Page 400 - History of Parkside Football Club (1897-2017) Editied Version Completed_optimized

Parkside Football Club 1897/2017

Albion, first to the ball, played the long game against breeze in the first quarter and led by a goal at
the first break. Parks then played their best football in the next two quarters to lead by two goals
going into the final quarter. John Taylor did well in the ruck and created many opportunities but
Parkside defenders Gary Turner and Grant Kemp kept Albion at bay.

A draw was possibly a good result as both sides put in and gave their all. Best for the Parks were Lou
Sambevski (four goals), Gary Turner, Michael Shepperbottom (4 goals) and Craig Browne-Kerr.

In the last round of home and away season St Albans defeated Parkside by six goals. St Albans 21.14-
140 d. Parkside 15.14-104.

The Parks finishing third on the ladder at the conclusion of the regular season with 10 wins, 2 draws
and 5 losses.

In the 1st semi-final Parkside scored a decisive four goal-win over disappointing Albion at the Skinner
Reserve. The Cats, who finished the season in second position, had dropped out of the finals race
after two disheartening losses.

Parkside captain/coach Mark Komp had said that his side was beginning to play well at the right
time. Parkside progressed in a preliminary final where they supposed to clash against St Albans.

Ron Brown, the Deer Park coach had estimated that his side should utilize a certain advantage
claiming that, ”The grand final will be our second game in a month. Our opponent (St Albans or
Parkside) will be playing its fourth successive match of hard football.”

Mark Komp, chief at Parkside, was also beaming. His side defeated Albion and faced a preliminary
final showdown against St Albans at the Yarraville Oval.

“We’re taking it one game at the time,” Komp commented. “There is still a long way to go. It will be
hard to win the flag from fourth place, but we are playing all tight at the right time. We’ve had our
ups and downs all season and a lot of people wrote us off before the finals, but we’ve won our last
four matches.”

Parkside blitzed Albion and at three quarter time led by eight goals. Despite some belated fight from
the Cats in last term, Parkside still managed to coast to Victory.

Once a Parksider, Always a Parksider