IT might have been a signal of two sides heading in opposite directions in the Western Region Football League division 2 on Saturday.
Parkside and the Albanvale Cobras have fought it out in some of the biggest home and away games and cut-throat finals in recent years, but this encounter could not have been further from those intoxicating heights.
The Magpies had to get out of first gear only briefly to stamp their authority on the contest before cruising to a 15-point win at Robert Bruce Oval.
The boys in black-and-white monstered an on-the-rebuild Cobras in the opening 30 minutes with their bigger, more-experienced bodies proving crucial around the stoppages.
They booted all five goals of the opening quarter to take a 34-point lead into the first break. Then they got their structures bedded in with the Cobras finding it difficult to negotiate a way past the Magpies’ forward press. The scoreboard tightened up the longer the game went, but the Magpies – second on the table and destined for a double chance – never had their supremacy threatened after the early dominance.
“We sort of dropped away a bit,” Magpies vice-captain Chris Muratore said.
“We stopped and went into our shells a bit, which is disappointing. But it wasn’t like they were coming hard at us. It was in dribs and drabs. [Coach Nathan Juegan] understandably was a bit angry with the way we finished.”
Tim Badura was the one Magpie who stood out in an even team performance.
Fabian Mastropasqua showed his vice-like hands to win his share of aerial attack inside 50 and he also finished with a team-high three goals.
Adrian Gervasi could be an X-factor for the Magpies come finals time. The winger had one of his quieter games but still kicked two goals.
Gervasi was exactly what the Magpies needed going forward, a speedy and skilful midfielder who can break the lines and sniff out a goal.
The Magpies are far from the finished article.
They have an injury list packed with quality footballers, including Mo Khartabil, Nick Grant and Ben Ashman.
Muratore said the Magpies needed to get close to their best side to challenge for a flag.
“Our depth falls away a bit after the 26th or 27th player,” he said. “We need our best 22 on the park.”
