David Alexander Parkin, OAM (born 12 September 1942) is a former Australian rules footballer and coach who played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and for the Subiaco Football Club in the Western Australian National Football League (WANFL).
However, Parkin's stature in the history of Australian rules football is based mainly on his achievements as a coach. Building on his experience as a player and educator, Parkin won four premierships (one at Hawthorn, three at Carlton) and is considered one of the most influential coaches of the modern era.
Pre-football career
Parkin was educated at Melbourne High School and during his time there, was the school vice-captain and captain of football. He also attended Hawthorn West primary school, the birth place of his passion for Australian rules football.
Playing career
Hawthorn
Parkin was a tough back-pocket player who played 211 games for the Hawthorn Football Club (and kicked 21 goals) in a career spanning from 1961 to 1974. He won the Best and Fairest award for Hawthorn in 1965, and was captain of the club from 1969–1973, including Hawthorn's 1971 premiership winning side. He represented Victoria 5 times at interstate football.
Coaching career
Parkin went to Western Australia and captain-coached Subiaco in 1975. He was back at Hawthorn as Assistant coach under senior coach John Kennedy in 1976. Kennedy retired at the end of 1976 and Parkin was promoted to senior coach.
Hawthorn Football Club senior coach (1977-1980) Parkin replaced John Kennedy as Hawthorn Football Club senior coach after Kennedy stepped down. Parkin was senior coach with Hawthorn from 1977 to 1980 and became the second person to coach Hawthorn to a premiership in 1978. However, The Hawks under Parkin in the 1980 season had a disappointing season, where they finished in eight place and therefore missed out of the finals. After finding out that Hawthorn were looking around at other possible coaches to replace him, Parkin penned his letter of resignation as Hawthorn Football Club senior coach at the end of the 1980 season and hand delivered it into Glenferrie Oval. Parkin was then replaced by Allan Jeans as Hawthorn Football Club senior coach.
Carlton Football Club senior coach (1981-1985) Parkin then replaced Peter Jones as senior coach of Carlton Football Club, at the end of the 1980 season. and coached Carlton in his first stint from 1981 to 1985 and winning back to back premierships. Firstly in 1981, when Parkin guided Carlton to a premiership victory against Collingwood by a margin of 20 points, in Parkin's first year as senior coach of Carlton and again in 1982, when Parkin guided Carlton to another premiership victory for the second straight consecutive year in a row, this time against Richmond by a margin of 18 points. However, Carlton under Parkin in the 1985 season fell short of expectations and had a disappointing season, where Carlton were eliminated by North Melbourne in the elimination final. Parkin was sacked as Carlton Football Club senior coach at the end of the 1985 season and was replaced by Robert Walls in a jointly announced agreement with Fitzroy Football Club to swap senior coaches for 1986.
Fitzroy Football Club senior coach (1986-1988) Parkin then replaced Robert Walls as senior coach of Fitzroy in a jointly announced agreement with Carlton Football Club to swap senior coaches. Parkin then coached Fitzroy from 1986 to 1988. Fitzroy under Parkin made the preliminary final in his first season at the Lions as senior coach, but failed to reach the finals in the following two years. Parkin was sacked by Fitzroy as senior coach at the end of the 1988 season. Parkin was then replaced by Rod Austin as Fitzroy Football Club senior coach.
Carlton Football Club senior coach (1991-2000) After Alex Jesaulenko stepped down as Carlton Football Club senior coach at the end of the 1990 season, Carlton President John Elliott offered Parkin the job. Parkin then returned to become the senior coach of Carlton for a second stint from 1991 until 2000. He was named Carlton's Coach of the Century, and is regarded by Carlton supporters as the club's greatest ever coach. During this second stint, Parkin guided Carlton to win the 1995 premiership against Geelong by a margin of 61 points. He also took Carlton to Grand Finals in 1993 and 1999 which they lost to Essendon and North Melbourne, respectively, at the end of the 2000 season, Parkin retired as Carlton senior coach and handed the coaching reins to his assistant coach Wayne Brittain.