VSDCA 2020-21 preview: Hoppers Crossing’s bid to end finals drought
Hoppers Crossing captain-coach Jack Rhodes identifies where his club must improve to compete with the VSDCA’s best ahead of the start of the new season on Saturday.
North West
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The message from Hoppers Crossing captain-coach Jack Rhodes is simple – get better.
As the Cats prepare for Saturday’s Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association North-West group season opener against Melton, Rhodes said his team failed to take advantage of key periods in games in 2019-20.
Hoppers Crossing finished seventh with six wins and a draw to miss finals on percentage and has not made the top six since 2015-16.
There is only one way it will put a stop to the drought this season in a competition featuring Yarraville, Altona, Werribee and Williamstown, along with the likes of Brunswick, Kew and Plenty Valley.
“We’ve just got to continue to try and get better,” Rhodes said.
“We know we’ve got to work hard to compete in this competition. It’s a really good competition.
“Like every side, you have moments in games and we probably didn’t capitalise on some of those moments.
“The big one is, we gave ourselves enough winning chances but we just didn’t take them.”
But the return of Jeremy Swan is a big plus, with the paceman collecting 17 wickets at 21.65 in his last VSDCA season with Altona in 2018-19, including a haul of 6-41 against powerhouse Caulfield.
He grabbed 17 wickets at 13.65 for South Barwon last summer.
“He’s living in Geelong and commuting down, so he’s been able to play down there. He’s one of the few that’s coming in with some actual match fitness. He’ll be good for us,” Rhodes said.
“We just ‘Swanny’ to do the things he can control. If you can do the things you can control and you’re beaten by someone on the day who’s better than you, so be it.”
Khush Talati, who claimed 15 wickets at 22.5 last season, is having a crack at Premier Cricket with Melbourne University, while Luke Goegan has departed for personal reasons.
Sanka Abeyruwan (303 runs and 15 wickets last season) and Brett Smith (28 wickets at 11.2) again loom as key to the Cats’ fortunes.
“They’re both highly-talented individuals,” Rhodes said.
“Smithy is a young up-and-comer and a really good player who bats and bowls. Sanka’s the same. Any time you can get good quality all-rounders in your side, it helps.”
While Hoppers Crossing also has some talented young players, Rhodes said they would not be gifted games in the First XI.
“We really want to develop as a club and part of that is the kids coming through … having to earn it as well,” he said.
“We probably don’t have the biggest number of juniors coming through and are not as lucky as some of the others, but it’s about providing them with opportunities to learn.”
Rhodes was set to lead the Cats in 2019-20 before he made the call to step down for personal reasons.
The former Premier Cricket batsman, who has scored 527 runs for the club in the past two seasons, has committed to the role for two campaigns.
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