VSDCA 2022-23: The key to Balwyn’s hot start to season

The Tigers sit inside the top six following a victory over powerhouse Werribee. Here’s where the coach believes his group has lifted.

BALWYN sits inside the top six after defeating powerhouse Werribee on Saturday – with the coach crediting the “evolution” of his group to its fast start to the season.

The Tigers have started the East-West campaign with a 4-1-1 record (the Round 1 fixture was a draw due to a wash-out) to sit fourth on the ladder, after missing the finals by just three points in 2021-22 with eight wins.

Their five-wicket victory on the weekend came as they plundered 5-184 in reply to Werribee’s 9-182.

Balwyn coach Clinton Kennon pointed to self-belief as a driving factor behind his side’s early-season form.

“When you can compete against the benchmark of the competition, it was a handy win … obviously with the evolution of the group, we’ve come to this point where they’re all experienced enough,” Kennon said.

“There’s now a bit of self-belief amongst the guys. We’ve set ourselves some KPIs for the year and the only game we haven’t met the KPIs is when we lost to Williamstown. We know that those are working, and the boys are sticking to those.”

Vihaan Narayana made 84 in the weekend’s win over Werribee. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The coach challenged his batting group during the off-season to make more runs, with Vihaan Narayana leading the way on the weekend with 84 off 104 deliveries, including seven fours and two sixes.

Kennon also pointed to Luca Gambell’s recent form, with the No. 6 knocking 24 or more in three of his past four outings.

“The batters are putting it on themselves a bit,” Kennon said.

“We spoke to (Vihaan) during the week about if you get to 40, that’s not enough, double that, and see what happens from there and he did that,” Kennon said.

But the biggest praise was reserved for gun recruit Harrison Goad, who took 4-39 off nine overs on Saturday, lifting his season wicket-total to 10 from five appearances.

Kennon said his influence on and off the field had been positive since crossing from Premier club Fitzroy Doncaster.

Meanwhile, paceman Harry Dixon has five wickets for the season, conceding no fewer than 31 runs in each of the past three matches.

“Goad has been just a welcomed addition (and) Harry Dixon’s last three games have been unbelievable,” Kennon said.

The Tigers take on Croydon, 12th, this Saturday and while the Cockies have their backs to the wall having recorded just one victory, Kennon believes the match poses a hurdle heading into the Christmas break.

“If we can win two of the next three, we think we’re well set up by Christmas time,” Kennon said.

“The boys got themselves up for Werribee and they’re the benchmark, but for us, I reckon the last three or four games (against Croydon) it’s been down to the last over.

“They’ve always been good games.”