VSDCA 2020-21: New Taylors Lakes coach Glenn Marr outlines plans
New coach Glenn Marr gives an update on Taylors Lakes’ preparation for the VSDCA season, with the Lions securing a key recruit form Wangaratta as a young gun has his crack at Premier Cricket
North West
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Don’t expect new Taylors Lakes coach Glenn Marr to be spruiking his team’s prospects of success in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association this season.
After two lean summers that delivered a combined four wins, the Lions qualified for finals in 2019-20.
But Marr, who has taken on the top job after spending the past three seasons as batting coach, is acutely aware his team faces no shortage of stiff competition in the strong North-West group.
Reigning premier Williamstown, Werribee, Yarraville, Altona, Kew, Brunswick and Plenty Valley are among the clubs fighting for the ultimate prize.
Marr said he was a believer in empowering his players to set standards instead of setting firm pre-season expectations.
“I don’t want to put demands on these guys yet,” Marr said.
“I want them to have demands on their own performance. That’s (about) trying to get the mindset right, the shot selection and also the way they play their shots. I think the rest will fall into place.
“Your individual efforts will contribute to the team’s performance.
“We made finals last year, but it’s an even competition.”
Former Ovens Valley United skipper Jones is a key in for the Lions after logging 220 runs and 19 wickets in Wangaratta last season, while wicketkeeper-batsman Padwal has arrived from Altona as an assistant coach and will be looking to nail down a spot in the First XI.
Talented youngster Nicholas Schneider has crossed from Sydenham-Hillside.
“He’s played a fair bit of cricket and he’s a great inclusion,” Marr said of Jones.
“He’s moved jobs, he’s a schoolteacher. He trained with us last season and played in the country. He didn’t want to leave them a third of the way through the season, being the captain.
“The feedback from Luke was he was very happy with the way we trained. That was a positive for us.”
Star young bowler Aidan Brasher is a big out after grabbing 22 wickets at 15.7 last season, deciding to test himself at Premier Cricket club Footscray.
The coronavirus crisis has prevented overseas players Aamir Raza and Rachid O’Neale from returning.
Former Richmond player Jarrod Wakeling will again captain Taylors Lakes, with the star spinner collecting 27 wickets at 18.1 apiece last summer.
Marr said teenager Luke Denny, who took seven wickets from six First XI appearances last season, was another bright talent.
“He’s a young boy out of the under-16s. He played ones and twos last season and I’ll be looking to him to play a more key role this season,” he said.
“He bowls a bit of spin and is a very good bat. He’ll be our second spinner and a key bat for us.”
Clubs are preparing for a campaign of one-day matches, with the Lions to tackle Ivanhoe away from home in Round 1 on Saturday.
“We seem to perform better in the one-dayers than the two-dayers the last couple of years,” Marr said.
“But take nothing from that … because it’s all about your performance on the day.”
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