While the other clubs’ positions in the Western Region Football League division 2 top four are on shaky ground after a stunning round of upsets, Parkside is a sure thing to finish the season as minor premier and hold one of the precious two double-chance finals spots.
The safe-as-houses Magpies have won 15 of a possible 16 games this season, their latest coming in the form of a nonchalant 46-point win over Wyndhamvale in a top-of-the-table clash at Wyndhamvale South Oval on
Saturday.
Incredibly, third-placed West Footscray and fourth-ranked Glenorden both lost on Saturday, leaving them susceptible to a raid from Manor Lakes, which is a game out of the four.
Magpies coach Nathan Juegan was content with his side’s performance but still sees room for improvement in a team desperate to atone for consecutive grand final defeats.
“I don’t think we played our best footy today,” he said. “We controlled the game for most of the day but didn’t finish off as well as I would’ve liked.”
At the top of Juegan’s pre-game wishlist was nullifying Falcons forward Paul O’Shea, the competition’s leading goalkicker.
O’Shea booted eight goals the last time these two sides met. This time, he met his match in Magpies defender Aaron McHutchinson, kicking just one major on a frustrating afternoon.
With the exception of on-the-mend ruckman Alex Lockhart and a fresh ankle injury to midfielder Paul Clemente, the Magpies are a well settled unit in the run-in to the finals.
Check out www.maribyrnong.starweekly.com.au for more photos from Parkside’s big win over Wyndhamvale.
