Australian Football

Les Parish was a very useful ruck-rover and utility whose career in the big time was complemented by some noteworthy achievements in country leagues. He commenced his senior playing career with Tungamah in the Tungamah Football League, where he won the competition best and fairest award, the Lawless Medal, in 1976. He then transferred to Ovens and Murray Football League club Yarrawonga, where he played from 1977 to 1979, winning the club’s best and fairest award in every season.

In 1980, aged 24, he took his big league bows with Fitzroy. Ostentatiously tattooed, he cut a conspicuous figure at a time when such adornments were comparatively rare. He also produced consistently good football in his 87 senior VFL appearances across five and a half seasons. He bagged 52 goals.

Midway through the 1985 season he crossed to Melbourne where he finished the VFL portion of his career by playing seven games and kicking five goals. After that he made his way back to Yarrawonga, winning both the competition best and fairest, the Morris Medal, and the club award, in 1986. Another club best and fairest followed in 1987. He continued playing for almost a decade, including stints at Griffith and Cobram. He died from cancer in 1998, aged just 42.

Author - John Devaney