Parkmore plays for grand final berth

By Marc McGowan
PARKMORE enters this weekend’s semi-final match-up with North Kew at Ben Cavanagh Reserve quietly confident of moving directly into the grand final.
The teams’ last clash resulted in a thumping 44-point Pirates win, but the Bears were triumphant in their game earlier in the season.
“We’re not worried but we’re a bit cautious,” Pirates assistant coach Gary Connolly said.
“They have some good runners and they have plenty of goalkickers. We’ve only had a couple of avenues to goal.”
Parkmore enters the bout with an almost full-strength outfit, with injury clouds on young goalkicking sensation Emad Nassrallah (knee) and second-placed league goalscorer Kevin McLean, who was involved in a motorbike accident last week.
The team make-up is still undecided but Connolly hinted that the team may opt to leave a goalkicker out in favour of a running player due to the bigger ground at Ben Cavanagh Reserve.
The major selection interest surrounds century goalkicker Danny Casset, who missed the final game of the home and away fixture with an on-going knee injury, which has plagued him all season.
“It’s not a major problem,” Connolly said.
“It was probably 70-30 that he could have played in that last game and he’s 90-10 for this week.”
In other words, Casset will line up against North Kew.
The winner of the top-of-the-ladder tussle moves straight through to the premiership decider and the loser will proceed to the preliminary final, where Black Rock awaits after accounting for Mount Waverley in the elimination final.
It is a dangerous proposition for either side, as Black Rock has claimed both their scalps this season.
“It is a bit of a worry but we had a few out that day,” Connolly said.
“We kicked pretty bad that day, too.
“We’ve got to be confident – quietly confident – but we’re trying to keep a lid on it. Whether we win or lose this game, the season goes on.”