VSDCA 2018-19: Preston bullish about hopes of breakthrough North-East group finals appearance
Skipper Eoghan Delany is adamant Preston has the quality to retain its top-six spot and figure in VSDCA finals for the first time since 2013.
NorthÂ
Don't miss out on the headlines from North . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Skipper Eoghan Delany is adamant Preston has the quality to retain its top-six spot and figure in VSDCA finals for the first time since 2013.
The Bullants were sixth on the ladder at Christmas, ahead of Kew, Box Hill, St Bernard’s and Coburg in the North-East group.
VSDCA 2018-19: EOGHAN DELANY RELISHING CAPTAINCY CHANCE
VSDCA 2018-19: BRUNSWICK CONFIDENT SURGE WILL CONTINUE
SUBBIES LEGEND SEAN AYRES REACHES 300-GAME MILESTONE
Preston dropped its opening three games of 2018-19 but has proved itself as a legitimate contender with victories over Noble Park, Croydon, Balwyn and Plenty Valley.
“I think we have finished 13th two years in a row,” Delany said.
“You kind of wonder, ‘just how far has Preston really dropped off the pace from where it was at the start of the century?’
“To get back and beat all these teams like Plenty Valley, and we beat Noble Park as well, it kind of reaffirms the belief that things might not be as drastic as we once thought they might have been.”
The Bullants can consider themselves unlucky not to be entrenched in the top six after a one-wicket loss to Mt Waverley in Round 1.
Their Round 7 fixture against St Bernard’s was washed out on day two after Preston piled on 6-367 to set up a likely victory.
“Last season at the turn of the year we were probably looking at how we could save face and maybe everyone could find some collective form and scrape another win,” Delany said.
“Now it’s about, what do we need to do between now and the end of the season to ensure we get into that finals spot?
“It’s probably a bit beyond us to think that we could jump up to the top but if we could get maybe fourth or fifth, I think that’s a realistic expectation.
“It’s about planning how we go about that rather than planning for damage control.”
Delany, the North-East group’s leading run scorer with 454 runs at 90.8, highlighted his side’s batting as the key to its finals aspirations.
Preston has a difficult run home, taking on Bayswater (first), Box Hill (eighth), Coburg (10th), Kew (seventh) and Endeavour Hills (14th).
“Every time we come out to bat the opposition reminds us our batting is our week spot,” Delany said.
“If we can add another 10-20 per cent to that, coupled with the strong bowling performances … then I’m confident out of the last five games, that we’ll at least win three of them.”
MORE LOCAL SPORT NEWS
OFF-SEASON HQ: THE LATEST COACH, PLAYER MOVES IN LOCAL FOOTY