The result means the Devils will sit out the finals after contesting the previous three grand finals.
Seven unanswered Mustang goals in the first half put the game beyond the reach of a valiant Parkside. In the end, Reservoir’s talent ran deeper and its ball movement was superior.
With a contingent from St Mary’s watching the contest with interest, the equation was simple for Parkside: win and they play finals at the expense of the Burras.
The team changes were of great significance, with Andrew Bennett, Justin Ross and Thomas McKinlay all missing for Parkside, while Justin Murray and James Ralph dropped out of the 24-man squad for Reservoir.
The ground was waterlogged in parts and extremely heavy everywhere else. The recent rain stayed away for the main game as the Devils kicked with the breeze in the first term.
Reservoir’s first goal was wet weather football at its finest. Three Mustang players kicked the ball off the ground without risking trying to pick the ball up – leading to Ashley Flavel soccering it through from close range.
The Mustangs were doing well with their kick-ins, but one came unstuck early and Brad Hockey converted after winning a free. Hockey was a fine contributor all day.
It put Parkside in front, but the lead didn’t last long. A beautifully weighted Kael Beaumont pass found Toby O’Meara for an easy goal.
Mustang Ryan Docherty won the ‘play of the day’ award soon after. He swooped on a stationery ball, dodged two nearby opponents and hit Andrew Johansen on the chest with a pass. A certain goal followed thanks to a 50 metre penalty.
Reservoir led by 10 points at quarter- time. It had been able to find loose players down the outer wing on a regular basis.
The away side lost Corey McGregor in the second quarter and he didn’t return, but it shut the door tightly on Parkside with the first five goals of the term to establish a match-winning 39-point lead.
Compounding the Devils’ woes, Blair Hobba was concussed and was not seen again.
A late goal to Brad Hockey was a highlight. He booted if off the ground from about 35m out. It crept towards the goal line and just had enough momentum to cross the line before anyone arrived.
With a 32-point half-time deficit, the Devils needed something special to clinch the victory.
It never came, but they narrowly won the second half and Peter Dean, coaching in his last game, could not have questioned the endeavour of his charges. However, their execution let them down at times – turning the ball over too often.
They controlled the play early in the second half as Shane McLaren capitalised with yet another goal kicked off the ground. Regrettably, he went off injured soon after and failed to return.
The Mustangs wrestled back the momentum in general play and a goal followed to the busy Jarrod Skinner.
Parkside’s Michael Muir’s kicking was off target as times in the wet, but he slotted a goal from 40m out on an angle.
While Jamie Gresham was doing well in midfield, Darren Gresham was the Rock of Gibraltar in defence for Parkside – regularly repelling attacks. But the biggest cheer from the local crowd occurred in the third term when he went forward and goaled.
The 21-point margin at the last break was always going to be too much for Parkside; especially as Reservoir was coming home with the wind.
Coach Ross Terranova used Leigh Sullivan behind the play for most of the day, but switched him forward at the final break as the game fizzled out in the final term with all players looking exhausted, with Reservoir kicking 1.1 to nil.
Three Mustangs deserve a special mention.
Lee Grattidge has excelled in the second half of the year and was among the best again. Brent Lovett looks at home in the wet and got plenty of the ball and Justin Kuchel is a great exponent of the chest mark in damp conditions and he constantly drove Reservoir into forward 50m.
Parkside’s attention now turns to the Team of the Decade celebrations on Sunday, where Tom Gard is stepping down as president.
Reservoir approaches the finals in good form and fans would be hoping Ryan Keyes and Kent Beaumont could return for the first semi against St Mary’s
Final scores: Parkside 5.6 (36) def by Reservoir 10.4 (64)
