VSDCA 2021-22: Ex-Premier batsman’s ‘huge’ influence on Croydon’s improvement

Croydon could be on the cusp of breaking a lengthy finals hiatus in the VSDCA, with the impact of its boom recruit a “huge” driving force.

It could be on the cusp of snapping a long finals drought, but Croydon coach Tom McQuinn says his group is looking no further than this weekend’s monster clash with Balwyn.

The Cockies banked their seventh win of the season on Saturday with a 34-run victory over Preston to sit in fifth spot with five rounds remaining.

Former Premier batsman Jake Marnie led the way at the crease with a season-high 80 runs off 98 balls in his side’s 7-211 total, proving a bridge too far for the hosts in their chase, all out for 177.

Meanwhile, Chris Brown took his season wicket total to a leading 20 following a 4-30 performance off nine overs.

There’s been major improvement for Croydon with the bat this season. Three players managed to crack 200 runs or more in 2020-21 – Daniel Ivanovic (311), captain Steve Wright (296) and Riley Paterson (206) in a five-win campaign.

To date, Marnie has smacked 357 runs at an average of 39.67 this season, behind leading scorer Ivanovic (382 at 47.45). Wright (311), opener Will Pleming (295) and Mitch Brooker (219) round out the Cockies’ top five run-scorers.

Jake Marnie batting for Kingston Hawthorn last season. Picture: Valeriu Campan

McQuinn said Marnie has had a profound impact on the batting line-up as a mentor this season since crossing from Kingston Hawthorn, translating into on-field results.

“All those boys have all scored over 200 runs, and he (Marnie) is having a huge impact on the way they go about it. Couple that with scoring runs himself, he’s been huge for us,” McQuinn said.

“Even on the group as a whole – bringing that experience, intensity and setting the standards for our group, it’s added another layer to the boys and what they expect to do on game-day.”

The Cockies last contested finals in 2015-16, and while McQuinn says the prospect of breaking the drought has seldom been mentioned, the importance of the next five weeks isn’t lost on his group.

Croydon could be on the verge of snapping a lengthy finals drought. Picture: Steve Tanner

This week’s crunch-game with Balwyn (eighth) is followed by clashes with Mount Waverley (10th), St Bernard’s (sixth), Coburg (fourth) and Endeavour Hills (second).

Balwyn sits just outside the top six with a 6-4 record and must win to keep in touch.

“We haven’t made the finals for a long time, so we don’t have that luxury of going into autopilot,” McQuinn said.

“Our destiny’s in our own hands, but we have to play good cricket.

“All five of those sides are quality sides … this week’s hugely important for us if we can get a bit of a gap on them (Balwyn). We’re really going to have to win three or four of those in the run home to make it.”