Page 594 - History of Parkside Football Club (1897-2017) Editied Version Completed_optimized

Parkside Football Club 1897/2017

"Absolutely unbelievable —it's just the greatest feeling ever," he said.

It's been an unforgettable season for the star No. 7 — who won the Andrew Gibson Medal after
topping the competition's goalkicking.

It will go well with Clarke's premiership medallion.

But there's no doubting which medal means more to the 24-year-old.

"The team thing is the greatest thing — you share it together," Clarke said.

The underdogs had become top dogs.

But they certainly had to fight every inch of the way to become the rust side to win back-to-back
titles since Seddon in 1991-92.

Heavily backed Parkside appeared likely to live up to its pre-match favouritism after a flying start to
the big game.

The Magpies were flying high after kicking the first four goals to lead — 4.2 to 0.7 — midway
through the second quarter.

The Borough seemed in real trouble — unable to buy a goal in a game where kicking goals was
always going to be difficult.

But strong-marking half- forward Steve Quinn sparked the reigning premiers by pulling in a screamer
and kicking the badly needed drought-breaking goal at the 19-minute mark.

It was a team-lifting piece of play.

Remarkable, Port Colts found itself just four points down when the classy Stephen Pearce bounced
through a lucky goal just two minutes later.

Early goals to Clarke and Glen "Dumbo" Williams in the third quarter saw the Borough skip away to a
handy nine point lead.

But Parkside hit back hard.

Very hard.

Goals to Michael Cammerino, Michael O'Keefe and Craig Browne-Kerr saw them charge to a
confidence-boosting nine point lead at three quarter-time.

And when "Tocka" O'Keefe snapped a lovely goal early in the last quarter, the Magpies were looking
every inch a premiership combination.

It was an illusion.

Once a Parksider, Always a Parksider