EFL Division 4: Ex-WAFL on-baller Pat Travers set to return for Silvan’s grand final bid

The EFL Division 4 minor premier will play off for a spot in the decider this week and is set to welcome back a star on-baller in its bid to rebound from a “putrid” loss.

SILVAN is set to unleash an ace-card this Saturday as it looks to reverse a “putrid” loss in its quest for a grand final berth.

The minor premier fell to second-placed Surrey Park for a second time this season last weekend, with the pair to clash again this Saturday in an Eastern league Division 4 semi-final.

The Panthers have taken the honours in two of the pair’s three meetings this year, including bringing the Cats’ nine-game winning streak to a grinding halt in Round 11.

Silvan last defeated Surrey Park in Round 4, by 35 points.

Senior coach Trent Martin said the Cats would welcome back ex-WAFL on-baller Pat Travers, who played nine years in the state comp across Peel Thunder and East Perth from 2004 to 2013.

He’s played 13 of Silvan’s 16 matches this season, missing the past two encounters with the Panthers.

Travers (left) is set to return for Silvan’s first final this weekend. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“Personnel’s probably a big thing,” Martin said of the weekend’s loss.

“Patty Travers hasn’t played the past couple of times we’ve played them – he’s our main on-baller that racks up 25, 30 possessions a week … with over 150 WAFL games of experience, take that out of any side and you’re going to hurt, aren’t you?

“He’s fit and raring to go – he was a bit smarter and rested to get cherry-ripe for the finals.”

Martin said the Cats’ forward line could be boosted by the inclusion of Billy Rattray, who also missed the weekend’s match.

Rattray has kicked 28 majors from 11 matches this season – but hasn’t played since July 9 – with his biggest outing coming against third-placed Chirnside Park with a haul of 10 in Round 10.

Silvan’s Leigh Kimpton reached the ton in the penultimate round of the season. Photo: Hamish Blair

Despite key players missing, the Silvan mentor heaped praise on the opposition’s performance.

“It’s personnel a little bit, but you don’t want to blame that, they (Surrey Park) played a good, short, hit-up game and they’ve got good kids that ran rings around us – I’m not going to lie to you,” Martin said.

Surrey Park coach James Kenworthy told Leader the midfield battle proved the point of difference in his side’s 42-point win last Saturday.

Martin believes the result serves as a lesson for his players and coaches ahead of the finals.

“They showed how they’re going to play to beat us, and now we’ve got to coach against that – Kenworthy’s got them well-drilled,” he said.

“We did stats on the weekend and our numbers were putrid.

“All our players were down so it’s hard to believe that would happen twice in a row, I’d like to think anyway.”

Silvan finished the season on top of the ladder with a 14-2 record and a percentage of 280.63 – some 102 per cent better than Surrey Park (178.39), second, which finished 12-4.

The Cats have enjoyed an average winning margin of 118 points this season – and the coach was quick to emphasise his group’s standing among the division’s pecking order following last weekend’s match.

“I reminded the group that we’ve finished on top of this comp for a reason ... we feel we’re the best side – it’s (last Saturday) not a slight of where we’re at as a group, it was a bad day,” Martin said.

“Experience in finals, we know what that’s worth, let’s hope that’s on our side.”

Silvan meets Surrey Park this Saturday, August 20, at East Burwood Reserve.