Page 507 - History of Parkside Football Club (1897-2017) Editied Version Completed_optimized

Parkside Football Club 1897/2017

He nominated outstanding ruck-rover Michael Frost and goal-kicking machine Brian Memedi as
players to be stopped if the Magpies were going to fly.”

The Times, August 28th, 1996

***

PARKSIDE officials are fuming over an umpiring decision they claim cost them victory in Saturday's
nail-biting second semi-final against Yarraville at the Yarraville Oval.

Star Tigers' nick-rover Michael Frost was paid a free kick in the dying minutes of the big match after
Magpies' ruckman Paul Burgess grabbed a mark over him.

A 15-metre penalty was awarded when Burgess remonstrated with the umpire. Frost passed to crack
Yarraville full-forward Brian Memedi, who paled. The Tigers won the absorbing game by six points,
after staging a remarkable come-back in the last quarter.

Parkside coach Larry Simmons declined to comment on the crucial free kick, but said Burgess "clearly
had eyes only for the ball".

A Yarraville official described the umpire's decision as "rubbish".

Although disappointed with the near miss, Simmons is adamant his Magpies can still fly away with
the premiership.

"We'll bounce back, we're still very much in the hunt," he said. "I've got great belief in my side. I
don't want our players to be frightened of my expectations. All-in-all the club has just got to toughen
up."

It spells danger for the spluttering, Altona, who play Parkside in the preliminary final at Yarraville this
Saturday.

The Vikings had to battle to sneak home by nine points against Hoppers Crossing in Sunday's cut-
throat first semi-final at Yarraville.

Altona coach Lindsay Cahill said: "We've still got a lot of room for improvement.

"It (the premiership race) can still go any way." Cahill added. "There are no favorites."

Cahill's still haunted by Altona's 58-point loss to the Magpies in the qualifying final a fortnight ago. "I
learnt a lot that day, we'll go out a better side," he said.

The Magpies are rueing their loss to Yarraville. They had the game almost sewn up, then squandered
a 20-point lead at the 17-minute of the last term.

Once a Parksider, Always a Parksider