David Parkin | Former Carlton Coach & AFL Icon (12.05.26)
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What prompted the discussion about Carlton's coaching changes?
So it is one of those mornings. Gather your friends close and just work through it together. The last Premiership coach at Carlton is David Parkin. Hello to you, David.
G'day, Gerard.
How are you? Shall we just work through it together?
Oh, yes. It's something I must admit I didn't expect Gerard to be quite truthful. I thought he'd be encouraged to see out the contract and I was even hoping that things might turn and... he remained the Carlton coach for some time. But obviously I was a long way off the mark.
Do you have, where's your senses in your Carlton heart? They keep doing the same thing over and over or what's your overriding thought?
Yeah, it's interesting for someone who's worked at, I've worked at three or four probably different organizations AFL clubs over or VFL and AFL clubs over a period of time. And Jared, you're quite right. They all have, um, very different makeups in terms of the history that they have, um, been a part of the people, the kind of people, the personalities, if you like, or the characters that get into what I would call a, uh, presidential and committee and, uh, board positions in those clubs. And, uh, it seems that that culture, if you like, over a period of time is very, very difficult to change.
What insights does David Parkin share about Carlton's coaching culture?
And I think that's, you know, I sense and feel that for the clubs that I worked in. When I got there, I found that they were all significantly different in their makeup and that you needed to understand the values and drivers that that club were sitting on if you were going to work in it and be successful. So, It's a very demanding job, as you well know, better than anybody else I would have suggested. And I'm just very disappointed that Michael got to the position where he thought that, A, he wasn't wanted, and, B, that he couldn't do the job that was required. It's just really sad. I get very disappointed in my old age as I... hear these news items almost on a daily basis.
When we think back to his appointment, David, how hopeful were you that he was going to be the man to deliver success, to break the cycle with the Blues?
Yeah, I did. I must admit, I was on the selection panel at that particular time, and there were some very, very good candidates who are now in the system and doing a good job in other clubs. And so he was in what's the word good competition at the time, but having completed the interview and knowing his history, um, what he had in his mind or head to, uh, to do, I was, I must admit, I was really confident when, uh, he was finally appointed to that job. And, uh, As a consequence of that, very disappointed that it's, what's the word, eventuated in his dismissal or his deciding not to go on. I'm not sure what the process was. You know better than me.
Yeah, so we'll wait to hear fully what it was. So the run in 2023 ends up being the exception. In hindsight, it's a near miracle what they did in 2023 on the way to a prelim. How much of... what he outlined, was he able to bring, do you think, to the job once he was in it?
Yeah, I think those who know Vossie well, and I don't say that I know him all that well, I've had a fair bit to do with him over a period of time, but Vossie's leadership in terms of the style he brought to the organisation was, by the people that I know, and there are a multitude of people I know that have work for him, thought he was a great leader in that sense. I'm not sure that the same feeling about his football intellect, I think his people intellect and understanding of what was required to do the job, both on and off the field, was extremely high. But there was always some questions, I guess, about his technical, tactical skills knowledge, having been an outstanding player that sometimes played through their feet and just do as a natural consequence of who they are.
I wasn't that sort of player. I didn't have the ability to work extremely hard at it. So I had, I think, an empathy and understanding of players who were struggling to meet the requirements.
How did David Parkin feel about Michael Voss's appointment as coach?
I said, I thought, well, that's me. I really struggled.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What prompted the discussion about Carlton's coaching changes?
0:00–1:34
2
What insights does David Parkin share about Carlton's coaching culture?
1:34–5:06
3
How did David Parkin feel about Michael Voss's appointment as coach?
5:06–9:41
4
What challenges does the Carlton coach face in the current AFL landscape?
9:41–13:44
5
How does David Parkin view the leadership styles in AFL coaching?
13:44–15:43
6
What makes Carlton's coaching position unique compared to other clubs?
15:43–16:35
Speakers
3 identifiedMore from Whateley
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