Greenvale Kangaroos coach Damian Shanahan discusses club’s winless start

It’s been a brutal opening month of the Premier Cricket season for Greenvale Kangaroos but coach Damian Shanahan can see some ‘green shoots’ emerging.

Matthew Harrison in action for Greenvale Kangaroos. Picture: Hamish Blair

It’s been a torrid start to Damian Shanahan’s tenure as Greenvale Kangaroos’ coach.

A brutal opening month of the Premier Cricket season has left the club winless and last on the ladder heading in to Christmas.

The Kangaroos have suffered 128-run and 138-run defeats to Footscray and Geelong and nine-wicket losses to Essendon and, on Saturday, Carlton.

Shanahan could be forgiven for tearing his hair out but – while there has been frustrating moments – that is far from the case.

“It’s been a baptism of fire hasn’t it,” he said.

Sean McNicholl has continued his outstanding form from last season. Picture: Hamish Blair

“Having had two weeks to prepare the club and get to know 60 guys, I feel a lot more comfortable now at Christmas as a coach understanding where the club’s at.

“There have been some green shoots in every game we’ve played as the First XI, there’s no doubt about that.

“We saw another example of that today, against probably a top-two side, to be 1-110 we were right in front of the game but then we lost our way.”

Opener Josh Trembearth scored his first First XI half-century since 2015-16 as Greenvale cruised to 1-106.

However, a collapse of 9-66 saw it all out 172 and the Blues made short work of the chase as Evan Gulbis smashed 102 from 105 balls.

Turning a good performance into a big score or haul of wickets is one of the big lessons Shanahan wants his players to learn.

“Young Josh today, got 50, but needed to understand the process that built up to him getting out,” Shanahan said.

“He was 35 off 40 balls then he was 50 off 100-something, he’s got to get busy, hit angles, and also understand he’s got a partner at the other end trying to get into the game.

Haseeb Qureshi in action for Greenvale Kangaroos. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“Evan Gulbis, you look at what he did, to be able to get a hundred. He took his time, hit boundaries when needed and moved the ball around the field.”

Shanahan has also been impressed with spearhead Sean McNicholl and young spinner Michael Archer.

“Sean, on two occasions has been absolutely outstanding and today was quite good as well,” he said.

“He’s been a standout with the ball for us and we’ve just got to get a couple of other guys to go with him.

“Young Arch has come into the team and he’s got some skills that others don’t as a leg spinner.

“He got hit hard today at times but jeez he bowled well, his first over was unbelievably good, and that was in front of the state coach – who was quite impressed.”

Greenvale were missing captain Michael Stretton against Carlton as he returned to Sydney for his wedding.

He’s expected to return for the opening game of 2021 on January 9 but could be delayed if the COVID-19 outbreak in NSW worsens.

The Kangaroos host Melbourne University in the first game after the Christmas break and Shanahan is keen to the team to continue working hard, confident a breakthrough win is around the corner.

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“There’s not quick fix. We’ve just to get more competitive for longer in the game and wins will come,” he said.

“We’ve got that opportunity 13 times in the new year.

“I didn’t come here thinking we were going to be planning finals from the get-go as much as people would like that to happen.

“(Carlton) is where we need to get to, a side that’s played a lot of finals together, played finals and experienced campaigners.”