Victorian Premier Cricket: Melbourne faces stern test after 0-4 start

Reigning premiers Melbourne have conceded a high finish will be “very difficult” after a winless opening start to the Victorian Premier Cricket season.

Melbourne players look on during their game against Essendon in October. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Melbourne coach Ben Vague concedes a top-four finish will be “very difficult from here” after its 0-4 start to the season.

Losses to Geelong, Essendon, Ringwood and Carlton sees the reigning premiers languishing in 16th spot — and one of only three sides without a win, along with Greenvale Kangaroos and Kingston Hawthorn.

In a quirk of fate, Melbourne captain Blake Thomson leads the competition runs chart with 474, including successive knocks of 188, 127 and 123.

The runs have flowed but not the wins for Melbourne.

Melbourne captain Blake Thomson has scored three consecutive centuries this season. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Vague is staying positive and backing his side to turn things around, although he says the Demons may have to reset their goals.

“I’m not getting discouraged with the season at all,” he said.

“I think realistically a top four finish is probably going to be very difficult from here but I’m confident that the brand of cricket we’re playing it won’t take much to string consecutive wins together to see us end up in the bottom half of the eight for sure.”

Melbourne has made 8-242, 397, 6-329 (declared) and 290 in its four matches this season.

The Demons’ latest loss was especially stinging after they were 0-184 chasing Carlton’s 302.

“I know what I’ve got at our club and I know how we’re going to respond,” Vague said.

“No one is panicking. I think definitely there is an urgency to start winning, for sure, but we’re not panicking.

“We know what the big picture is and we’re sticking together, we know that we are working hard and the wins will come.”

Vague said Melbourne wanted “to really put time into some younger players and develop them” and its side against Carlton included five players under 21 years of age.

“There’s an element we are looking to the future but we also want to be winning games of cricket,” he said.

“It’s been frustrating because our home wicket has been really hard to take 10 wickets at that ground which is usually a bit of a fortress for us.

“Not too often do you make (nearly) 400 and lose.”

Melbourne batter Zane Keighran. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Jack Prestwidge. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Vague reiterated his belief that Thomson deserves another opportunity for Victoria.

“I’ve said it all in regards to Blake Thomson and what I think of him and how much I believe in him,” he said.

“He’s just got this will to win games of cricket and he’s leading the way and it does break my heart that he’s contributed so much of his energy, his heart, and we just haven’t been able to get the job done for him.”

Vague added: “I messaged Huss (David Hussey, head of men’s cricket at Cricket Victoria) on the weekend and said ‘mate, this guy is a class above any player that I’ve seen in my Premier Cricket history…like, the way he is batting is unbelievable’.

“I really hope they consider him to make his Shield debut because he definitely deserves it.”

Vague said the Demons would embrace the challenge and fight back.

“We’ll come good, we’ll be fine, the boys will continue to grind away,’’ he said.

“The dressing room has never been more united.

“We had a function on Saturday night and the spirits were high. Some clubs would fracture but certainly not the Demons, that’s for sure.’’

Melbourne hosts Footscray in a two-day match at the Albert Ground on Saturday and Sunday.