Well well well what a season 2014 was! A lot of great things unfolded at the Cattery throughout the year.
Young guns, new recruits, old cats, all playing great football. The season of 2014 had its highs and also its lows and then the ultimate!
With my assistant Brett Hartman (who I had previously been coached by) giving me a hand, I knew we would work well together and get results.
The time Brett put into the season was fantastic, with some great ideas and doing the whole game day rotations on his own - he did a top shelf job. Thanks mate!
It all started in early November the 13th and being a newly appointed coach I needed to see what I had to work with. Keen to get right into the thick of things to see where we were at, disaster struck on Friday the 13th of December during an ill fated intra club practice match. A bad injury to one of the key members to the side (Darcy Wale) who broke his ankle in a sickening contest with Jesse Owen. Ironically Jesse's brother Nick, also suffered a severe shoulder injury in the same game, only minutes later.
After Christmas we hit the preseason once again, as the lads worked hard on the track, I was beginning to notice a real bond of mateship and respect for each other. And this really showed through early on in the season.
When we played Park Orchards in round 2, we lost the game by 3 points. But knowing how poorly we played, we weren't going to let that happen again. True to our word we turned it around from that point on. We trained harder, the belief was there. And most of all, no one wanted to put their mate though that feeling again. You could say it was the loss we had to have.
From then on the season went on very nicely. We were winning game after game, finding talent from the U19s, which will build a really strong force for the coming years.
The home and away season was a great success, 15 wins and only 3 losses! We'd finished outright 2nd on the ladder and booked a spot in the 2nd Semi Final.
Leading into the finals we were in good shape, bar a few niggling injuries.
Come game day, our first final v Nuggets and Chubbs' new club (Warrandyte), we had our match ups done and we were ready to ROCK!
The boys played some terrific footy for the full four quarters. We got a great win over the then flag favourites, Warrandyte, earning us the week off and the right to play off in the big dance in two week's time.
The week off was great, we trained hard on the Saturday morning, went out for breakfast at one of our terrific sponsors, (Hillbilly Farms Estate) then off the see who we would be taking on in the Grand Final. Warrandyte looked the goods for three quarters, with Park Orchards only scoring 3 points in three quarters. But the floodgates opened, seeing Park Orchards kicking goal after goal to steal the game and become our opponents in the Grand Final.
Grand Final day was a nervous time for all, with high hopes. We had a lot of support from volunteers, members, sponsors and all the many great people at the club. The boys were ready to get that 10th premiership for Silvan.
The game started of well with us being in front at half time by 22 points. We knew all too good and well that Park Orchards were not done with yet, as we saw the week before.
Needless to say the 3rd qtr was one to forget, the Sharks kicked 6 goals to our 2, which saw them hit the front by 5 points going into the last quarter.
But the tight, confident and experienced team that we are, we knew what had to be done.
The last quarter was one I as coach, player and supporter of footy will never forget. From a young Troy Smith laying a monumental tackle to snatch back the lead, to the evergreen Goody kicking the sealer on the siren and all inbetween. It was a euphoric feeling and something I will take to the grave!
It wasn't just the 22 players that won the premiership, it was a make-up of a lot of hard work from many many people. To big Chrissy, who works tirelessly and does a remarkable job as President. Charlie who works all the figures, as well as coaching the Reserves. As a senior coach to have these people back your every move, makes my job a breeze. Cheers to you two.
There are far too many people who made this year possible to thank individuality, but you know who you are. I thank you all, as the club does for your commitment to me and our club in 2014
Looking forward to the coming season of 2015.
Cheers
Murf
Last Modified on 05/01/2015 15:39