West Adelaide premiership mentor Mark Mickan back coaching — seven weeks after groundbreaking Parkinson’s disease surgery

Two months ago, former Crows and West Adelaide star Mark Mickan had revolutionary surgery to help treat his Parkinson’s disease. Now he’s back doing what he loves.

• Mickan keeping busy to help fight Parkinson’s
• Footy champ has revolutionary disease treatment

SA Football Hall of Famer Mark Mickan is back coaching — seven weeks after having groundbreaking surgery to help treat Parkinson’s disease.

The 2015 West Adelaide premiership mentor returned to the helm of St Michael’s College’s First XVIII on Saturday — and led the side to its first victory of the season, a 53-point triumph over CBC.

Mickan, 58, had spent six weeks in Melbourne, where he had deep brain stimulation surgery, before returning to Adelaide one week out from the match and taking two training sessions.

The surgery, which has implanted a device, the Infinity DBS System, to deliver electrical impulses into his brain and focuses on reducing his tremor, has left Mickan with “more energy and a bit more spark”.

Mark Mickan talking to his St Michael’s players during a game last year. Picture: AAP/Morgan Sette

So he saw returning to coaching as the logical next step.

“I felt pretty positive about it because I’d had a good result with the surgery and was feeling a lot more energetic, and felt there was no reason I shouldn’t give it a go,” said Mickan, the Crows’ inaugural best and fairest.

“The players were great, really responsive and welcoming.

“It was good to be among it again.

“But it wasn’t about me, it was about them getting a win on the board … and they celebrated with a pretty thunderous version of the song.”

Mickan was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in September 2016 and stepped down as West coach at the end of the following season, then joined St Michael’s for the 2018 campaign.

He was in charge for a trial game this year then handed the reins over to assistant Ben Mesisca after starting to feel lethargic leading up to his surgery.

“(Before the surgery) I was pretty tired most of the time,” Mickan said.

“While I thought I was going OK, it’s not until now that I realise I’m a lot better than before I left.”

Neurosurgeon Dr Girish Nair with Mark Mickan.

The Infinity DBS system’s electrical impulses, which can be controlled via Bluetooth on an iPad by a doctor and Mickan with his own device, have quelled the ex-ruckman’s tremors in his feet, but the one in his right hand remains a work in progress.

But he is now also assisting Henley Sharks’ under-12s, where his son, Fletcher, plays, and is back relief teaching at St Michael’s.

“I’m just taking it one step at a time and I’ll see how I go with everything,” he said.

“At the moment, I feel I’m handling everything OK.”

While Mickan was in Melbourne, some of his former SANFL teammates, charges and opponents renovated his house.

Fellow 1983 West Adelaide premiership winner Bernie Conlen organised the refurbishment, which included 94-year-old Bloods champion Brian Faehse wielding a pick axe and helping replant the front lawn.

Mark Mickan celebrating after coaching West Adelaide to a drought-breaking premiership in 2015. Picture: Sarah Reed

“I thought they might do a few things when I was away because they did ask and I said a couple of doorknobs needed fixing and a couple of sliding doors don’t work,” said Mickan, who also coached Woodville-West Torrens and Glenelg.

“But when I came home, it was unbelievable — new airconditioning, new carpet, painting, shower screens and wardrobes.

“It’s something I’ll never forget … and I’m very grateful to everyone who helped.”

Mickan is heading back to Melbourne in July for another adjustment to his stimulus to help his right hand.

“That will happen, it will just take a bit more time,” he said.

“But I feel very well within myself and that’s the most important thing.”