Tara Murray
Last time Keilor Park won an Essendon District Football League premiership, Daylan Kempster was on the side lines watching his dad dominate.
On that day in 2001, Scott Kempster kicked seven or eight goals, depending on who you’re talking to.
Fast forward to the first Saturday in September in 2022, it was Daylan, who was one of the stars of the show as the Devils claimed the division 2 premiership.
For Kempster, one of the side’s co-captains, it was a pretty special moment to taste premiership success at a club that means so much to his family.
“I grew up here watching dad play,” he said. “It was 21 years ago he won a grand final here, the last bit of success really.
“A lot of people say he kicked seven [in 2001], but he’s adamant it was eight goals. We’ll both enjoy this win.”
Kempster, who played at Victorian Football League level, returned to the Devils for the 2020 season, before it was cancelled due to COVID-19.
After the tough times the club had survived, including not fielding a senior side in 2018, Kempster was keen to help the club get back on track.
“I came back with a goal with the coach Paul [Guicas] that we could get there,” he said. “COVID threw a spanner in the works.
“You can always believe, but it’s one thing believing and it’s another thing making it happen.”
The Devils entered the grand final as favourites having lost just one game for the year, all the way back in round one.
Kempster said that was a blessing in disguise.
He said throughout the grand final, which they won 14.11 (95)-10.4 (64), it felt like it was there for the taking.
“The boys were unreal,” he said. “We won it as a team. It means a lot to the supporters who were here when we didn’t have a team and then fielded a team that lost every game.
“It’s a really good club achievement.”
Kempster was awarded the Ian Price medal after being named best on ground.
He said he thought Damien Cavka should have won that medal.
“I didn’t mark that many today,” he said. “I was trying to bring it to the ground and just play the role and great things happened today.”
The premier was special for Kempster’s co-captain Robbie Castello, another with Keilor Park in his blood.
For Castello, who returned to his junior club this year, it was his first senior premiership.
The Devils now have a new challenge, division 1 next season.
Kempster said they were looking forward to it.
“It’s a good thing,” he said. “We want to be there and we’re not afraid of it.
