VSDCA 2018-19: Brunswick quick Leigh Brennan targets success after 100th match
Relentless quick Leigh Brennan has declared Brunswick has the talent to end its 31-year wait for VSDCA glory.
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Relentless quick Leigh Brennan has declared Brunswick has the talent to end its 31-year wait for VSDCA glory.
The Wicks finished the North-East group season at the top of the ladder after a crushing win over premiership rival Mt Waverley in Brennan’s 100th match for the club.
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They will face finals debutant St Bernard’s this weekend and can take solace that they will move through to the second week regardless of the result after clinching the minor premiership.
“We just want to make sure when we are out there playing we’re playing as hard cricket as possible,” Brennan said.
“Making it difficult for the opposition.”
The experienced paceman snared 1-20 in his milestone match, while David McKay returned from a knee injury with 3-16 and spearhead James Pearson collected 3-21 as the Roos were routed for 99.
Captain-coach Liam Murphy scored his third half-century in four games in a successful chase, racing to 62 from 58 balls to spearhead Brunswick’s eight-wicket triumph.
“Murph has just shown his class in the last couple of weeks, the way he has taken the game on and he has been rewarded with a couple of fifties,” Brennan said.
The 33-year-old from Sunbury said he was honoured to join a select group of players to feature in 100 games for Brunswick.
“I was talking to (club legend) Johnny Swanson and he was saying there’s (about) 30 players that have done it,” he said.
“To be with those sort of guys is pretty cool.”
Brennan, whose career started at Gisborne District club Rupertswood before he had stints with Premier clubs North Melbourne and Footscray, has taken 193 VSDCA wickets.
The right-arm quick said Brunswick’s bowling attack — led by Pearson, McKay, Brennan and spinner Tim Daykin — was ready to shoulder extra responsibility in finals.
“Dave I have played a lot of cricket with now and you know what you are going to get,” he said.
“We’re a bit relentless from both ends and Tim comes in and plays his role and keeps it tight. He offers that variation in the attack.
“The four of us there, we have bowled a few sides out for under 100 runs.”
Pearson finished the season as the leading wicket-taker in the North-East with 41 scalps, while Brennan was second with 31 wickets.
“They’ve come out well the last couple of weeks and I had the opportunity to get the new ball late in the year with Dave being injured,” he said.
“Happy to do whatever role Murph wants and whatever the team needs.”
Brunswick last claimed a First XI premiership in 1987-88.
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