The Parkmore Pirates won their first game in two years on Saturday. Pictured are Fintrack Mortgages general manager Andrew Campbell (left) and chief executive and senior coach Richard Houston, who said he was excited about the coming season. The Pirates beat Black Rock by two goals in a practice match at McDonald Reserve, Beaumaris, despite being drastically undermanned.
Star full-forward Danny Casset booted eight goals for the Pirates and removed all doubt that, provided he is cleared by former club Doveton, would play for his former junior club in the SFL this season.
Black Rock, demoted from division two at the end of last season, could not stop Casset, as the Pirates battled towards their first victory in two years.
Football club manager Mike Smythe described Casset’s eight-goal haul as a walk in the park.
“It was a lazy eight – he did it easy and he looks great out there,” he said.
The lack of numbers was a result of cricket finals still being played, according to Smythe.
“There were about 12 players missing who had cricket commitments, but they will be ready to go by 8 April,” he said.
Houston said he was happy with the team’s performance and looked forward to its round-one clash against the Sandown Cobras.
“There were promising signs, we definitely won’t be easybeats this season,” he said.
“We are still negotiating with another four or five big-name recruits, but the balance of the side is looking good.”
Former Dandenong Demon Jayde Handfield was one of many new recruits to play well for the Pirates.
The exciting midfielder made the move to the other side of Dandenong after following former Demons’ coach and new Pirates assistant coach Gary Connolly to the club.
@BT Sub Sport News:
EAGLES OUTCLASSED
The division-three Doveton Eagles were outclassed by division-two side Oakleigh Districts in a practice match at Princes Highway Reserve on Saturday.
Missing a number of key players involved in cricket finals, the Eagles were well beaten by the Oakleigh side.
Coach Paul Davis said it was good to have a competitive run against quality opposition.
“They are a division-two side and have a lot of speed,” he said.
But Davis expects his Eagles outfit to find winning form before their season kicks off against South Yarra on 8 April.
“We’ve got the numbers at training which always helps, everything is shaping up nicely,” he said.
Football is the furthest thing from SFL president Tony Troon’s mind at the moment. Mr Troon fell ill last week and was hospitalised, but is expected to make a full recovery.
SFL executive manager Bob Caine said the exact nature of Mr Troon’s illness was still unknown.
“He is having a number of tests to determine exactly what is wrong,” Mr Caine said.
