Significant list changes made for a challenging year on the field but the Cats consolidated their position in the division, while the Netball program celebrated a second Grand Final in a row.
Senior Men’s
Ladder Position: 9th (5-13, 69.66%)
Best and Fairest winner: Tyson Bissels
Leading Goalkicker: Matthew Low (47 Goals)
Summary:
A transition year for the Cats in 2024 saw the club drop away from their finals run in 2023 but consolidate their spot in Division Three for another season.
A very different-looking side to 2023 was also led by Jeremy Thomas, replacing Trent Martin as senior coach. Alongside him, Michael Fowkes joined the Cats, already re-signed with the Cats in 2025 as the senior Assistant Coach.
Overall, the 2024 season was a mixed bag of results for the Cats. The final ninth-placed position on the ladder doesn’t truly reflect the season the club had.
Silvan was by far the best-attacking side that missed the finals series, even scoring 113 against the reigning premiers late in the year. They pushed a couple of the top sides and had some impressive wins over Upper Ferntree Gully and Ferntree Gully.
However, the side also had some disappointing losses when margins blew out, five games lost by over 70 points, and two 100-plus point losses.
Injuries were costly at different points of the year which did lead to weekly changes preventing any serious consistency with the line-up.
Plenty to learn from and take away from the season.
Key Players:
Fantastic season for Tyson Bissels in defence, winning the club’s best and fairest in 2024. Bissels earned himself a spot in this year’s Team of the Year in the Back Pocket.
The club benefited from having the experience of Michael Fowkes on the side. Fowkes averaged two goals per game, 32 majors from his 16 games.
Another great season from Matthew Low, finishing the year with 47 goals, top five in the division which is stacked full of great forwards. Low was also named in the Forward Pocket of the Division Three Team of the Year.
Best Win: Round 14 – Silvan 17.14 116 def. Upper Ferntree Gully 11.10 76 @Silvan Recreation Reserve
Probably when the Cats looked at their best in 2024.
The 40-point win at home made more impressive with what was on the line for their opponent who needed to keep winning for a chance at consolidating a finals spot.
Silvan jumped out of the blocks with four of the first five goals before Upper Gully cut the margin back to just eight points at the main break.
The second half saw Silvan kick eleven goals to six. Matthew Low put on a clinic with six goals as the Cats ran away with a very impressive win.
Off-Season Focus:
The club have been quick to get on the front foot ahead of the 2025 season.
Jeremy Thomas locked in for another year before the close of this season, and the club then announced their re-signings in early September which sees all the key names back for next year.
Silvan also announced this week, a new recruit Garrison Asciak. A strong pick-up, Asciak moving across from Aquinas where he took out the senior best and fairest. A great boost to the midfield with his power and strength around the contest.
They certainly have plenty of weapons up forward, their issues this season came defensively, giving up the 1747 points across the season. Addressing that while adding a few more names to the list, can see Silvan making some quick improvements.
Netball
Division Four: Silvan Cats (2nd, 9-3)
Division Six: Silvan White (8th, 2-11)
Division Ten: Silvan Blue (6th, 6-6)
After a premiership in Division Five last season, Silvan’s top side played off in a Grand Final in Division Four after a great season.
The side won their first eight games of the season before a four-point loss to the Sharks. In a very tight finals series, they just came up short against Oakleigh District in the semi-final before defeating Park Orchards in the Preliminary Final by two goals. On Grand Final night at HE Parker Reserve, the Cats once again kept it close with Murty and Hajder combining for 17 goals, but the side went down to Oakleigh District by seven, finishing as Runners Up of Division Four.
Maddalyn Beet had a superb season, taking out the side’s Best and Fairest award, ahead of Runner Up Samantha Murty. Emily Ough was also recognised as the Cats’ best finals player across their three-week finals series.
The club also had two other teams play in Division Six and Division Ten. A runaway winner in the club’s Division Six Best and fairest was Brittany Cubitt, while Aimee Falvey was the Division Ten Best and Fairest award winner.
