Premier Cricket: Casey South Melbourne ready to roar in season 2019-20.
The Swans are shaping up nicely ahead of the 2019-20 Premier Cricket season, with more depth and a group of exciting young players emerging.
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Casey South Melbourne coach Brian Keogh says the Swans’ depth is as good as it’s been ahead of the 2019-20 Premier Cricket season.
“To be honest it’s really hot,” he said of the list.
“If we were playing Round 1 on Saturday we’d have 64 guys to choose from and all of those guys in my opinion have got the ability to play Premier Cricket.
“We’ve got 16 guys who have put their hand up to play in the firsts and there will be five unlucky guys.”
Keogh guided the Swans into the finals in 2016-17 before standing down.
But two years on he’s back in charge and says the club is ready to make another run at it.
Star English batsman Luke Wells is returning to captain Casey South Melbourne after cracking a club-record 882 runs last season.
Nathan Freitag has returned to the club after heading to Tasmania to see if he could advance to first-class ranks.
“He’s a really big in,” Keogh said of Freitag.
“He will bat number three for us and he’s a great player and a great guy as well and he’s a leader around the group. He will be a terrific acquisition for us.”
Casey South Melbourne has also recruited Nick Huttley (West Bentleigh) and Jordan Hammond (Hallam Kalora Park), while Blake Mills, who played three First XI games in ‘15-16, has returned.
Keogh said the Swans’ batting line-up for their opening round clash against Prahran on October 5 would look something like: Wells, Joel Mitchell or Ryan Quirk, Freitag at three, Michael Wallace will bat five, Jordan Wyatt will bat six and Lachie Sperling and Devin Pollock “will be in there somewhere as well’’.
“And then we will play an all-rounder and two or three bowlers,” Keogh said.
The Swans bowling attack is likely to be spearheaded by Nathan Lambden and Jackson Fry.
Keogh said the emergence of a group of talented young players adds excitement this season.
Victorian Under 17 players Evan Allaway (a left-arm fast bowler) and Shobit Singh (top-order bat) have huge futures.
“We’ve got high hopes for both those guys,” Keogh said.
Keogh said another teenager, Ashley Chandrasinghe, is an exceptional talent.
“I’d be surprised if he doesn’t make the state under 19 team,” he said.
“He’s a tall left hand bat, technically as good as you’ll see. He’s grown and he’s stronger and fitter and we have high hopes for him.”
Nivin Sathyajith is also a chance to make the state Under 19 side, while Corey Fraser is a big left arm fast bowler with huge upside.
Fraser and Allaway are both about 195cm.
“We call them the twin towers because in time we think they’re going to be two really, really important First XI players for us,’’ Keogh said.
Keogh said Casey South Melbourne had set itself to also have success in the seconds, thirds and fourths.
“I feel like the club’s well organised and I think that we are in our best position for a long time to try and get some success right through the grades,” he said.
Off the field, Casey South Melbourne has assembled a strong coaching panel.
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Former Victorian players Nathan Pilon and Will Carr have joined to support Keogh.
Brett Lewis, another former Casey South Melbourne head coach, is also back at the club in an assistant’s role.
Mat Pearson, who has been running the Damien Fleming Academy, rounds out the coaching team.
Casey-South Melbourne
Coach: Brian Keogh.
Captain: Luke Wells.
Ins: Nathan Frietag (Kingborough, Tasmania), Nick Huttley (West Bentleigh), Jordan Hammond (Hallam Kalora Park), Blake Mills.
Players to watch: Evan Allaway, Shobit Singh, Ashley Chandrasinghe, Nivin Sathyajith, Corey Fraser.