East Belmont captain Shane McNamara reveals reason for serious form with the bat

East Belmont captain Shane McNamara has revealed what has helped him find serious form with the bat in the GCA1 this season.

East Belmont batsman Shane McNamara has made two centuries in a row for East Belmont. Picture: Mark Wilson

EAST Belmont captain Shane McNamara has revealed his new role as skipper has helped him find serious form with the bat in the GCA1 this season.

The leading Lion has scored back-to-back centuries to finish the 2022 chapter of the season, and will look to continue that record against the undefeated Grovedale side today.

McNamara said it had been an adjustment to lead the side, but he was enjoying the different aspects of his new role.

“It’s been good to get a few runs but it’s funny because it’s the first time I’ve really captained a team and you don’t terribly think too much about yourself,” he said.

“You’re more focused on and worried about the team, not on if you’re making runs, you’re worried about other things when you’re captain, you want to make good use of the bowlers and get the fields right.

East Belmont batsman Shane McNamara has made two centuries in a row for East Belmont. Picture: Mark Wilson

“By the time it comes around to batting you go out there with a little bit more freedom, you get to do something that you enjoy and get to focus on yourself a bit.

“I think there are a lot of things with captaincy that can be difficult, from during the week at training and with selection, to make sure field settings and bowling orders are as good as possible.

“Instead of just worrying about batting you’ve got to worry about different things these days, which adds a different element to the game but it does take that stress off batting.

McNamara is captaining East Belmont for the first time this season. Picture: Mark Wilson

“It’s a little different and it adds something else to the game.”

McNamara has scored a blistering 424 runs at an average of 106, with three centuries across his five innings and a top score of 141 against Highton.

East Belmont sits in third spot on the GCA1 ladder, with North Geelong and Grovedale still undefeated and above the Lions.

McNamara said he was ecstatic with how the season had played out so far after introducing some younger talent into the side.

“We’ve had a couple of guys who haven’t really featured yet this year, Chris Williams hurt his knee early and hasn’t been able to play really, so that’s changed things a little bit,” he said.

“We obviously brought in Josh Lacey, he’s been fantastic, and we’ve had a few guys who have been playing seconds the last couple of years that are starting to come up.

“That’s what we really wanted to get out of this year, give them a chance to earn a spot for themselves.”

Originally published as East Belmont captain Shane McNamara reveals reason for serious form with the bat