Page 615 - History of Parkside Football Club (1897-2017) Editied Version Completed_optimized

Parkside Football Club 1897/2017

Barker's triumph will ease some of the pain of the Roosters' nail-biting loss to St Albans in last
Sunday's first semi-final.

Altona ruckman Andrew Venner and Spotswood utility Aaron Thege were the joint winners of the
Priest Medal, the WRFL first division's equivalent of the Brownlow, in 1999.”

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“Dashing Parkside utility Sami Sir is the consummate team player.

The 29-year-old is "so proud and really, really honoured" to win the coveted Barry Priest Medal after
a sizzling home-and-away season.

But Sir insists the thrill of his "shock” win won't compare with the excitement he'll feel if the
Magpies are crowned premiers.

They play the grand final at Yarraville Oval this Saturday

"It's an absolutely great, great honour winning the Priest Medal." he said.

"(But with) no disrespect to the Priest Medal, you ask any footballer, there's no doubt that a
premiership would definitely override an individual medal."

In a spine-tingling vote count, Sir and West Footscray centre half-forward Cameron Barker polled 19
votes apiece to be crowned joint Priest Medallists.

Sir polled three votes in the last round (against Albion) to draw level with Barker in a night of high
drama at the Yarraville Club on August 29.

Sir gave himself no chance of winning so he spent the night at home with his family, wife Belinda and
children Aydin, 2 and Chad, 1.

He was told of his win the next morning. "It was a hit of a shock." he said.

"I was surprised Stephen Zavalas and Sami Cukovic didn't get an invite. I thought I had a better
season last year. That's just the way the cookie crumbles."

Once a Parksider, Always a Parksider