Deer Park has sprung the upset of the season, taking out the WRFL Division Two Premiership with a 21-point victory over raging-hot favourites Parkside at Chirnside Park, the winners storming home in the second half, kicking 10 goals to four after time, Shaun Harrison the Rex Swann Medallist in a best on ground performance.
In a tense first quarter, Deer Park started well, but with Peter Krueger a force at the stoppages and Mo Khartabil dangerous up forward, Parkside stuck with the underdogs and there was only a point separating the teams at the first change. In the second term it was Parkside that started to gain control, Krueger was the driving force, Nathan Juegan was heavily involved and Sedat Sir started to have a pronounced influence. The Deer Park defence was under constant threat, the flag favourites out to a 21-point half-time lead and the game was travelling along like many thought it would - Deer Park putting up a good effort, but Parkside looking too strong and too powerful for their opponents.
But the game was to be turned on its head in the second half, Adam Fenton went into the midfield and gave Deer Park the ascendency at the stoppages, Wayne Duggan anchored the defence, thwarting most Magpie attacks, Chris Robertson and Luke Summers got the ball more and used it precisely, Paul MacKie was an influence in the ruck and up forward, but the star was Shaun Harrision, the rover cutting Parkside to pieces with his bravery and adventurous run and carry. He drove Deer Park to a 10-point three-quarter time lead and from there they were never caught. Harrison continued to blitz in the last term, Robertson kept his side together and when Duggan's mature legs propelled him forward to kick a timeless running goal in the last term, Jamie Madigan's team had the premiership cup in their keeping.
Harrison, Duggan and MacKie starred for the winners, whilst Krueger, young defender Darcy Dunstan and ruckman Julian Storey were amongst Parkside's better players over the four quarters.
A fantastic underdog performance from Deer Park, whose finals heroics will live long in the memory. For Parkside, a wonderful season left ultimately unrewarded.
Deer Park 4.2 6.3 13.10 16.12 108
Parkside 4.1 9.6 12.6 13.9.87
Goals: DP - MacKie 3, Catterall 2, Buttigieg-Clarke 2, S.Summers 2, S.Harrison 2, Rizzo, Robertson, Fenton, L.Summers, Duggan.
Parkside - Khartabil 3, Davis 2, Muratore 2, Burrows 2, Ravalli, Taleb, Juegan, Sir.
Best: DP - S.Harrison (Rex Swann Medallist), Duggan, Mackie, L.Summers, Fenton, Robertson, Prior.
Parkside - Krueger, Dunstan, Storey, Wiggins, Juegan, Sir, Ravalli.
Last Modified on 08/04/2010 14:40