Craigieburn’s Chris Laffan appointed Vanuatu cricket head coach
Craigieburn VTCA premiership coach Chris Laffan has accepted a new challenge, taking Vanuatu to the world stage as its new head coach.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Island life is calling for Craigieburn premiership coach Chris Laffan.
Laffan will trade Aitken Reserve and the VTCA for Port Vila after being appointed Vanuatu cricket national head coach and high performance manager.
The Pacific island nation is currently 44th in the ICC T20 International rankings.
Laffan hopes a change of pace for himself and a change of leadership for Vanuatu will benefit both.
“I just applied and I was up for a bit of a different challenge, in terms of work-life balance as well with where cricket was at.
“I head over on Monday, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind.
“The opportunity to inbed some team-first standards and the opportunity to add some stability in the coaching ranks (is exciting).
“I’m really keen to get our family life sorted over there, which helps us inbed ourselves in Vanuatu life and make it a long-term prospect for myself and Vanuatu cricket.”
Laffan won’t have long to adjust.
A place in the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies is up for grabs at the East-Asia Pacific qualifying tournament in Papua New Guinea in July.
Vanuatu won through to the regional final by topping Pool A with five wins from six matches against Fiji, Samoa and Cook Islands.
It will face top-ranked host PNG, the Philippines and Japan for the chance to play in the World Cup next year.
Laffan is excited by the talent at his disposal.
“It’s phenomenal, just the sheer natural ability that obviously suits the short game,” he said.
“Explosive fielding and power hitting stands out and hopefully we can get over there and inbed some role playing ability throughout the squad and go one better and end up at a World Cup.”
Andrew Mansale was Vanuatu’s leading run-scorer in the Pool A tournament with 193 runs at an average of 96.50 in six appearances.
Patrick Matautaava and Apolinaire Stephen led the way with eight wickets each.
Former Essendon Premier Cricket player Matautaava is the current Vanuatu captain.
He lived with current Craigieburn skipper Josh Eaton while he was playing at Windy Hill.
Laffan hopes to see more island players get the opportunity to play high-level cricket in Australia in the near future to further develop the nation’s talent.
“The pathway connection needs to take place, I believe they fought some visa issues last season, which I believe is about to be rectified,” he said.
VTCA: LATEST OFF-SEASON PLAYER, COACH MOVES
LEADER: GET YOUR LOCAL SPORT NEWS HERE
PREMIER: HOW NEW ADDITIONS WILL BOOST LIONS
“Inbedding the boys in the Premier Cricket or Grade Cricket system, getting these boys over and into a club and used to some of things they don’t see.
“I was over for the indigenous tour a few weeks ago and the opportunity to see really strong quicks is something they go without for long periods.
“To be able to get them over to Premier standards of cricket is something we’ll look to do for next summer.”
Craigieburn hopes to announce its coaching structure for the new VTCA Senior Division season in the coming weeks.
Australia’s biggest junior football club audited
A forensic accountant investigating claims of fraud within the financials of Mt Eliza Junior Football Club has revealed its findings. Here’s what we know.
Hawks AFLW fly north to claim Cazalys fortress
Hawthorn’s AFLW side fly into Cairns looking to make their Northern Nest a fortress beginning with Thursday night’s blockbuster against Melbourne to kick off Indigenous Round.