Parkin's school of hard knocks

David Parkin's lessons at the school of hard knocks. Picture: Susan Windmiller Source: Herald Sun

DAVID Parkin describes himself as probably the most concussed man in football.

He was concussed 10 times during his 211 games with Hawthorn from 1961 to 1974.After being KO'd for the 11th time when he transferred from the Hawks to captain-coach Subiaco in 1975, his time was up.

"I played almost every week after being concussed,'' Parkin said.

"I got knocked out in Perth in my last game of football at the first bounce at five-past two on Saturday and woke up at 20-past-four on the Sunday in the Charlie Gairdner Hospital. I retired on the back of that.''

Parkin has since studied his match-day performances when he played the week after being concussed.

"I looked at my performances when this became a reality and I have got statistical stuff that talks about your kicks, marks and handpasses and what you did,'' Parkin said.

"In my case there is no doubt that in my first week, after not taking any time off after being concussed, that I was s---house, the second week back I was fairly ordinary, the third week back half reasonable and about three to four weeks later I started to play like I was expected to play.''

Parkin, who coached Hawthorn, Carlton and Fitzroy, said research on concussion had to be done, validated and then smart decisions made.

Despite suffering so many concussions, Parkin said the game had been good to him, and although he has some sore spots, he's not aware of suffering from any ongoing problems.

Parkin, who captained Hawthorn's 1971 premiership side and later coached the Hawks and Carlton to premierships, says he is worried about head knocks and heavy concussions in grassroots football.

He said AFL clubs now had the medical expertise to test and treat players for concussion.

"But it's amateur, junior and senior football that doesn't have access to that kind of support system so we have got a problem,'' he said.

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