David Parkin backs Sam Mitchell’s plan to join West Coast

SAM Mitchell’s mentor David Parkin says the departing Hawthorn champion should complete a five to 10-year coaching apprenticeship before leading an AFL club.

SAM Mitchell’s mentor David Parkin says the departing Hawthorn champion should complete a five to 10-year coaching apprenticeship before leading an AFL club.

Parkin endorsed Mitchell’s bombshell mooted trade to West Coast, where he will finish his playing career before working full-time under close mate and Eagles coach Adam Simpson.

Parkin travelled a similar path — crossing from Hawthorn to Subiaco as captain-coach in 1975 — before coaching four AFL premierships.

Just days after winning a fifth best-and-fairest Mitchell sent the football world bonkers, with a morning radio revelation he was “excited by the prospect” of crossing to the Eagles.

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Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson visited the 2008 premiership captain’s home on Brownlow day to float the trade, which would clear crucial salary cap room to reload the midfield with Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara.

Sam Mitchell, who turned 34 today, will undergo a medical with West Coast when he returns from a family holiday in New Zealand.

Sam Mitchell says he’s “excited by the prospect” of going to West Coast. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Hawthorn would net little in return, with West Coast quickly declaring its No.12 selection off the table.

“I’m in a bit of a funny spot, because if I stay at Hawthorn that’s great and I’ve had a great career there and will continue to do so,” Mitchell said.

“If the move is to West Coast, I’d be excited by the prospect, and I feel like I’ve done the right thing by Hawthorn if that’s what eventuates.

“It’s the first time, in my 15-year career, that I’ve ever been a chance to be involved in a trade so it’s a bit of an awkward situation at the moment and I can’t jump into either camp.”

Parkin learned of the trade shock listening to SEN, as he was talking to son and Port Adelaide recruiter Anthony Parkin.

The legendary coach said Mitchell was a “very intelligent bloke” who had “really committed to the coaching pathway in his own mind”.

But Parkin said a lengthy apprenticeship was the recipe for coaching success.

“And somewhere in that period, whether it’s in the west or somewhere else, he needs to — and I really believe in this — have the opportunity (to be a senior coach) as I did when I went across and coached Subiaco.

“Those that have failed in the last decade haven’t done that. He’s smart enough to understand that.

“It was the best thing that happened in my development in managing men. It’s a significantly different thing to being an assistant coach or development coach or line coach.”

David Parkin says Sam Mitchell understands the need to do a coaching apprenticeship before becoming a senior coach.

Parkin said Mitchell, who has already completed a Level 3 coaching course, understood he needed time.

“This would be the start of an apprenticeship I would expect to be five to 10 years,” Parkin said.

“I don’t think it happens as (faster) than that. I’ve spent a fair bit of time talking to him about it and I think his thinking is along similar lines.

“He thinks the game through probably better than any other player I’ve ever had the privilege to work with. Brett Ratten is very similar.”

Mitchell praised Parkin after winning his fifth best-and-fairest on Saturday night.

“For me I’ve had great mentors in my career. David Parkin has been fantastic for me for 15 or 16 years,” he said.

Originally published as David Parkin backs Sam Mitchell’s plan to join West Coast