VTCA 2020-21: Spotswood Cricket Club turns to youth in Division 1
After a disappointing run of results, Victorian Turf Cricket Association outfit Spotswood adjusted its approach last summer. President John Wheeler explains why the Woodsmen believe the move will pay off.
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Spotswood turned to youth last season in a bid to improve its fortunes and long-term prospects in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association.
Frustrated at falling short of expectations, the Woodsmen changed their approach last season after being relegated from Senior Division in 2018-19.
Out went some of the club’s veterans and in came younger players with bright futures.
The move proved successful, and Spotswood is sticking with it.
While it remains in Division 1 after last season’s decider was called off halfway through with the match in the balance, president John Wheeler is enthused by the talent coming through.
Dan Schuppan has been reappointed coach for 2020-21, while Ross Horkings will again be his assistant.
“We had a very experienced side with a few ex-district players to now we’ve got Dan Schuppan coaching again and he’s got a whole heap of young blokes,” Wheeler said.
“Then we’ve got players like Jakson Knight and Jarryd Vernon, so we’re starting to build that list.
“We were probably close to winning the grand final last year, so we’re just building on that. We’ve got some really good junior players who have come through our program who are now starting to really kick off. That’s our plan going forward.”
Wheeler noted the group “really did jell last year” following the transformation in personnel.
The Woodsmen were 6-135 in response to Aberfeldie’s 177 in the grand final, but Abers were awarded the title and promotion to the top flight by virtue of finishing the home-and-away rounds higher on the ladder.
“I played in a grand final back in the 80s, and that’s what we did – we built a whole culture around blokes who want to play with each other and that certainly brings out the best in the young blokes anyway,” Wheeler said.
Underlining the youth push, 21-year-old Mac Short is captain of the First XI side.
Wheeler declared Declan O’Brien was poised “for a breakout year anytime now”.
O’Brien showcased his ability with a superb knock of 112 at the top of the order for the VTCA’s under-21 side in last season’s VMCU grand final against the Dandenong District association.
Vernon, who is fresh from 585 runs and 28 wickets in a premiership-winning season for Gisborne in the GDCA, has crossed to Spotswood.
Vernon has been the Dragons’ captain for several seasons and will fill the void of the departing Cory Jacobs.
“It’s all about educating our young kids,” Wheeler said.
He will also be reunited with former Gisborne teammate Knight, who hammered 700 runs at 43.8 for the Woodsmen in his first season.
Knight was remarkably consistent and dominated the competition, hitting six half-centuries.
“He’s got a lot of friends around the club,” Wheeler said of Knight.
“He’s just one out of the box. His attitude, the way he jells with the players and on game day, he’s fantastic.”
Wheeler said he was confident the commitment to youth would pay dividends.
“We’ve just got to keep building these kids,” he said.
“Whatever we build, we’ll get the outcome.
“Obviously we’d like to contend for a flag, and if these kids keep improving, I think we’ll be a really good side.”
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