Silver lining up

by LES EVERETT

JUST when we thought Fremantle football had curled up its toes for the 2003 season our amateur teams have conspired to conjure up a derby as our finale.

CBC's Murray Silver. Ready for a grand final that will cap a remarkable return to football. Photo by Les Everett

On Saturday afternoon at Leederville Oval CBC will meet North Fremantle in the A-grade WAAFL grand final.

It will be a big game but for one CBC player it will be highly significant stop-off point in what has been a rocky football journey.

Murray Silver was once hot footy property.

Born in Melbourne to a Samoan mother, Silver was a star for Vic Metro at the 1995 national schoolboys championships held in Perth. He was the leading goal scorer at the carnival and was selected in the All-Australian team.

From 1996 to 1998 Silver played with Eastern Ranges in Victoria's elite 18s competition the TAC Cup, he arrived at the club the year after coach Chris Connolly departed to join Hawthorn. He also played a couple of reserves games with Richmond under the watchful eyes of AFL recruiting scouts.

Players drafted from Ranges during this time included David Wirrpunda, Jess Sinclair, Adam Kingsley, Troy Simmonds and Jason Saddington however Silver missed selection in the 1998 draft and went looking for a different path into the AFL.

In 1999 he made an attempt to play with Subiaco in the WAFL: "It didn't work out, I missed Mum," Silver said.

Seeing friends, team mates and opponents move into the AFL was a frustration for Silver but his biggest setback was still to come.

He was enjoying an excellent season with Rowville in Melbourne's Eastern FL in 2000 and was on the verge of a finals campaign when a night out in St Kilda turned to disaster. Silver was talking to friends on the footpath and absentmindedly stepped backwards onto the road. He was hit by a taxi and suffered a compound fracture of the right leg - he was rushed to hospital with bone protruding from the leg and strapped to a bed while he was checked for possible spinal injuries.

Football was out of the question for 18 months and the AFL dream was over. Learning to walk again was a higher priority.

Silver came back to the game last year with his local club Scoresby, also in the EFL, and kicked 13 goals in one game in a successful return.

Last Christmas he headed west to visit his friend and former junior football squad team mate Trent Croad.

A meeting with local real estate agent and football supporter Anthony Van Der Wielen led to introductions to officials from the CBC football club and soon Silver was on another football ride.

"It was a massive move," he said, "I came across with my girlfriend Carmen, he left our jobs and packed up and left.

"I think I needed a break and to step back from Melbourne. I love the lifestyle here."

Playing at full forward for CBC Silver has kicked "around 90, maybe in the mid-80s" goals so far this season and says there's an awesome feeling at the club in grand final week. "Having a derby grand final is great," he said, "I didn't realise how big they were until I got here. I can't wait."

WAAFL grand final. CBC vs North Fremantle. Saturday 20 September at Leederville Oval.

From the Fremantle Herald.

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