Premier Cricket 2023-24: ‘Cherry on top’ needed, Lions coach declares after first-week finals exit

It’s not all doom and gloom for the Lions following a first-week finals exit, with the coach declaring most of the pieces of the puzzle are in place for a flag tilt. But one piece is missing ...

Zac Elliott led the way with the bat this season, putting up 551 runs at an average of 42.38. Picture: Andy Brownbill

DESPITE a first-week exit from the finals, Fitzroy Doncaster coach Matt Bremner is confident most pieces of the puzzle are in place for a flag tilt next season.

The Lions were sent packing from the Premier Cricket premiership race last weekend, falling to Richmond by four wickets.

In a season where Zac Elliott plundered 551 runs (including 81 on the weekend), Liam Banthorpe fired off 485 while paceman Sean McNicholl snared 40 wickets, Bremner declared: “We feel like we’ve got a squad capable of challenging”.

“We’re probably just one X-factor player away,” he said.

“That’s probably a batter who can take a game away from the opposition, and potentially another all-rounder for when (Victorian-listed player) Sam Elliott doesn’t play.

“We’ve got the bones there, we’re probably just one player who can take a game away from an opposition away from winning a flag.

“But in saying that, we felt like we could have won the flag this year with what we had … the cherry on top is just what we need.”

Sean McNicholl topped the bowling in the Lions First XI with 40 wickets at 15.9. Picture: Cath Coady

The Lions were without regular starters Fletcha Middleton, Noah Korkolis, Matt Whittaker, Nick Fletcher and Sam Elliott – all players who took the field in the First XI’s 129-run rout of the Tigers in Round 3.

“We’re a no-victim mentality club,” Bremner said.

“We don’t create excuses in terms of conditions or opposition or anything like that, we just get on with what’s in front of us.”

The coach lamented “We weren’t ruthless enough like we’d been all year” in the elimination final defeat.

“We had times throughout the match where we were well on top and just didn’t seize the moment, with both bat and ball,” Bremner said.

“(We were) none for 115, then we lost two quick wickets and got another 80-run partnership and lost three quick wickets again.

“Then with the ball, to have them (Richmond) roughly 2-30, off nearly 20 overs, we probably didn’t execute in the middle session and they back-ended innings really well.

“Their X-factor player in (Andrew) Humphries was always the danger man, we needed to take him early.”

Injury forced UK import Fletcha Middleton to return home late in the season after tipping in 420 runs. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Bremner, who took over as First XI coach at the end of last season, said the club’s depth helped lift it back into finals amid injuries and departures.

Kobe Smith stepped into the team in the final home-and-away round, impressing with seven wickets for the match against St Kilda, while paceman Ethan Boyd earnt top-flight selection after lighting it up in the Second XI.

Alex Bychkov debuted against Carlton in Round 16 and didn’t look back, finishing the campaign batting at No. 3.

“For us to finish sixth on the ladder and really compete and take it to Richmond … we’re really happy with what we’ve been able to produce from a First XI perspective,” he said.

“The depth that we’ve had throughout the club, that’s been able to get us across the line and into finals.”