EFL: Silvan aiming for first Eastern Football League finals appearance since 2014 premiership
Silvan has cause to believe it could end a five-year absence from Eastern Football League finals after signing six quality recruits.
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Silvan has cause to believe it could end a five-year absence from Eastern Football League finals after signing six quality recruits.
The Cats ended 2018 with a 6-12 record, finishing only ahead of Nunawading.
But coach Trent Martin believes Silvan has “definitely got a list that can play finals” after a fruitful off-season.
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Star Mooroolbark defender Trent Georgiou is the headline addition at the Division 4 club, joining Ryan Emmett (Stanhope), Lachlan Hampton (Croydon), Leigh Kimpton (Croydon), Harry Stevens (Lilydale) and Joel Treeby (Mooroolbark) on the list of recruits.
Georgiou is a four-time Division 2 Team of the Year member, while veteran small forward Emmett is a premiership player at Goulburn Valley league club Kyabram.
“He’s just a big powerful bloke and there are a lot of small ovals in our comp and you look at teams who have won flags, they’ve got big powerful players at either end of the ground and some good pace around them,” Martin said of Georgiou.
“That’s probably something we lacked … we’ve had a lot to do with Trent, he works for a guy up there so he didn’t come in blind, he came in knowing what he was getting into. A lot of people knew him and what he’s achieved and he has come in and fit in perfectly.”
Kimpton played every game at Croydon last year, and Hampton has transferred looking for more senior opportunities.
“I actually coached Lachie in the under-19s a few years back now and he was probably the premier half-back flanks in the competition,” Martin said.
“Leigh Kimpton was just looking for a bit of a change and a change in lifestyle coming back to a lower grade.”
Silvan hasn’t played finals since its 2014 premiership and has just 17 wins in the past four years.
But a revamped competition and healthy numbers at training has second-year coach Martin believing the Cats can crack a top-four berth in 2019.
Matthew White and Dwayne Harvey have been cleared to Ellinbank District league club Lang Lang, while premiership coach Chris Murphy is transferring to Coldstream.
“I definitely think we’ve got a list to play finals, it’s just a matter of how quickly we can gel together,” Martin said.
“Silvan being such a small town of 200, 300 people, we’ve got to get everyone up there and tell them all to become mates really quickly and try have the passion to play for each other.
“If we can fast-track that, I think we’ve definitely got a list that can play finals but I think East Burwood is definitely going to be the team to beat.
“They’re going to be the standout and hopefully we’re in the mix somewhere behind them.”
Silvan has the bye in Round 1 and will open its season against Fairpark on April 13.
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