Northcote looking to test itself against Premier Cricket leader Carlton
Third-placed Northcote is excited by the challenge of facing Premier Cricket leader Carlton on its home deck and the chance to take on Brayden Stepien.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Northcote hope Carlton is at full strength for its blockbuster clash on Saturday and that includes the return of master blaster Brayden Stepien.
Stepien has missed the past four Premier Cricket matches after being called up by the Melbourne Renegades.
Disappointingly, despite the Renegades finishing last on the Big Bash League ladder, the Blues run machine didn’t get a game.
Dragons skipper Blayde Baker want to test his men against the best.
“Carlton have been the bench mark in white-ball cricket – if not all cricket – for the last few seasons,” he said.
“It comes at a good time for us, we’ve won a few games on the bounce, and it will be a good test.
“You’ve got to beat the best so if (Stepien) is fully fit that’s great. It’s another challenge for us.”
Northcote got a taste of Stepien’s power in last season’s T20 Super Slam grand final when he smashed 62 not out from just 19 balls.
“Carlton play really well at their ground and hopefully we can turn up and put on a good showing,” Baker said.
The Dragons have come out firing since Christmas, winning three of four games to sit third, seven points behind Carlton on top.
They will be without big-hitting opener Solomon Mire after he injured his hamstring against Casey-South Melbourne on Saturday.
Tearan Gleeson made his First XI debut after crossing from Footscray in the off-season and showed some promise with 24 off 28 balls in the five-wicket win over Frankston Peninsula on Australia Day.
“Coming off back-to-back 90s (in the Second XI), he’s in good form so he went straight to the top of the order,” Baker said.
“We asked him to go out there and bat with good intent being a 30-over game and I thought he did that really well and he’ll be kicking himself for getting out when he did.”
With Northcote teetering at 5-68, Baker and all-rounder Jonty Rushton combined for a matchwinning 89-run stand as the Dragons chased down the Heat’s 9-155.
Jack Lalor (3-19), Michael Topp (3-23) and Michael Edwards (3-24) impressed with the ball.
“The partnership between Hammel and Symons had us staring down the barrel of potentially chasing 180 but Jack and Mikey bowled really well through the middle and jagged them back,” Baker said.
“Jack’s starting to trust his skills and playing some really good cricket.
BEST ON: PREMIER TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUNDS 7-8
LEADER: GET YOUR PREMIER CRICKET NEWS HERE
PREMIER: COLEMAN’S RETURN A MAJOR BOOST FOR DOGS
“He’s been really important down the stretch and batting at four has filled a hole with blokes like Abbers (Ben Abbatangelo) and Shorty (Matt Short) not around.”
Northcote also sits second on the club championship table and could overtake Carlton with a win.
“It’s great that the ones are going alright but it’s good to see the whole club is in a strong position.
“It’s a credit to Tubs (Steve Taylor) and Warren Perera for the hard work they’ve put in and we’re starting to see the rewards.”
Premier Cricket: Men’s and women’s Team of the Week
Young guns lit up Victorian Premier Cricket in men’s and women’s sections. We’ve named our teams of the week. SEE THEM
Star leg-spinner ‘should be starting to be looked at’
Carlton all-rounder Connor Rutland has tipped praise on the Blues’ star leg-spinner, saying Saturday’s match winning spell was further proof he has what it takes at a higher level.