Premier Cricket: Casey South Melbourne has added another gun coach to its ranks

Rather than going after big-name recruits, Casey South Melbourne has steered towards bolstering its coaching ranks. Here’s why.

Instead of harvesting its time towards player recruitment, Casey South Melbourne has placed an emphasis on its coaches ahead of the 2023-24 Premier Cricket season.

Swans president Shaun Petrie says it’s because the players that will lead the club to sustainable success are already there.

Dale Christie is the Swans’ most recent appointment with the former Noble Park coach set to assist head coach Will Carr this summer.

Christie joins Carr, Bathiya Perera, Damien Fleming, Nathan Pilon and Thilan Samawareera on the Swans’ extensive panel.

In total, the Swans’ coaching panel has more than 100 Tests, 140 ODI‘s, 550 first class and nearly 1000 Premier-District matches of experience.

Petrie says the club is placing its focus on how it will grow talent over how it will attract it.

“We’re very happy with our current list,” he says.

“Based on the back of a grand final appearance two years ago and a competitive season last year off a much tougher draw.

“We haven’t lost anybody and they’re all at the prime age for success.

“While we have brought in Yash Pednekar, who could be amazing recruitment, we haven’t actively gone out and sourced anyone.

“It’s important we still offer opportunities for young guys, we don’t want young kids never having the opportunity to play ones.”

Luke Shelton will captain the Swans in place of Michael Wallace this summer. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Paceman Nathan Lambden will have multiple roles in 2023-24. Picture: Valeriu Campan

A grand final appearance (2021-22) in addition to the rise of Ruwantha Kellepotha and Ashley Chandrasinghe has placed the Swans on the map.

While pleased with the highest individual performers at the club, Petrie hopes his strong coaching panel will allow each and every cricketer at Casey Fields to improve.

“I think it’s very important that Premier Clubs offer the best coaching available,” he says.

“We have a very simple philosophy and that is: kids that come into our club — whether they spend six weeks, a year or 10 years — they should all leave as much better cricketers.

“If on one hand they’re committed and talented enough, they will have all the foundations to take it to the next level.

“On the other hand, if they don’t make it for whatever reason, they go back to their local clubs as better cricketers and better human beings.”

Luke Manders will coach the under-18 side and will be assisted by Jackson Fry while Lachie Sperling will coach the Dowling Shield (under-16) side and will be assisted by Nathan Lambden, Harrish Kannan and Dev Pollock.

The Swans kick off their season with Dandenong at Casey Fields on October 7.