Tara Murray
Parkside threw everything at Point Cook Centrals but just fell short in the Western Region Football League division 2 grand final on Saturday.
After not firing a shot in the semi final against Point Cook Centrals, the Magpies knew they needed to switch things up.
They did exactly that, but a five minute period in the third quarter would prove costly. The Sharks would do enough to hold on and claim the premiership and complete the perfect season, winning 10.4 (64)-7.6 (48).
Magpies coach Chris Muratore said overall they were probably the better team on the day, but the Sharks were cleaner with the ball.
“It was not the result we were after,” he said. “It was a great day of football and we had a really good effort.
“We threw the kitchen sink at them and had some really good moments and controlled the game for large periods.”
Muratore said after playing them three times this year without success they had to look at doing something.
They threw players around and tried to keep the Sharks guessing.
“We threw a press at them,” he said. “We hadn’t done that before and it was a massive gamble in a grand final as we could have looked like a fool.
“They all brought in and asked them if we thought we could do this on the back of two training sessions.
“We executed it really well.”
The Magpies led by one point at half time. The Sharks would kick four goals in a five minute period to take control in the third quarter.
Muratore said even then the Magpies still didn’t give up.
“If we had kicked one more in the last quarter I think we would have won,” he said.
“We were 10 points down for about 15 minutes and the ball was in our forward half but we couldn’t score.”
Jy Lambley kicked two goals for the Magpies. Ned Fraser, Lambley and Luke Vraca were named the best.
Muratore said they were keen to reload and go again next season.
“We will move on,” he said. “What I said to the boys, it hurts now, but with another pre-season under our belt we will be better for it.
“We know what the competition is like now after our first full season in three years.”
It was a tough day all round for the Magpies with their reserves losing in the grand final to Wyndhamvale, 12.9 (81)-9.5 (59).
Muratore said it was an amazing day to see so many supporters get down to watch the club have two sides in the grand final.
