How Brighton plans for one more tilt at the VSDCA title

Brighton is looking for players to “step up to the plate” next season as it holds similar ambitions for success despite losing star batter Ricky Damiano.

Brighton bowler William Sist. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Brighton coach John Damiano says there’s room to be a matchwinner at the Tonners next season.

Subbies and Tonners’ champion Ricky Damiano joined Mornington Peninsula Association power Langwarrin earlier this off-season, leaving a huge hole at Brighton.

The Tonners are aware Damiano, the maker of 22 Subbies tons, is irreplaceable but are confident they will have players to “step up to the plate”.

“Some guys have had a reliance on what Rick’s done,” John Damiano said.

“I think there’s an opportunity to take the bull by the horns and be the ones to win us games.

“I think in some ways when he’s gone out there’s been some guys’ heads go down.

“Guys have to step up to the plate now, they can’t just rely on him to win them games – they’ve got to get up and do it.”

Brighton bowler William Sist.Picture: Valeriu Campan

Damiano says the Tonners won’t look for a like for like.

They will instead put work into younger players like teenager Nick Gillard who debuted last year.

“It’s more building up the batting depth a bit, there’s a few young guys we’re working on,” he said.

“There was a few guys last year that didn’t have the years they are capable of or had previously, so there’s room for improvement there.

“There’s a couple of irons in the fire, I suppose, with other people.

“I don’t think it’s as simple as replacing, think it’s more improve and bring some other guys in.”

Brighton captain Peter Cassidy. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Brighton went out in straight sets last year, losing to Mt Waverley and then eventual premier Noble Park.

The Tonners will focus on how they play spin after that preliminary final defeat.

“We played badly for an hour and it cost us playing in a grand final,” Damiano said.

“We don’t play spin as well as we should and that was obvious in that first hour of play, if you take back the first hour, we fought back really well.

“In the end we were the only team who could win the game outright but it was bitterly disappointing because I thought we had a good team who was capable of winning it.

“There’s some play we need to improve at and one of them is batting against spin, which is something in that final that was evident.

“The positive was how that game finished, well, the end of that game.”