Northcote scores a recruiting coup, securing Victoria and Big Bash paceman
Northcote has bolstered an already strong bowling attack, winning the race to sign an in-demand Victoria and Big Bash paceman for 2023-24.
Local Sport
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Northcote has secured the services of Victoria and Melbourne Stars gun Brody Couch.
The Dragons beat out several Premier Cricket clubs for the 23-year-old paceman’s signature, luring him to Bill Lawry Oval from Geelong.
After missing out on a state contract for 2023-24, Couch will make a fresh start at Northcote as he looks to break back into the state set-up.
He will head to the USA later this month for the inaugural Major League Cricket season, where he will represent San Francisco Unicorns alongside Aaron Finch, Marcus Stoinis and Lungi Ngidi.
Dragons coach Warren Pereara was rapt to bring an elite talent into the club.
“He’s a ripping guy, still only 23,” Pereara said.
“We identified him a while ago as a player we’d love to have in our club and when you do a little more research on him, him as a person fits our club really well, which is important.
“You don’t find that type of pace every day of the week and he’s a genuine athlete.
“He’s also someone who can bat, which a lot of people have forgotten about, he was pretty good in his pathway years, so I think there’s a hidden gem there.”
Couch split his time between Geelong and Victoria Second XI duties last season.
He snared 11 wickets in 11 matches for the Cats, with a best of 3-74, and another 11 wickets in four outings for the Second XI, including match figures of 7-111 against ACT.
After 18 wickets in 2020-21 Couch earned a Marsh Cup debut against Tasmania, taking 1-19.
Another 16 scalps in 2021-22 saw Couch rewarded with a Sheffield Shield debut against NSW, taking 1-38 and 0-35.
He featured heavily for Melbourne Stars in 2022-23, playing 14 games and taking 16 wickets but appeared just once this season, snaring 2-40 in the Melbourne derby.
With Couch’s arrival and the return of Sam Harbinson from Tasmania, Northcote suddenly has a wealth of bowling options.
Pereara is confident his new man can find his best form with the Dragons.
“He’s go nicely along with Toppy (Michael Topp), Mickey Edwards and Sam Harbinson has come back from Tasmania as well.
“It gives us a lot of options, which is awesome, it’s a good headache to have.
“At the end of the day, I want this move to help him enjoy his cricket and play his best cricket and nothing would make me happier to see him playing First Class cricket again.
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“We definitely want him to play as many games for Northcote as he can but also know he can play higher as well.”
Spinner Joe Medew-Ewen led the club’s attack this season with 30 wickets – ranked fifth in the competition – earning Team of the Year honours.
Northcote has also secured Plenty Valley captain-coach Michael Rogneda as a player and to oversee the club’s development pathway and coach the newly-formed under-18s team.
Rory Collins comes on board as a part-time wicketkeeping coach but will remain a player at St Bernard’s.
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