Premier Cricket 2018-19: Footscray skipper Dylan Kight is hungry for more

FOOTSCRAY captain Dylan Kight has issued a warning to opposition clubs by declaring he is hungry to improve on the back of a career-best summer in 2017-18.

Dylan Kight scored 686 runs last summer. Picture: Kylie Else

FOOTSCRAY captain Dylan Kight has issued a warning to opposition clubs by declaring he is hungry to improve on the back of a career-best summer in 2017-18 and tipped the emerging Matthew Underwood to have a prolific campaign.

The wicketkeeper-batsman returned 686 runs at 49 last season, including one ton and four half-centuries, to go with 33 dismissals behind the stumps as the Dogs progressed to the semi-finals before being beaten by eventual runner-up Fitzroy Doncaster.

Kight was clearly Footscray’s best batsman, ahead of Underwood (516 runs) and Dean Russ (507), prompting former coach Steve Chapman to call for Victorian selectors to take notice.

But Kight contributed scores of three and one in the finals and failed to reach double figures five times.

Footscray captaib Dylan Kight behind the stumps. Picture: Chris Eastman

“I’m very keen. Last year was good, but still there was plenty of room for improvement and plenty of times where I didn’t trouble the scorers as well,” he said.

“I’d still like to improve my consistency. Everyone in our top four last year had the same problem.

“No one had problems scoring big scores, but eliminating the under 10 scores is where we got found out a bit.”

Matthew Underwood gets on the front foot for Footscray. Picture: Hamish Blair

Kight said Underwood was “definitely ready to take the next step”, while questions remain over the Dogs’ line-up for the opening rounds of the season.

Jordan Kight and Dylan Brasher are among the young batsmen pushing for spots in the First XI.

Tim Buszard and Ben Green have retired, Hayden Butterworth has crossed to Geelong and Guy Walker has secured a Category B rookie contract with AFL club Melbourne.

“There will definitely be opportunities. Probably three or four blokes are in the mix for those two spots (No. 6 and No. 7),” Kight said.

“Hopefully whoever gets first crack takes the opportunity.

“We know our squad is there or thereabouts, so it’s whether we can get that consistency together that we had at the back end of last year.

“We’ve just got to get off to a good start so you’re not playing catch up and then we’ll be in a good position at Christmas hopefully.”

Jordan Buckingham bends his back for Greenvale last season. Picture: Hamish Blair

Paceman Jordan Buckingham has crossed from Greenvale Kangaroos, which could create pleasant selection headaches for the club given Hamish Winter-Irving, Jack Sheppard, Lucas Dredge and Jonah Koch formed a four-pronged attack for most of last season.

Tallan Wright has also returned to Footscray after a stint with Greenvale in the VTCA.

“The competition will be the same. It will be really close again,” Kight said.

“We don’t need to change much, it’ll just be about consistency. If you get that right, you get a bit of momentum going, and that’s massive in the Premier First XI comp.”

The Dogs are scheduled to face Carlton in the opening round at Merv Hughes Oval on Saturday.