Parkside secures WRFL Division 2 minor premiership

Parkside coach Chris Muratore believes his side are in the near perfect position on the eve of the WRFL finals after securing the minor premiership. Here’s why.

Parkside coach Chris Muratore describes his side’s second half of the season as a “tough slog”.

But he wouldn’t have it any other way.

The Magpies secured the WRFL Division 2 minor premiership on Saturday with a 8.11 (59) to 5.15 (45) victory over finals contender Sunshine in a game lashed by wild weather in the second half.

It was Parkside’s third win a row after it suffered a shock defeat to the Roos last time they met.

With one round left to play in the home-and-away season, Muratore and his players are now eyeing off the bigger prize — the club’s first premiership since 2017.

“All we wanted to do at the start of the season was finish top-two and give ourselves the double chance come finals time,” Muratore said.

“Given the position we’ve put ourselves in, we’ve been in a position to not risk anyone that we might not need to. Every side we’ve played in the last four or five weeks has been fighting for a finals spot and I think that’s a good thing for us.

“We knew we were going to get every side’s best which I think is the perfect finals preparation for us.

“We’ve coped with the challenge really well and now we can’t wait for the real stuff to start.”

Parkside’s Maxwell Naughton. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Parkside didn’t have it all their own way in the opening half, trailing by five points at halftime.

A five-goal to one third quarter broke the game open before heavy rain fell in the last 30 minutes.

Muratore admitted he wasn’t too pleased with the way his side started the contest.

“Pretty average for the first half, we just weren’t playing the way we wanted to,” he said.

“Our setups weren’t great, then it all just clicked when we moved a couple of magnets around. We probably could have added a couple more in that third quarter if I’m honest.”

Parkside’s Jackson Barrett. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Muratore was full of praise for Sunshine post-match suggesting they could do plenty of damage when the finals do get underway in a fortnight.

“They’re a tough side to read, their best is very good,” he said.

“They’ve got some real quality across all three lines and have good balance. It’s been a tough contest every time we’ve played them.”

Tom Markey was named the best player on the ground for Parkside while Shaun Campbell, Jackson Barrett, Luke Pupillo, Jonah Vraca and Nathan Montague also impressed.

The Magpies are expected to be boosted by the returns of Hudson Barrett and Michael Jubb in the coming weeks with the former having spent time in the VFL.

Mathew Medcraft was best afield for Sunshine.