Tara Murray
A stronger Parkside is hoping to be among the contenders again in the Western Region Football League division 2 season.
Last season’s runners-up have managed to keep the bulk of their squad together and added some more key pieces.
Magpies coach Chris Muratore said they had ticked a lot of boxes in the off season.
“It’s not long now and we’re ticking off all the sessions,” he said.
“It’s been really good and there has been buy-in from the group. There’s been good numbers at training.”
Muratore said they don’t talk too much about last season’s disappointment, preferring to focus on what they can do this year.
He said the depth of the group had changed this season with some retirements and players moving away.
“It’s about 80 per cent the same and there will be a few new names that people will see.”
Harvey Daniher, son of Essendon premiership player Chris Daniher, joins the club having previously played with Greensborough and Sunshine.
Karl Staudt, who has been at Macedon, joins the Magpies. Muratore said him and Staudt had been close friends since under-10s.
Hudson Barrett, who is on the Northern Bullants’ Victorian Football League list has also joined the club, while Aaron Flavel returns.
Muratore said they weren’t shying away from having high expectations this season.
“I’d definitely be lying if I said no,” he said.
“We’ve added those players and we want to be competitive again. Eighty per cent of the last has stayed the same and we will be better than last year.
“We’ve had another pre-season together and ticked a lot of boxes. Other clubs have done a fair bit as well, but we want to be up the top.”
The Magpies start their season on April 15 against Braybrook. The Brookers won the division 3 premiership last season and have been promoted.
“They’re about the same as us and have been around for about 125 years,” Muratore said. “Both draw good followings and they’re coming up with nothing to lose.
“We want to set the tone for the rest of the year.”
