PARKSIDE coach Nathan Juegan offered a scary thought for opposition clubs two weeks from the Western Region Football League division 2 finals, suggesting his team has “still got a bit of improvement” in it.
Many would feel the second-placed Magpies achieved close to a perfect game in a 110-point dismantling of Wyndhamvale, a finals contenders with a genuine shot at winning a flag, on the road on Saturday.
“It’s just starting to gel better now,” Juegan said. “The gameplan is coming together. That takes a while when you have eight or nine new blokes in the side.”
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The Magpies signalled their ruthless intent from the outset on Saturday by piling on 52 to zip in the first term.
Their work rate and smart build-up against the wind in the second and fourth quarters was most impressive.
“Getting off to a good start definitely helped, but I thought we worked the footy really well into the breeze as well,” Juegan said. “We kicked eight goals into the breeze and Wyndhamvale didn’t kick a goal into the breeze all day.”
A trio of recruits – Paul Harris, Nick Bone and Justin Snow – were at the forefront for the Magpies. Harris is a sure hand in defence, Bone has impacted on the midfield, and Snow adds an extra dimension to the forward line.
The Magpies came close to a flag last year and have been on the losing end in three of the past four grand finals.
Still playing great football for the Magpies are Chris Muratore, elevated to the captaincy this season, full forward Mo Khartabil, who jagged five goals against the Falcons, ruckmen Alex Lockhart and Jack Dunstan, along with Adrian Gervasi, Drew Vincent, Joe Jamieson and Nick Grant, before he was injured.
Competition for spots is hotting up at Parkside.
“Last year we probably didn’t have the pressure put on the senior group,” Juegan said. “This year we’ve got up to 12 blokes [in the reserves] who could play.”
