By: Tash Gunawardana
SILVAN is currently fifth on the Division 4 ladder with just four per cent separating the Cats from Surrey Park, three weeks out from finals.
Senior playing-coach Trent Martin spoke to EFL Sunday after his side’s impressive win over the Panthers last week to keep their finals hopes well alive in 2019.
Down four goals halfway through the second quarter, only two men left on the bench meant something had to be changed with the chance of playing finals on the line, so Trent Georgiou was sent forward.
“Told the boys we had to defend and attack the game,” Martin said.
“We are in the position where we can’t lose any more on the way to the finals.”
Silvan playing-coach Trent Martin instructs his players.
Georgiou’s move paid off with him scoring three goals in Silvan’s 42-point victory steered by a strong second half, they piled on 12 goals to Surrey Park’s five.
“I thought we put him forward and see how we go, and it seemed to work well yesterday and get us the result in the end,” Martin said.
Silvan has been in fine form over the last month defeating Fairpark and Surrey Park.
“We had a pretty dirty day at Coldstream a few of weeks ago but apart from that we have been pretty consistent,” Martin said.
“Starting to get a couple of players back and we always back ourselves up at Silvan it’s a unique little oval and we managed to do that.”
In the last two seasons, Silvan’s home ground has become a fortress.
“We like to win at home,” Martin said.
“The whole town has gotten behind us, which is pleasing.
“Last year we lost by a point to Whitehorse and Glen Waverley.
“It’s something we pride ourselves on to win at home and the committee was saying to us it was as good as a win (last Saturday) since the 2014 grand final.
Where we have been since two-three years ago, to where we are now, it’s a great improvement.”
Forward and one of the recruits of the year in Division 4, Leigh Kimpton, has had a stellar season kicking 58 goals, averaging five goals per match.
“Kimpton looked for a change of footy and came up and fitted in nicely doing everything that has been asked, and I knew he would because that’s what your mates do,” Martin said.
“What he’s been able to do out on the field means the defenders find it hard to stop him.
“They try to but even on the weekend to kick six goals was a brilliant effort.
“Good as any forward in the competition at the moment.”
The younger players at Silvan are starting to the understand the game plan and Martin attributes this to the good relationship he shares with the under-19s.
“I said when I signed there that’s probably my strength,” he said.
“When I played at Croydon in the seniors there I worked with under-18 and under-19s kids.
“When Silvan signed me, I said ‘look I am no oracle coach at senior level, but I reckon I can get the best out of the kids’.
“We need to get the best kids up here and it’s working
“We find it a little bit hard to recruit as we are further out up here.
“The kids we got in the under-19s here we put in a little of work to retain them, because it’s not only for seniors but good to retain them for the future of the club.”
Retaining under-19s players means it’s a smoother off-season for the players and club.
“They have bought-in to what we are doing and love it here and (they) were up there celebrating the win with us,” Martin said.
“It’s a good spot at the moment to be up there.”
Silvan faces East Burwood on Saturday, where a win would see the Cats inside the top four.