Victorian cricket contract news: Brody Couch heads west, spinner Reiley Mark wins rookie contract

Offered a two-year contract by Victoria and WA, paceman Brody Couch has confirmed he’ll be heading west. But the Vics will promote a promising young spinner, report PAUL AMY and DANIEL CHERNY.

One Victorian fast bowler’s plans for next season have been confirmed, but the future of another remains unresolved.

Brody Couch is leaving the Vics, accepting a two-year deal from WA.

Victoria also offered the 24-year-old right-armer a two-year contract, but he has chosen to try his luck in a new state.

Couch played one Sheffield Shield match for the Vics in 2021-22 however he lost his state contract 12 months ago.

Moving from Geelong to Northcote, he had a strong 2023-24 season in Victorian Premier Cricket, nabbing 31 wickets at 22.84.

As Couch heads west, Zak “Cherry’’ Evans is weighing up his future amid persistent speculation about a move to football.

Evans also lost his state contract 12 months ago.

He led St Kilda’s pace attack last season with 27 wickets at 22.63.

But it appears Evans is not in Victoria’s plans for next season and at 24 he has reached a now-or-never point with the football option.

Zak Evans bending his back for St Kilda. Picture: Valeriu Campan

He had taken the eye of recruiters while playing school football for Xavier College in 2017 and AFL clubs could land him as a Category B rookie, as Collingwood did with state-contracted leg-spinner Wil Parker in February.

Evans made one Shield appearance for Victoria in 2020-21 and was also part of the Melbourne Renegades squad.

Reiley Mark bowling for Richmond last season. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Meanwhile, the Vics are also set to hand young off-spinner Reiley Mark a state contract.

The 21-year-old finished last season with the flourish of 17 wickets in his last three matches for Richmond: 8-45 off 18 overs against Frankston-Peninsula, 4-87 off 37 against Fitzroy-Doncaster and 5-64 off 31 against Ringwood.

Mark, the son of former District player and suburban cricket star John and a product of Lynbrook and Berwick cricket clubs, finished with 30 wickets at 18.17.

Originally published as Victorian cricket contract news: Brody Couch heads west, spinner Reiley Mark wins rookie contract