VSDCA: Ryan Webster appointed Box Hill Cricket Club coach

VSDCA club Box Hill has appointed two-time Caulfield premiership mentor Ryan Webster as its captain-coach for 2019-20. And he likes what he sees in the young Mustangs playing stocks.

Ryan Webster clips one through the leg-side. Picture: Chris Eastman

What a coup for Box Hill Cricket Club.

The Mustangs have locked in two-time Caulfield premiership coach Ryan Webster as their new playing mentor for 2019-20, taking the coaching reins from Rob Fortington.

Webster, 38, will also serve as First XI captain, replacing retiring skipper Michael Vozzo.

Box Hill announced earlier this month it had appointed Webster in the role after he stepped down from the coaching position at Caulfield.

Webster took the Fielders to the 2016-17 and 2017-18 VSDCA premierships and the club made finals in each of his five seasons at the helm.

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He departed the club after the Fielders bowed out of last season’s VSDCA finals series in straight sets.

The West Australian native said the ability to resume playing was a drawcard in taking the Box Hill position. He last played a full season in 2015-16 owing to a back injury and Caulfield’s strong list.

Webster said he would serve as an “old pro” and slide between the Mustangs’ batting order where required and bowl first-change.

“The combination of captain and coach and ability to lead on-field as much as off-field was probably the biggest thing,” Webster said.

“It’s also slightly closer to where we live now and where we’ve set up as a family out in Mooroolbark so it worked in a little bit easier.

“The combination of the flexibility around family and the opportunity to play again in a leading position was probably the biggest driving factors.”

Webster played Grade cricket in Perth for Scarborough and Fremantle, playing alongside a host of state and international players, before moving to Victoria earlier this decade.

He said he only made the decision to take on the coaching position during a recent month-long family trip to Europe.

“We talked about it while we were away and the main discussion happened on the long-haul flight back from Europe because we had a fair bit of time while the little one was sleeping,” he said.

“I had to make sure the flexibility around playing, coaching and family time was the right mix and essentially it came down to my wife being happy with that flexibility. The family was the biggest driver and making sure I could fit it all in around family time.

“Caulfield was fantastic but it was a pretty massive last five years in regards to playing and coaching and obviously we had really good success but that success doesn’t come about without a lot of hard work.”

Box Hill exceeded pre-season expectations in 2018-19 and finished just one win outside the North-East Group top six.

“Just looking at the results and speaking to a few different people, obviously I’m going in fresh and it’s going to be a fresh slate but I think 60 or 70 per cent of the team are under 24,” Webster said.

“To win six games on the trot like they did and knock off the eventual premiers in Noble Park late in the season and just miss out on finals is a pretty good effort when you’ve got kids at 24 and under.

“The confidence a lot of those young kids will have after a good finish to the season can only be beneficial.”