AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game
Full name
Christopher Harold Parkin
Known as
Harry Parkin
Born
21 June 1879
Died
6 July 1937 (aged 58)
Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 20y 31d
Last game: 26y 318d
Senior clubs
Geelong; Melbourne
Recruited from
Geelong (1900)
Family links
Jack Parkin (Brother)
Club | League | Career span | Games | Goals | Avg | Win % | AKI | AHB | AMK | BV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Geelong | V/AFL | 1899 | 2 | 0 | 0.00 | 100% | — | — | — | 0 |
Melbourne | V/AFL | 1900-1906 | 85 | 0 | 0.00 | 40% | — | — | — | 0 |
V/AFL | 1899-1906 | 87 | 0 | 0.00 | 41% | — | — | — | 0 | |
Total | 1899-1906 | 87 | 0 | 0.00 | 41% | — | — | — | 0 |
AFL: 491st player to appear, 2,790th most games played, 9,923rd most goals kickedGeelong: 52nd player to appear, 949th most games played, 831st most goals kickedMelbourne: 78th player to appear, 197th most games played, 1,024th most goals kicked
After playing just a couple of games for Geelong in 1899 Harry Parkin crossed to Melbourne, where he would see out his career. A hard, determined, extremely solid defender, he enjoyed premiership success at the end of his debut season with the Reds, lining up on a half back flank in their 4.10 to 3.12 grand final defeat of Fitzroy. After the match he was widely listed among Melbourne’s best players. He went on to be a regular member of the team for another five seasons before managing just one game in 1906, after which he retired. Overall he played 85 VFL games for the Reds without kicking a goal. Only Bernie Massey, who played 99 games, has to date had a longer goalless career with Melbourne.
Author - John Devaney