VSDCA: James Grubb to coach Altona in 2020-21
Altona’s preparations for the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association season have suffered a blow before a ball has been bowled, but the club has locked in a star all-rounder as coach.
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Altona has been forced to make a coaching change just weeks out from the start of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association season.
Shane Jones will relocate to Queensland with his family to take up a job opportunity, with star all-rounder James Grubb his replacement.
Jones had returned to the A’s after spending the past two seasons with Premier Cricket outfit Footscray.
“It’s a bit of a shame because he’s done a power of work for us organising the players while COVID lockdowns have been on,” Altona president Darren McConville said of Jones.
“It’s disappointing to lose a player of Shane’s quality, but we’re excited for him too. “He’s a great servant of the Altona Cricket Club and we just wish him all the best because he’s a great guy.”
Grubb, who was set to be an assistant under Jones, tallied 562 runs and 26 wickets last season and earned selection in the VSDCA Team of the Year.
The 24-year-old returned to the club in 2019-20 after three years with Footscray and was outstanding with bat and ball, plundering 104 and snaring 4-43 in his side’s Round 7 fixture against Hoppers Crossing.
“He’s an exceptional young man with great leadership traits,” McConville said.
“He’s done a lot of coaching for us in juniors, he did our Craig Shield (under-15) side a few years back, where they made the semi-final. We certainly know he’s capable.
“We’re just going to try and provide as much support as we can to make sure it doesn’t affect his on-field performance.
“He’s a well-respected figure in local cricket to be honest.”
McConville said he was hopeful the change would not have a major impact given training has not started.
He said it would have been difficult for Altona to give the job to an external candidate given clubs were facing a limited pre-season.
The A’s were hammered by rival Williamstown in the South-East group semi-finals last season, but expectations remain high.
All matches will be one-dayers because of the coronavirus crisis.
“That’s got to be a starting point I think, to aim to make that, and then go one better,” McConville said.
“We did pretty well in the one-day games last year, so it’s probably a format that suits our side a bit. We’ve got a lot of good all-rounders.”
Subject to the easing of restrictions, Altona will tackle Yarraville in Round 1 on November 21.
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