Harper Sercombe
Parkside is through to the Western Region Football League division 2 grand final.
The finals series kicked off with a bang as the Magpies took on Albion at Hansen Reserve in a semi final on Saturday.
Albion booted the first goal of the game before Parkside started to get on top and prove why it has been the best side all year.
The Magpies dominated the second quarter but were unable to translate it onto the scoreboard, taking just a 15 point lead into half time.
In the third quarter the Cats came out strong and kicked a couple of goals to swing the momentum in their favour including a 50 metre set-shot bomb from Tyler Parkinson, to cut the lead to 11 at the break.
In the last the Magpies got back on top of the game and dominated the territory battle, thanks to best-on-ground, Hudson Barrett’s efforts playing as a spare behind the ball.
Barrett was enormous all day, playing the wing role tirelessly playing a crucial role in between the arcs. He also showed his endurance capabilities to snag a goal against the run of play late in the third term and take big defensive pack marks in the last to help keep the game in the Magpies favour.
Barrett and veteran defender Shaun Campbell were clear standouts in the 7.4 (46)-4.6 (30) win.
“[Barrett] was super… players of that level are made for stages like this, and good players find a way to put a stamp on the game and he definitely did that today,” coach Chris Muratore said.
It was a tough, ferocious contest from the outset which Muratore said he was expecting and prepared for, especially with the dimensions of ground.
“It was a good, hard fought win,” he said.
“I think there will be a few sore bodies from this game.
“It’s a funny sized ground… crash, bang, a lot of packs… there were a lot of stoppages, it definitely was a physical game of footy.
“We knew Albion were going to come [at us], we play the same sort of brand, contested, big forwards, big backs, it was a battle.
“Prelims are always going to be hard to win, it was ugly, but I’ll take an ugly win any day of the week.”
After coming runners-up in 2023, Muratore said he and his team is still working on maintaining their composure both on and off the field as they approach a second straight grand final.
Last year the Magpies had to make the grand final the hard way.
“As a coach you have to keep a level head because you can make one mistake, or get caught up in watching the game… so you’ve got to keep a real focus the whole way through,” he said.
“When you look up and see the 20 minute mark and we’re a couple of goals up you start to get nervous a little bit.
“But you’ve just got to stay calm, that’s something I’m trying to work on every week, just to stay calm and stay in the moment.”
The Magpies will face the winner of Newport and Albion in the big dance.
