EFNL 2021: Chirnside Park upsets Silvan to break long-running streaks
It has already snapped a two-year losing run this season, but Saturday’s win broke a further two droughts for Chirnside Park.
Eastern
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It’s already broken a longstanding losing streak this season, but Eastern league Division 4 outfit Chirnside Park snapped a further two droughts on Saturday.
The Panthers defeated Silvan in a thriller by four points at Kimberley Reserve, 6.10 (46) to 5.12 (42), marking the club’s third win from its past four matches after breaking a two-season losing streak in Round 2.
But with Saturday’s win over the Cats coming a week after knocking off Kilsyth, Chirnside Park claimed back-to-back victories for the first time in almost four years, with it last winning consecutive matches across rounds 11 to 13, 2017.
The result also marked the Panthers’ first win on their home ground, Kimberley Reserve, since Round 16, 2017.
Chirnside Park sits 3-2 on the ladder in fourth position and senior coach Dave Newlands said the season had brought a sense of renewed optimism for his club.
“Winning’s a great feeling and it fixes a lot of things, and people are happy – morale this year’s been incredible,” he said.
“We’ve just got to keep kicking our own goals, and we don’t care what everyone else is doing. No-one expects it from us, but we know where we’re at and we know where we want to be.”
In a match played under blustery conditions, Silvan kicked away to a nine-point quarter-time lead before the Panthers hit back to lead by a kick at the half-time and three-quarter time breaks.
“It was tough all day, a lot of contested ball for both sides,” Newlands said.
Veteran spearhead Daniel Beddome booted three majors for Chirnside Park and James Brooker kicked two, while Grattan Stephens, Jimmy Wells, Ethan Stone, Ben and Nick Slattery and Jayden Boehringer finished among the best.
Meanwhile, Lachlan Lynch booted two for the visitors as Trent Georgiou and Matthew Mundos also featured.
Newlands credited Wells for his job on star Silvan forward Leigh Kimpton, with the 2019 leading goalkicker held to one major, while he said Beddome’s influence as a forward coach had been invaluable since joining the club.
“He’s fitted in really well, he’s been brilliant.
“He’s just a calm head … he’s happy to share it around and explain to the guys how to present yourself, and if you don’t get used (as a forward target) it’s OK.”
Newlands also pointed to the emerging talent making their names at senior level this season, with small forward Sam King, defender Liam Carusi, half-forward Lachie Inaps and speedy winger/flanker James Brownley part of the build.
“We’ve played three under-19 kids already, and we’ve got a 17-year-old playing with us at the moment, James Brownley, who’s travelling really well and he’s played the last two games and has played his role,” Newlands said.
“There’s a want for them to keep coming through, and younger blokes like Liam Carusi, Lachie Inaps, who are just playing their role – and that’s all we want them to do, and they seem to be doing that really well.”
Chirnside Park takes on third-placed Surrey Park in Round 6, followed by clashes with Nunawading, Coldstream and Croydon North-MLOC. But despite his side’s resurgence, the Panthers’ coach isn’t looking beyond this weekend.
“We know we’ve got to beat Surrey … whoever’s in front of us that week is who we worry about, and we’ve got the potential to beat them,” Newlands said.
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