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#INFOCUS2018 | SILVAN

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21 DAYS TO GO | EFL Media will be previewing each club ahead of the 2018 season with the #InFocus2018 series, all thanks to Yarra Valley Water & Choose Tap.   

By: Daniel Cencic 

Twitter: @DC_EFL 

 

Bringing the enjoyment back into footy is one of the top priorities for new Silvan playing-coach Trent Martin. 

Landing the top-job in September, the former Croydon under-19s coach and senior-playing-assistant wasn’t ready to hang the boots up just yet.

The Cats continued down the familiar path of a playing-coach, where the position looked tailor-made for the 32-year-old Martin – and he hasn’t looked back.

“That’s how they sold it to me – I went up there and met the people and I realised what this meant to people – they sold the avenue of a playing-coach,” Martin said.

“I guess I wasn’t ready to retire but I was ready to coach, so I guess it was an obvious choice really.

“It’s been challenging from where the club was when I got there, and it was a little daunting (but) I’ve loved every minute and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do – I’m loving the move.”

Silvan won just five games in 2017 finishing ninth on the Division 4 ladder. The club hasn’t played finals since its 2014 premiership, winning just 11 matches in the meantime.

Martin believes bringing the fun back into footy at the Cats will translate into improved on-field results – a lesson he has taken from his former Croydon coaches Paul Newlands and Morris D’Alessandro.

“I reckon if blokes are enjoying their footy you’re getting better results out of them,” he said.

“Silvan has had a couple of bad years and blokes sort of have forgotten what they’re up there for; and that’s having a kick with your mates, so I’ll get that back into it.

“Fitness was probably a little bit behind where most other clubs would be (and it’s about) building a real mateship amongst the group.”

The Cats have recruited a wealth of experience with 31-year-old Daniel Lemon and 32-year-old Zac Higgins.

Lemon played in Wandin’s 2015 flag in the AFL Yarra Ranges competition, while Higgins played in South Croydon’s 2009 Division 2 flag.

Former East Ringwood and Croydon winger Dan Dickson has also joined the club, along with key defender Ben Riley, who Martin is confident can bring his experience of playing on all the big forwards in Division 2.

“You add them into the mix that we’ve already got with the blokes that have stuck around, and I don’t know what to expect to be honest but it’s looking good on the track,” Martin said.

The playing-coach believes he is standing up to the rigours of pre-season, as he gears up for another campaign.

“I’m getting through – going as well as a 32-year-old could I suppose,” Martin said.

“I haven’t missed a session and been keeping up with all the running drills – training’s flowing pretty well (and) I’ve got good support around me.

Silvan has strengthened its stocks heading into the new season, with the club confirming it will field an under-19s side.

For Martin, the added depth to draw from will create further scope for improvement, admitting his side is coming from a long way back.

“Any team you’re in are going to say they want to play finals, but the reality is we only won five games last year,” he said.

“One of the things I want to do is get the under-19s up and going this year, which has been confirmed – we will have an under-19s, (and) an improvement on last year and I can definitely see that happening.

“There’s the reality of sitting second bottom so we were a fair way back from the pack when I got there.”

Silvan will host Nunawading in its opening round clash at Silvan Recreation Reserve on Saturday, April 7.

 

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