Arnold Sefton "Seff" Parry (17 August 1907 – 29 July 1980) was an Australian rules footballer who played with West Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and East Perth in the Western Australian National Football League (WANFL). He coached both Subiaco and East Perth.
Playing career
Born in Adelaide, Parry started his career in the South Australian Amateur Football League (SAAFL), with Henley and Grange.News (Adelaide), "Port Pirie Match", 9 August 1928, p. 15 He began playing for West Adelaide in 1929 and remained with the club until 1932.
Parry, a rover, was cleared to Fitzroy just before the beginning of the 1933 VFL season and made his league debut in the opening round, against North Melbourne at Arden Street. He made four further appearances that season, the last in round 11.
He returned to West Adelaide in 1934 and that year became the second member of his family to be an interstate representative, when he represented South Australia in Perth.The West Australian, "Subiaco Coach Appointed", 16 March 1945, p. 2 His brother Cyril was also a South Australian representative, but in cricket. The brothers both played district cricket for West Torrens.The Advertiser, "West Torrens v Colts", 25 March 1929, p. 22
From 1935 to 1938, Parry played for East Perth.The West Australian, "A. S. Parry for East Perth", 28 February 1935, p. 9 Parry was believed to have been the first player from the eastern states in over 20 years to appear for the club and also had the distinction of having played in all three major football leagues in successive seasons.The Daily News (Perth), "Parry, of S.A., Arrives", 4 March 1935, p. 3 He was East Perth's joint leading goal-kicker in 1935 and a member of the team that defeated Claremont to win the 1936 premiership.
Coaching Parry was appointed coach of Subiaco in 1945. Although retired, he made one appearance as a player that season. He was replaced by Frank Murphy the following year but returned as coach in 1947, when Murphy didn't reapply for the role.
He coached East Perth in 1949, to fifth position, which wasn't enough to keep the job in 1950.The Daily News (Perth), "Should The Coach Play?", 25 March 1950, p. 18 Late in the season, due to an injury crisis, Parry was again called out of retirement to take the field.The West Australian, "Half-Back Line Strength", 29 August 1949, p. 14
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