The team will be able to burst into song again tomorrow. The hard-working centre will bring up his 100th premier game against Alhambra-Union at Bishopscourt.
The 29-year-old civil engineer is looking forward to leading the team on to the field and absorbing what he hopes will be an "awesome" day.
"It has been a bit of a long time coming but I’m a pretty proud sort of a club man," he said.
Van der Voort grew up in Central Otago and played three seasons for Alexandra before moving to Dunedin in 2010 and linking up with Kaikorai. He is engaged to Sarah Lambeth and the couple are building a house in Mosgiel.
He has had several injury setbacks which is why is has taken him eight years to reach the milestone.
"I had two seasons where I only played one game. I had a couple of decent injuries."
In 2011, he fractured his skull when he was hit with a cricket bat while wicketkeeping. And the following season, in his first game back, he injured a knee ligament and missed the rest of the campaign.
"That held up proceedings a bit," he said.
Since then, there have been plenty of highlights but none topped winning the premier trophy last season.
Van der Voort shifted out one spot to wing for the final to accommodate classy centre Jayden Spence. Spence used his powerful fend to set up three tries in the 29-22 win against Dunedin and one of the beneficiaries was van der Voort, who got on the score sheet in the second half.
Kaikorai had gone on a Cinderella run, winning nine games in a row to clinch the title following a disappointing start.This season was following a similar trajectory, van der Voort said. The team lost three of its first four games but was unbeaten since round seven.
"It feels really similar. Things are shaping up quite nicely. We still have a few tough games in the round-robin but it has got a good feel."
Kaikorai is supposed to be rebuilding this season, following the departures of Spence, Tony Ensor, Paul Grant and Lee Allen, but the team is now firmly ensconced in the top four with 37 points.
A win against Alhambra-Union, which leads the chasing pack with 28 points, will give the defending champions some breathing space.