VSDCA 2020-21: Werribee coach Tim O’Brien discusses season expectations
Werribee captain-coach Tim O’Brien outlines why he is confident in his group after the Tigers were denied a shot at glory in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association in 2019-20.
North West
Don't miss out on the headlines from North West. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Werribee captain-coach Tim O’Brien has pointed to his seasoned line-up as a vital factor as the club chases an elusive Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association premiership.
The Tigers have qualified for finals in six of the past eight summers, advancing to deciders in 2012-13 and 2019-20.
They lost to a star-studded Melton side in O’Brien’s first season as a player, while last season’s grand final was abandoned amid the coronavirus crisis, with Williamstown declared the premier after finishing the home-and-away rounds on top of the ladder.
“I think we’re a bit more mature now,” O’Brien said.
“Obviously everyone is getting towards their late 20s and there’s a few of us in our 30s now, so it’s an experienced group.
“Even the first year I was at the club and we played off in a grand final, we were a lot younger.
“I think it’s the most experienced side we’ve had since I’ve been at the club.”
There is an air of stability at Werribee as it prepares to field the same First XI side as last season.
“I know that (cancelled grand final) really hurt the boys and we pretty much committed after that happened that we’ll all go again this year,” O’Brien said.
The Tigers boast a potent batting line-up, with Shaun Dean (558 runs), Matthew Gudde (353), James Freeman (349) and Matthew Dean (343) all impressing in 2019-20.
Usually prolific run-scorer O’Brien was below his best with 231 runs at 19.25, but the fact Werribee managed to progress to the grand final showed it was not reliant on its leader.
O’Brien said he was hungry to contribute this season on the back of hard work after piling on 479 runs in 2017-18 and 452 in 2018-19.
Pacemen Freeman (25 wickets last season), Jonathon Burton (24), Brad Apps (17) and spinner Michael Kelly (16) form a strong bowling combination.
O’Brien said star all-rounder Freeman would again be a key performer for his team.
“He’s a very important player, opening the bowling and batting at four or five,” he said.
“He’s a bit of a hitter with the bat, so one-day cricket suits his game to a tee.
“We just want him to enjoy his cricket. He really enjoyed it last year and if he’s doing that, he’s playing at his best.”
Clubs are preparing for a season of one-day fixtures, which will be 40 overs per side instead of 45.
Werribee opens its campaign with a blockbuster clash against rival Williamstown on November 21.
“Two-day cricket has probably suited us in the past, but I think our one-day form in the last couple of years has been pretty good,” O’Brien said.
“The more we play it, I think the better we get.
“We just have to adapt and go in with a different game plan to other years and tweak things a little bit, but I’m confident in the group we’ve got.”
While O’Brien is desperate to deliver success, he is acutely aware winning is not the be-all and end-all in 2020 given the impact of the pandemic.
“We’ve been around the mark. It’s probably one thing we haven’t done as a First XI group is win that premiership,” he said.
“But with this year with what’s gone on, it’s all about participation, getting outside and enjoying our cricket.
“I think we’ve got a team that can be up there again, but one-day cricket brings everyone (closer).
“One guy can win you a game in one-day cricket … so hopefully we win more games than we lose and just get to finals, and then who knows what can happen in finals.”
MORE LEADER LOCAL CRICKET NEWS
ALTONA FORCED TO MAKE LATE COACHING SWITCH