Club Captain and star midfielder Shane McLaren, added the Kevin Clarke Medal for the club best and fairest to his Division Four OJ Meehan Medal to cap off an outstanding year. Shane finished well ahead of second as the clear winner on 85 votes, while Jack Friel, finished runner up with 32 votes in a great comeback year after missing the past few seasons and a handful of games injured this season. New recruit Ryan Parsons, rounded out the top three finishing with 21 votes. Isaac Romano was a well-deserved winner of the “Spirit of Parkside” award in his first full year at Parkside as a senior footballer. Isaac, showed tremendous leadership as Captain of the Colts side and was a part of the seniors finals side before a broken collarbone in the first final brought an early end to his season. On numerous occasions he backed up an under 19’s match and played in the ones collecting 5 votes for his efforts from the umpires in the league vote count – the second highest behind, Shane. Chris Dagostino won the “Coaches Award” and delivered one of the more memorable speeches in recent times, with a young audience we won’t repeat it for you. Chris was a member of the leadership group and had a huge year playing both back and forward. The club would like to wish Dags all the best as he starts a new venture in the US of A next year.
In the Reserves, a close finish saw James Palmer (Irish Jimmy) take out the Ken Allen Medal for Best and Fairest with 22 votes, 3 ahead of next best Tyson Veenman, with Jordan Venables finishing 3rd on 17 votes. In his first year at the club Evan Morris, took out the “Coaches Award” in a popular decision amongst the wider playing group, while Shayne Herrick won the “International Recruit of the Year” showing plenty of improvement over the course of the year after making the move from the other side of the ditch.
In the Colts Best and Fairest Isaac was the run-away winner, finishing with 34 votes. Harry Kouramoulos finished in second on 20 votes with Cam Pevitt taking out Third on 12 votes. Jordan Hogg won the “Spirit of Parkside” Award for the Colts and all four boys played in the seniors during the year with Isaac and Cam both part of the finals side.
The club is delighted to announce that Life Membership was awarded to Vince Romano and Shane Knight at Presentation Night for outstanding overall contribution to the Football Club over a sustained period of time.
Vince first started at the club in 1992 and played as an onballer until 2001. Vince has served on the general committee, was the clubs treasurer, has worked on various coaching committees and been a major club sponsor since 2003. Vince has already been named as a life member of the Parkside Junior Football Club after he played an important role helping to establish the club. Vince saw his hard work pay off this year as the club was able to field a Colts side which he featured a number of players who had progressed from the junior club to senior football.
Shane Knight joined the club in 2003 played until 2006 where he finished as an assistant playing coach. Shane has continued to support the club since his playing days finished through the good and bad times, Shane rarely misses a club function and marks the lines at Pitcher Park during the season. Shane has also served on various coaching committees and worked as an assistant coach, fitness coach over pre-season and been the senior runner under various coaches. Shane took his first steps into coaching his own side this year when he coached the under 16’s side to a preliminary final.
Congratulations to both Shane and Vince who are both truly deserving recipients.
Last Modified on 24/09/2015 10:18
