DOB: 18 April 1948
Died: 25 September 2021
Debut: Round 2, 1968 against St. Kilda at Moorabbin
Last MFC Game: Round 22, 1973 against North Melbourne at Waverley
From: McKinnon High/Bentleigh
Number: 26 (1968-1973)
Honours
Leading Goalkicker - 1972
Best First Year Player - 1968
Games: 119 (171 total)
Goals: 169 (242 total)
Career Statistics
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
| 44 | 1 | 74 | 36.97 |
Statistical categories led
Most games in jumper 26
Most goals in jumper 26
Most marks in a game - 24, Round 6, 1970
Most marks in a season: 238 - 1970
First seen playing school football, Parke was residentially tied to Melbourne. He had family connections to the MCC, with his father previously playing district cricket for the club. In 1966 he won the Best and Fairest in the Federal League, and made the Demon senior list in 1967. After joining the police force he was often unable to attend training and spent the year in the Reserves. Parke debuted the next season, winning the Best First Year Player award, and topping Melbourne's Brownlow Medal count. In 1969 he finished second in the Best and Fairest.
Usually playing at centre half-forward, Parke was a prolific mark taker. In 1970 he took the most marks in the VFL, setting both a season record for Melbourne, and a single game record in Round 6 that survive today.
Before the 1972 season, Parke trained with WAFL side Subiaco amidst rumours that he wanted to leave Melbourne for personal reasons Parke stayed with the club and kicked a career high 63 goals, including seven against Geelong in Round 19. At the end of 1973 he joined SANFL side South Adelaide, but even after resigning from his job as a policeman Melbourne wouldn't clear him and he returned to the VFL with Footscray in exchange for Charles Pagnoccolo, Garry Baker and John Keast.
Parke spent two years with the Bulldogs, one at Norwood in 1976 and one at Fitzroy before retiring from the VFL scene. In 1977 and 1978 he played with Riddells Creek, refusing offers from several VFA clubs across the two seasons. He then joined Noble Park in 1979 but retired before playing a game due to work commitments.
Parke died on 25 September, 2021, the same day his old sides Melbourne and Footscray played in a Grand Final.
| Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
| 1968 | 17 | 17 | 11 |
| 1969 | 18 | 24 | 6 |
| 1970 | 22 | 22 | 9 |
| 1971 | 21 | 22 | 4 |
| 1972 | 20 | 63 | 1 |
| 1973 | 21 | 21 | 2 |
Notes
May have joined Bentleigh or McKinnon mid-season in 1978 (Inside Football - 19/04/1979)
Media
Age - 22/03/1972, 19/12/1973, 29/03/1974, 04/04/1974
Inside Football - 06/10/1973, 11/05/1978, 05/04/1979, 26/04/1979
Links
Policeman footballers - Boyles Football Photos
Demonwiki image gallery
Redlegs Museum profile
Wikipedia profile