Gary Parkes
Essendon and Richmond
AFL career
103 games45 goals
- Debut
- R16 1970 v GEE18 July 1970
- Most recent
- R4 1979 v MEL25 Apr 1979
Stats
1979 | RCH | 4 | 10.5 | 2.3 | 12.8 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 |
1978 | RCH | 3 | 8.3 | 3.3 | 11.7 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
1976 | ESS | 22 | 14.6 | 2.4 | 17.0 | 3.2 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
1975 | ESS | 21 | 10.9 | 2.6 | 13.5 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
1974 | ESS | 14 | 11.4 | 2.1 | 13.6 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
1973 | ESS | 19 | 13.3 | 1.4 | 14.7 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
1972 | ESS | 11 | 14.2 | 1.1 | 15.3 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
1971 | ESS | 8 | 9.0 | 0.6 | 9.6 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
1970 | ESS | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Bio
Gary Parkes was a dashing left-footed wingman whose football journey was defined by his elite speed and professional running background. Recruited from Pascoe Vale after a stint in amateur athletics, he established himself at Windy Hill as a line-breaking player who combined pace with a strong overhead mark and a long kick. His form peaked in the mid-1970s, culminating in a stellar 1976 season where he played every game and finished equal third in Essendon's best and fairest count, marking himself as a key driver in the Bombers' midfield.
His momentum at the elite level stalled due to a bitter pay dispute that saw him sit out the entire 1977 season. Parkes eventually secured a clearance to Richmond, but his time at Punt Road was frustrated by persistent injuries that restricted him to just seven senior appearances. While he was unable to break into the Tigers' senior side during their dominant 1980 premiership campaign, he famously showcased his enduring speed by winning the prestigious Wangaratta Gift in 1978. Parkes later revitalised his career in the VFA with Werribee, where he won a club best and fairest in 1983.
Profile
- Born
- 02 July 1951 (age 75y 111d)
- Height
- 185 cm
- Weight
- 81 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionGary Parkes was a dashing left-footed wingman whose football journey was defined by his elite speed and professional running background. Recruited from Pascoe Vale after a stint in amateur athletics, he established himself at Windy Hill as a line-breaking player who combined pace with a strong overhead mark and a long kick. His form peaked in the mid-1970s, culminating in a stellar 1976 season where he played every game and finished equal third in Essendon's best and fairest count, marking himself as a key driver in the Bombers' midfield.
His momentum at the elite level stalled due to a bitter pay dispute that saw him sit out the entire 1977 season. Parkes eventually secured a clearance to Richmond, but his time at Punt Road was frustrated by persistent injuries that restricted him to just seven senior appearances. While he was unable to break into the Tigers' senior side during their dominant 1980 premiership campaign, he famously showcased his enduring speed by winning the prestigious Wangaratta Gift in 1978. Parkes later revitalised his career in the VFA with Werribee, where he won a club best and fairest in 1983.