While in the wake of a grand final loss Albion’s season may have seemed a failure, in reflection it was a roaring success.
Jy Lambley’s goal to give Parkside the Western Region Football League division 2 premiership with just 15 seconds to play was no doubt a heartbreaking blow to Albion.
However, the club got back on track both on and off the field, jumping back into the finals for the first time in 11 years in coach Blake Richards’ first year at the helm.
Richards returned to the club during the off season, after having played more than 300 games at the Cats and was part of the 2012 premiership team, his father also played for the club and his mother is a life member.
“It was a pretty successful year, not quite there but pretty successful,” Richards said. “The club’s been about survival for the last four or five years.
“This is probably the first year where we actually put the football program first and not just about getting players on the park.
“Putting time into defensive structures and things like that led to better results.”
The off field strength was evident at the grand final with Cats supporters arriving in droves. The club’s reserves were also in the earlier grand final, taking away premiership glory.
“When I did look around the boundary and I’ve seen an Albion crowd 10 deep, maybe a couple of thousand people there in our colours, I was pretty proud of that,” Richards said.
The Cats reserves winning the premiership showed the depth and sustainability of the Cats current and future successes.
“We play on about 30 [player] points every week (of a maximum 46), so there’s a bit of growth there,” Richards said.
“We don’t have any superstars that we pay a lot of money to, a lot of the guys do play for the football club which is a bit rare these days.
“The celebrations after we lost were pretty good, they’re a really close knit group, so it’s a good place to be at the moment.”
With Parkside moving up to division 1 for 2024, the Cats will be the team to beat, although there is still plenty of room for growth Richards said.
“Pre-season will probably have to be bigger again this year, we probably still lack a little bit of fitness,” he said.
“We’ve got a pretty young group, a lot of our guns are between 19 and 24, that’s the age group we target with our recruits.
“So we just have to top up with some more top end players and hopefully get some prime movers in there to help these boys succeed.
“I think leg speed [is an area we’re looking to recruit in].
“We’d like to get a centre half forward, a centre half back and a couple of mids to add depth in those areas.”
Twenty-one year old key forward Ben Doll booted 41 majors for the year and led the competition’s goal scoring stood out for the Cats this season.
“Ben is a rare talent for someone his size to snap the footy and be as crafty as he is around goal, is something that doesn’t come along every day,” he said.
“He just needs to train a little bit harder, get a little bit fitter… but he can be a superstar of the competition if he puts his head down and works pretty hard.”
Skipper Caleb McPherson is one of four McPherson brothers who played in the grand final and was also fantastic all season.
“They’ve got some strong genes in that family,” Richards said.
“Their will and want to win is second to none, they play for the jumper, they’re very tough and hard and don’t give up.
“They’re all sticking around, I believe, so they’ll continue to lead the club which is good.”
Richards and the Cats are ready to have a crack at redemption in 2024.
