FTGCA 2020-21: Why Lysterfield’s third flag in a row is top

Lysterfield’s marked its third consecutive FTGCA title on Sunday, but skipper Nathan Hicks explains why this flag is sweetest of all.

Lysterfield celebrates its third straight flag win. Picture: Field of View Sports Photography

Lysterfield skipper Nathan Hicks has described it as the sweetest flag of all.

The Beavers completed the three-peat on Sunday with a six-wicket win over Upwey Tecoma to take home the Ferntree Gully District Cricket Association’s Division 1 Norm Reeves Shield, chasing down the Tigers’ 152 to win 4-153.

But it’s been a remarkable rise for Lysterfield on the back of six grand finals in a row.

It took the flag in season 2018-19 in the second tier to earn promotion for 2019-20 where it made its mark in the top grade, making the decider – but never got to contest the match due to the onset of coronavirus in Melbourne.

The Beavers were subsequently ruled the premiers making it two on the trot, but fast forward a year, and the latest instalment is one Hicks lauds as the most special under the one-day format introduced this season.

Walsh spearheaded the batting for the Beavers this season. Picture: Field of View Sports Photography

“Back in November, I would’ve thought there was a pretty good chance of not even having a cricket season,” he said.

“Only losing one game during the season to the lockdown I think is a full credit to the league and the executive.

“But I thought this would probably be the hardest one to win, going away from the two-day format and 80-over cricket, I always find the longer you play, more often the better team comes out on top.

“I reckon this one is really sweet.”

The Beavers finished top of the ladder dropping two matches along the way – falling 13 runs short to Belgrave just ahead of Christmas in an upset and a six-wicket defeat to Upwey Tecoma in the qualifying final.

Hicks said having to go through “the hard way” with the finals loss to Upwey Tecoma costing a week off and setting up a preliminary final date with The Basin shifted his side’s focus.

“In a way, even after finishing top of the ladder, we were kind of like the underdogs going into the weekend,” Hicks said.

“It was our sixth grand final in a row so a lot of the team were pretty experienced – we just gave it a nothing-to-lose attitude and just backed ourselves, I guess.”

The skipper also paid tribute to his side’s performance at the crease this season, headed by Nathan Walsh (612 runs) and Anthony Brolic (532).

Winners are grinners: Brolic celebrates with his medal. Picture: Field of View Sports Photography

Hicks pointed to Brolic’s adjustment to the one-day format as a key pillar behind the Beavers’ success.

“He has had an absolute standout season,” Hicks said.

“Probably two or three years ago, he was very accustomed to two-day batting, taking his time, playing straight.

“Myself, ‘Walshy’ and Cam Cosstick have been working pretty hard with him to get that aggressive nature from him and this year with the white ball he absolutely had one to remember.”