By Parker McKenzie
Silvan Football Club celebrated winning its first premiership in eight years on Sunday 4 September, to cap off a fine season that saw them finish top of the league.
In the Grand Final, Silvan fought off second-placed Surrey Park — the only team to beat them during the regular season — after playing them in the final regular season round and the semi-final.
Silvan coach Trent Martin said the whole town got out to support the team during the game.
“It was a feeling of relief that we finally that we did it after being probably the best team,” he said.
“We carried a target on our back for the year, it was great to wrap it up at the end.”
With the teams dead even at three-quarter time, Silvan hit a late flurry of goals to secure the win 69-57.
When coach Trent Martin took on the coaching role in 2017, the club had won just 11 games since the 2014 Division Four premiership-winning season. This season, the club won 14 of its 16 games.
Club President Charlie Caputo said the team built upon work put in throughout 2021, in a season curtailed by Covid-19.
“With a few of the recruits that we got, we probably felt confident enough that we were going to be there at the pointy end,” he said.
“They were the ones that missed out on playing for a year and a half because of it; it was probably a bit sweeter because of it.”
The club will play in Division Three in 2023, with Martin already planning ahead.
“We had a feeling that if we’re at our best, we could win it,” Martin said.
“We’ve already got a few things in place; I’ve re-signed to help the club get a bit of stability.”
Silvan’s Lee Kimpton scored 109 goals for the club this year, in what Martin called “one of the great seasons” in the Eastern Football League.
“He’s a unique player, he’s done an amazing job,” Martin said.
“He can hold his head high, that’s for sure.”
