Medal caps Parish’s year
’He deserves everything that’s come to him,’ says coach
GEELONG Falcons best-andfairest Cassidy Parish has had a season to remember, according to coach Daniel O’Keefe.
Parish took out last night’s Norris Harding medal after a dominant vote count in which he polled in each of the last nine games to win ahead of star 17-year-old Sam Walsh and Falcons co-captain James Worpel.
It caps off a stellar season for Parish, who was pivotal during finals in helping the Falcons take out the TAC Cup premiership.
“If you’re ever going to win one, you obviously want to win it when the team is going really well and we’ve had a successful year,” O’Keefe, who also won the Norris Harding medal as a player, said.
“He’s had a big season, Cassidy. He represented Vic Country, he made the TAC Cup team of the year, he was a very valued premiership player in the midfield and now he’s a Norris Harding medallist. He deserves everything that’s come to him this campaign.”
O’Keefe described Parish’s second half of the year as exceptional, making mention of the 14-disposal third quarter he produced against Dandenong in the preliminary final to get his side into the decider.
“That particular quarter from Cassidy really stands out,” he said.
“His form since the national carnival was just stellar.
“His ability to win the footy, to bring others into the game was amazing and he continued that all through the finals.”
O’Keefe also heaped praise on Walsh, who also received player of the finals.
“He’s a special kid, Sam. He doesn’t just have a unique football ability, but his character, his determination, his personality, that will take him a long way in his football journey,” O’Keefe said.
“He also polled in the last nine games of the season.
“He’s going to have a busy year next year. He’s got VCE, he’s in the national academy, he’s going to be playing Vic Country and he will want to put his best foot forward for the Geelong Falcons because he’s so embedded in the club.”