VSDCA 2018-19: Coburg chases early scalp under skipper Zac Thorne

EARLY wins will take on added importance for Coburg this VSDCA season as new skipper Zac Thorne looks to build belief in his squad.

Captain Zac Thorne is optimistic about what Coburg can achieve this summer. Picture: Hamish Blair

EARLY wins will take on added importance for Coburg this VSDCA season as new skipper Zac Thorne looks to build belief in his squad.

The Burgers finished bottom of the North-West group last summer, only claiming one victory in the penultimate round of the campaign.

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But a positive off-season, headlined by Thorne’s arrival and the signings of Brunswick seamer Ryan Fort and English top-order batsman Will Rigg, has the club optimistic about what 2018-19 could hold.

“That first win means we have equalled what we did last year in terms of wins,” Thorne said.

“If we can do that early and then pinch another one, we have doubled it.

“I know it is only two games on the board from a wins point of view, but if we can start talking about it in those terms, doubling what we did last year from an output point of view, it just builds an enormous amount of confidence, belief and that cultural element too.”

Rigg, who arrived in Australia on Monday, has been involved in Warwickshire’s pathway sides and plays for Knowle and Dorridge in Birmingham.

Captain Zac Thorne is optimistic about what Coburg can achieve this summer. Picture: Hamish Blair

“(Will) has got a few hundreds under his belt already,” Thorne said.

“Just to transition from a northern hemisphere summer into ours is always nice.

“You get a player straight away that is in-form and ready to go.

“He will be really exciting. He will bat at three for us, I would suggest, and he’s champing at the bit.”

Coburg recruit Ryan Fort thunders in for Brunswick. Picture: Hamish Blair.

Fort arrives after spending the past two seasons with local rival Brunswick, taking 41 wickets and compiling 253 runs.

The paceman was the North Group player of the year in 2015-16 when he captured 42 wickets during a standout summer for Ivanhoe.

“There’s not too many people in subbies cricket that don’t know what he brings to the table,” Thorne said.

“His experience, his leadership and in terms of what he has been able to provide me already … has been enormous.”

Thorne said he was bullish about the Burgers’ prospects.

“The important measure for our group, given it is so young, is just being able to hold on in contests longer than we have been able to,” he said.

“If we can do that, we’re going to start making inroads.”

Coburg is due to open its campaign on Saturday with a home fixture against Plenty Valley.

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