Parkside has gone from ground zero three years ago to being Western Region Football League division 3 premier.
The Magpies were on the verge of closing their doors in 2015 following a mass walkout of players after their 2014 division 2 flag.
Instead of being promoted to division 1, the Magpies had to swallow their pride and ask for the WRFL to demote them to the third division.
But that allowed them to re-group in times of uncertainty.
Many people helped Parkside get back on its feet again and on the way to ensuring the club celebrated its 120th anniversary this year with a flag.
But the public face of the rebuild was coach Nick Condos.
Condos stood proudly on Saturday after guiding his club back to the premiership dais with a 41-point win over Tarneit in the grand final at Hogans Road Reserve.
“I’ve been lucky enough to coach about eight flags, but this is the sweetest,” Condos said. “It’s the club I love and played all my footy with.
“I walked down that hill as a 10 year old and I’m 61 now. It’s something you dream about.”
Parkside received stick for asking to be relegated to the third tier, but a club with such a rich history does not make that kind of decision unless it is a last resort.
Condos took just as much satisfaction in Parkside’s reserves winning their second consecutive premiership on Saturday.
“They’re a young side, so the club’s in pretty good stead,” Condos said.
“We’ve worked hard off the ground to achieve this and obviously we’re still battling. You don’t take things for granted.
“We know we’ve got a lot of work as a group to do and we’ve got people that are prepared to work hard.”
Parkside was dominant almost from start to finish in the senior grand final. The Magpies opened up a 26-point quarter-time lead and it blew out to 55 by three-quarter time.
Tarneit did have a little victory, winning the junk time last quarter, but the Magpies had the cup under lock and key by that stage.
Only errant kicking for goal – the Magpies finished with 12.17 – stopped the margin from blowing out further.
Experienced campaigners Justin Dorward, Chris Muratore, Luke Buttigieg and Adrian Gervasi led the way for Parkside.
Brent Kelly (four goals) and Jason Cloke (three) were damaging inside the Magpies’ forward 50.
“All the attention went to Jason, but ‘BK’ was nearly our best player after half-time,” Condos said. “He’s a super talent for us, his leg speed and ability in the air, he was really good for us.
“It was a good team effort, every quarter, someone stood up.”
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