Page 596 - History of Parkside Football Club (1897-2017) Editied Version Completed_optimized

Parkside Football Club 1897/2017

But it didn't stop the bitterly disappointed O'Keefe, still in his guernsey and shorts, limping into the
cock-a-hoop Borough dressing rooms about 35 minutes after the final siren to congratulate
triumphant coach Matthew Larkin and a few of his players.

"Well played," O'Keefe said quietly as he shook hands with Larkin.

He then patted a few of the players on the back before limping back to the quiet Parkside rooms.

Big on talent, big on heart: and big on sportsmanship — that's Michael O'Keefe.

O'Keefe didn't let the Magpies down, running himself ragged in a bid to inspire his teammates.

The champion No 18 appeared set to be the premiership captain when he snapped a splendid goal
early in the last quarter.

Parkside led by 14 points — 8.4 (52) to 4.14 (38) — as a pumped- up O'Keefe punched the air with
delight before being mobbed b teammates.

But to the sheer horror of O'Keefe and Co that was it as far as the Magpies were concerned.

The never-say-die Port Colts simply exploded — slamming on a stunning 4.7 without reply for the
rest of the big game to cruise to back-to-back premierships.

And as "Tocka" finally removed his guernsey from his aching body, you got the impression his mind
had already started ticking over in preparation for district cricket's millennium season.

O'Keefe will captain- coach Footscray for the first time in 1999-2000. A wonderful left-handed top-
order batsman, O'Keefe has won the Bulldogs' highest individual award — the Club Champion award
— five times.

***

By Steven Milne

“Bitterly disappointed Parkside president Don Browne-Kerr jnr isn't blaming the "absolutely soft"
sending off of star utility Dennis Ryan in the last quarter for Saturday's shock loss to Port Colts in the
grand final at the Yarraville Oval.

Ryan was sent to the "sin bin" at the 14-minute mark by field umpire Adrian O'Donnell after an
incident involving star Borough on-bailer Stephen Pearce.

The Magpies, who were leading by six points at the time, faded badly playing one man short with
Ryan on the sidelines.

They suffered a heart-breaking 17-point loss after having led at every change.

A frustrated Browne-Kerr jnr described the standard of umpiring as ".. . terrible" and the
controversial send-off of Ryan as "absolutely soft".

Once a Parksider, Always a Parksider