THE CARLTON Football Club is pleased to be investing further in the development of players on and off the field with the establishment of the David Parkin Apprenticeship Program.

The program is designed for first-to-fourth-year players and will be delivered through weekly education sessions.

It will ensure young players experience positive transitions into the Club and adjust well to the high-performance environment.

The program will also equip players with the skills to experience healthy transitions out of the Club to be well prepared for lives beyond their AFL careers.

05:36

Mic'd Up | Inside the draft, 2022

Go inside Carlton's list management room for an exclusive look at how the Blues orchestrated a live trade and welcomed Oliver Hollands, Lachie Cowan, Jaxon Binns and Harry Lemmey to IKON Park.

The program has been named after Club legend David Parkin who coached Carlton from 1981-1985 and 1991-2000, taking the Blues to three premierships in 1981, 1982 and 1995.

Parkin believes that investing in player welfare and preparing players for lives beyond football is critical, and research has shown that it improves on-field performance.

A core philosophy of Parkin during his coaching days was encouraging players to invest in interests outside of football to allow them to find the right balance between performance and the other parts of their lives, which is exactly what the David Parkin Apprenticeship Program will assist with.

Carlton Head of Football Brad Lloyd said the David Parkin Apprenticeship Program will be a key part of the football program and help build strong relationships with the Club’s younger players.

01:46

Mic'd Up | Ollie Hollands on draft night

Ollie Hollands was wired for sound when he joined his boyhood club on night one of the 2022 NAB AFL Draft.

“Being an AFL player is about more than just performing well on-field and we aim to provide the skills for our players to engage in a lifestyle that supports not only their on-field performance, but also facilitates their personal growth,” Lloyd said.

“We have a responsibility to provide our players with early guidance, resources, and learning opportunities to help set them up to successfully self-manage the diverse demands of being an AFL player, and to make good lifestyle choices that will contribute to their long-term wellbeing, growth, and performance.

“It is wonderful to have the support of Club great David Parkin in this endeavour that will allow us to provide essential skills to our players, and we’re confident the program will be beneficial for all involved.”