Last week I caught up with David Parkin at the Glenferrie Hotel.
I always enjoy David’s company; his conversation is so rich. He thinks out loud a bit too – which I love. Even if that does get you into trouble (too often!)
I also appreciate his dual passion for sport and education and the way he sees them intersecting. I also like his sense of perspective, and the origins of that are really interesting.
His views on footy as part of life are heartfelt.
We could have talked for hours.
Here’s the complete interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nesDF5A2PRE
The AFLPA is doing a terrific job in helping the holistic development of the boys. This series hopes to reflect on players’ footy lives while also talk about their after-footy lives. Go to the AFLPA website.
JTH is a writer, publisher, speaker, historian. He is founder and contributing editor of The Footy Almanac and footyalmanac.com.au. He has written columns and features for numerous publications. His books include Confessions of a Thirteenth Man, Memoirs of a Mug Punter, Loose Men Everywhere, Play On, The Pearl: Steve Renouf’s Story and Life As I Know It (with Michelle Payne).
He can be contacted [email protected]
He is married to Susan. They have three school-age kids – Theo, Anna, Evie.
He might not be the worst putter in the world but he’s in the worst four.
His ambition was to lunch for Australia but it clashed with his other ambition – to shoot his age.
I have just watched the conversation between JTH and David Parkin and what a gem it is. Two passionate and intelligent men discussing football, footballers, coaches and the role of each.
Parkin came close to my favourite Wayne Bennett comment when Wayne described his role as not a coach but as someone who helped grew responsible young men who played the game. Parkin talked about needing to insure that young men who came into AFL as needing to be equipped for the world of AFL and after AFL.
This conversation was so good I made my son, a passionate AFL player sit and watch it too.