Vale ~ Mike Parsons

[Brad]

From nafc.com.au ~ Barries Corner.

The North Adelaide Football Club is shocked and greatly saddened by the loss of one of its Premiership heroes in Michael Parsons. Michael passed away in hospital on 24 th April, 2009 {at approximately 7:00 am}, his sad passing caused by a brain tumour.


Born on 3 October 1960, Michael played some football as a child but chose to continue with a very promising basketball career. He was unlucky to miss a spot in the Australian team in the 1980 Olympic Games but by 1983 was discussing returning to football with some mates. The conversation was overheard by North Adelaide senior coach, Michael Nunan, and Nunan immediately approached Parsons to entice him to try out with North. He was an immediate success, playing only one reserves game before being elevated to the league team.


A giant of a man at 203 cm, Parsons partnered Michael Redden in ruck for North and the two formed a most formidable combination. They were a crucial part of North's revival through the mid-1980s, playing in three grand finals from 1985 to 1987. Parsons' effort in North Adelaide's glorious 1987 premiership where he played tough uncompromising football and kicked six goals was rewarded with the Jack Oatey medal for the best player on the ground.


So dominant was he in that game that he was recruited by the Sydney Swans and played in the AFL in 1988, 1989 and part of 1990 before returning to North Adelaide part way through the 1990 season. He teamed with Redden again in North's 1991 premiership team before retiring at the end of the 1992 season. He played 158 games for North Adelaide and kicked 196 goals in his illustrious career.


Parsons has lived and worked in Sydney for the last few years but returned to Adelaide in August 2007 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1987 premiership with his teammates. He was interviewed at the celebration dinner and it was very clear that he held vivid and fond memories of that triumph. Equally clear was the enormous respect in which he was held by his teammates and the hundreds of members and supporters who gathered to honour the team that night.


Michael will be sadly missed by his many friends and colleagues at the North Adelaide Football Club. The Club extends its sincere condolences to his family.


The Club salutes one of its great champions........Vale Michael Parsons.

[JK]

Oh man ... Ultra sad news, was a great bloke and Im shocked and saddened to hear this ... Thoughts with his family and the NAFC fraternity.

[Dogwatcher]

Struth. Very sad news.
A quality sportsman.

[Big Phil]

Terrible news to hear the passing of Bristles...

RIP Big Man...

Thoughts are with family, friends and the NAFC...

[locky801]

Great bloke and tremendous footballer, has suffered a long illness, will be sadly missed by all that knew him, RIP "big fella" Sympathy to all family and friends

[Cambridge Clarrie]

Very sad news.

He and Redden certainly did form a formidable duo back in the eighties...

[westcoastpanther]

I hate these stories....

[Pseudo]

I remember the 85 and 86 seasons with great fondness (for obvious reasons). While he might have played for the other team, Parsons is as much of that memory as anyone who wore a Tigers jumper. The premiership cups won in those years have a special shine, having been won against players of Parsons' calibre. With Mick Redden he formed the most dominant ruck combination in my living memory.

Only the good die young.

[Hondo]

That's very sad news

He was diagnosed last year and then it sounded like his prospects were looking better so this is a huge shock

My condolences to his family, friends and the NAFC

[UK Fan]

My condolences to his family and friends.

[Dirko]

Sad day. I am too like Psuedo remember him mainly for his deeds in the 80's. A very good footballer.

Condolences.

[Squawk]

Very sad news. A shortened life, but there were more than a lifetime of highlights within it.

[drebin]

Tragic but not unexpected news sadly. Last saw and spoke to him at the 1987 Premiership reunion dinner. He was full of life and cracking jokes like he always did.

Rest in peace big fella!

Sadly (from New Years Eve) 2009 has seen the passing of 3 NAFC Champs.

[Rik E Boy]

Terrible news. From what I saw on the telly he seemed like a top bloke.

regards,

REB

[Felch]

Very sad news. He was one of my childhood idols in the mid-80's.

[Thiele]

Sad News. My condolence to the NAFC and his family.

RIP Michael

[zipzap]

Terribly sad to lose an absolute icon of 80s SANFL and by all accounts a lovely bloke too. RIP

[Macca19]

Wow! RIP Mike.

Loved his boundary riding for the ABC

[BigRed42]

Another one of my heroes who have passed away too early, he was only 49. Who will ever forget his deeds in the 87 Premiership, Rest in peace Bristle the suffering is now over.
Three in one year, enough is enough.

[NFC]

Didn't he used to commentate for the ABC?

Sad news.