Les Parish

Les Parish
Personal information
Full name	Les Parish
Date of birth	28 September 1955
Date of death	12 February 1998 (aged 42)
Place of death	Cobram, Victoria
Original team(s)	Tungamah, Yarrawonga
Height / weight	180 cm / 82 kg
Position(s)	Ruck-rover, utility
Playing career^1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1980–85 1985 Total –	Fitzroy Melbourne	87 (52) 7 (5) 94 (57)
^1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1985.

Les "Salty" Parish (28 September 1955 – 12 February 1998) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy and Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Parish originally trialed at North Melbourne, having come to Melbourne from Yarrawonga. A ruck-rover and utility, he was signed by Fitzroy and gave the club good service over six seasons. He kicked 21 goals in 1981, two of them in an elimination final win over Essendon. Parish also played finals football in 1983, when he did not miss a game all year, and again in 1984. He was Fitzroy's third best vote getter at the 1982 Brownlow Medal count and equal second in 1983.^[1] He finished his VFL career at Melbourne, after being transferred to Melbourne during the 1985 season due to salary cap restrictions.

Known for his many tattoos,^[2] he continued playing at Yarrawonga in the Ovens & Murray Football League upon leaving Melbourne and won their best and fairest in 1986 and 1987, having also won the award in the three seasons before he joined Fitzroy. He died of cancer in 1998.^[3][4]

References

1. "Les Parish". AFL Tables.
2. The Age, "Hawthorn proves victor on points", 24 June 1985, p. 28
3. The Age, "A Lake Oval bog, 1981", 29 July 2006, Paul Daffey
4. Footystats Diary