EFL: Silvan’s Leigh Kimpton becomes metropolitan football’s first century goalkicker in 2022
It’s become a rare feat in modern football, but an Eastern league sharpshooter became the first across metro comps to crack the ton on Saturday.
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He’s the first in metropolitan football to achieve the feat this season.
The first at his club since 2008. And the first in the Eastern league in six years.
Silvan sharpshooter Leigh Kimpton brought up his 100th goal of the season in his side’s 81-point drubbing of top-four rival Chirnside Park on Saturday.
Entering the match on 94, his haul of seven majors landed him the milestone as the first in the Eastern league since 2016 to crack the ton, following Forest Hill’s Matt Carnelley who saluted for 108 that year – also in Division 4.
It had been even longer between drinks for the Cats toasting a century-goalkicker, with ex-AFL Bomber and Demon Gary Moorcroft last saluting triple figures for the club across 2007 and 2008.
The honour isn’t lost on Kimpton, who clicked over the landmark in the second half.
A barrage of rapturous fans rushed onto the field to celebrate the former Croydon half-forward’s achievement – one even handing over a beer.
“It’s something I never thought I would achieve, it’s a bit of a surprise,” Kimpton said.
“A few people were already over the fence before it went through and a few were speaking about running on before the game, I still had to get (seven) … but I had a few in the first half.
“Someone’s handed me a beer, there wasn’t much in it, but it was good to enjoy the moment.”
Leigh Kimpton has just cracked the ton at Silvan FC. During the game. Scenes. @localfootypic.twitter.com/vgyBhUItUL
— Lauren Wood (@LaurenHeraldSun) August 6, 2022
The ladder-leading Cats have lost just one match all season, with Kimpton enjoying a dominant partnership in attack alongside small forward and ex-Croydon teammate, Justin Ficorilli.
The Silvan playing-assistant has 63 goals for the year, and is joined by Matt Low (38) and Billy Rattray (28) among a potent forward-line.
“It’s not just us two, and I think we’re probably the hardest to match-up forward-line-wise,” Ficorilli said.
“(Leigh and I) played a lot of footy together at Croydon and that synergy’s come across, we just know where to lead, where to hit up, and another one blocks … if one of us is kicking goals and we’re winning, that’s all we care about.”
The race was on to be first to Kimpton after No. 100 sailed through – but Ficorilli wasn’t going to be beaten to his great mate.
“Pre-game, I let ‘Kimpo’ know where all the cameras were and I was going to be the first one to him, and I made sure I was the first one there!”
“We had a lot of old Croydon mates there as well.
“To see one of my best mates do what he did on the weekend is something I’ll never forget … we might struggle to see another 100 again, it’s a pretty hard thing to do.”
Kimpton registered 36 majors last season after topping the Division 4 goalkicking in 2019 with 79.
He credits his teammates up the field for his success this year but says the prospect of silverware far outweighs any individual accolade.
“The delivery’s been so much better and I’ve been kicking a bit better than I usually have … it’s definitely the amount of times it’s coming in, and how it’s come in, that’s definitely been the difference this year,” he said.
“We’re just keen to win a grand final at the moment and it doesn’t matter who kicks them.”
Ficorilli agrees, declaring the club has “one thing on our mind now” – landing the club its first senior flag since 2014 – when it last featured in finals.
“It all means nothing if we go through a whole year and play like we have and don’t get the job done,” he said.
“We spoke after the game, now that it’s out of the way we can focus on lifting that cup together.”
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