Page 78 - History of Parkside Football Club (1897-2017) Editied Version Completed_optimized

Parkside Football Club 1897/2017

In 1942, Williamstown Chronicle provides a comprehensive description of the game played between
Sunshine Districts and Parkside.

“The Districts' winning sequence was brought to, an end last Saturday at the local ground, when the
Parkskides' lasted better in a thrilling finish to record a narrow victory. But considering that the team
was faced, just prior to the start of the match, with the prospect, of giving a walkover, due to ten of
the previous week's team being unavailable, the officials and players have no reason to bet
despondent about the 12-point reverse.

The game was a good one, but also one of contrasts. In the first half the visitors played the more
accomplished football, exploiting both the Districts' key-positional weakness and the ground pockets,
in relation to the tricky crosswind, with success, and, with a six-goal lead at the interval looked an
easy winner. However, after the long break the Districts settled down better, and with a glimpse of
then rugged determination, which has characterised most of its other games, gradually reduced the
leeway until only a goal separated the scores.

The best football of the day took place in the quick-fire exchanges of the last few minutes, and in the
excitement the more experienced Parksides were able to hold off the brilliant Districts' rally to retain
its winning lead.

The defeat was not without its compensations, and several of the younger players, who had to be

called upon to make up the side, played so well that they, will have to be considered for future
selection, even when the full strength is available.

Ten Changes Enough to Unsettle Any Team.

With a run of five successive wins and leaders of the competition, Districts were naturally the
favourites for the game, especially when it was recalled that in the earlier game the opposition had
been defeated by over 20 goals, at Footscray. Since that occasion Parksides, have strengthened their
team considerably, and on Saturday's form must again be considered a strong contender for the
season's honours. Districts' first setback came when it was learned that the captain, Joe McGrath,
had to be taken home from work suffering from pleurisy. His brilliant roving and heady captaincy
would have proved invaluable in a game in which tactics played such a prominent part. Subsequently
it was also learned that from the previous week's team Ryan (at a wedding), Saker(injured)), Byers
(camp), Vinall (working), Boden and McDonald (both ill), and McTaggart (Footscray Seconds) would
all be non-starters. The selectors were forced to re-shuffle their original selection.

A Brief Resume of the Game.

Parksides were the first away and rattled on four goals--before Walsh put, the ball through for the
Districts' first big point. The visitors were following up their play, and in comparison the locals looked

Once a Parksider, Always a Parksider