briefings to the players, after a very stong performance early that year, he painted a picture that they could go places and win the flag.

In hindsight he thought that from a mindset point of view he took the players beyond where they saw themselves at and in so doing they lost confidence in themselves and him as the coach. In a way it goes back to the "one game at a time" concept. Had they continued to just treat each game as it presented they would have got to where he believed they were capable of. Instead they were forced to confront the concept that they could win a flag, were unable to believe it, so fell off in performance.

Very odd really but if correct, once again highlights how much of the game "is played above the shoulders".

I have to say that early in 1987 I thought we were a real chance and then it all just went horribly wrong without any apparent reason.

 

[Mr Ripper]

I have to say that early in 1987 I thought we were a real chance and then it all just went horribly wrong without any apparent reason.

Half time of round 9. Roys beating Carlton; Roos nullifying Kernahan. Davey P. shifts Roos to forward line.

Bad move.

 

[OldLion]

Good topic - the group vibe that existed with Walls got scrambled when he was lured away. Just when you thought that we could step up, the bullies knocked down the back door and demonstrated that the bond was only so deep. We were switching grounds, coaches, even states but had a group that appeared self-managed ( look at all the coaches that have come from that era ) and tight. Losing the Bernies didn't help and I recall Doug B. completely lost form and favour ( playing key position !! ). Remember a big win v Swans away when Parko reckoned we could go all the way . and that was all she wrote. Clearly the aforementioned pressures got too much and some key injuries didn't help.

Best Parko move - B Harris coming on at 3/4 time 1986 first semi and winning the game.

Worst move. 1987

What might have been - 1984 and 1987.

 

[tassielions]

We shoud have won at least a flag in the mid 80's with our talented list. I always rated Parko and have listened to what he has said about how he lost the players. !986 was a special year and we could have gone all the way if we didn't have injuries. I heard him say he shouldn't have made Bernie Quinlan do hard pre season in hindsight as his achillies was playing up all year and Bernie has backed this up.