By Russell Bennett
More than 30 games – that’s how long it’s been since the Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll first XI won a game.
The last time the Marygoons won was in Round 9 of the 2014/15 West Gippsland Cricket Association season against Officer. Following that is a current streak of 33 losses.
The club should be down and out … but it isn’t.
The players should be completely spiritless … but they’re not.
This season’s captain-coach, Daniel Glen, still describes the Spencer Street club as his favourite place to play.
“I just love it, and that’s with me not really having played with any of these boys before,” he said.
“It’s turned into a good place to be, and it honestly probably shouldn’t be because of our lack of success in the ones.
“It should be a bit flat, but it’s just not. The boys’ ability to bounce back continuously after getting beaten and beaten is just incredible.
“They train twice a week, they show up on game day, they give 100 per cent and it’s just a shame that we don’t have enough depth for those boys to be able to play in the twos and be able to develop.”
That’s what the Marygoons are crying out for, as well as new leadership in the form of a new playing coach.
Glen has work and study commitments – as well as his upcoming wedding – that are all in need of the time he committed to coaching this season.
“It’s also that, being coach, you’re taking a salary almost, which isn’t a lot but if I’m going to stay here anyway why aren’t we using that pull to then go and attract another player?” he said.
Glen isn’t going anywhere, and neither is class seamer Dean Henwood who made the switch from Premier powerhouse Cardinia before the current season.
They’re staying with the goal of helping rebuild the first XI and advancing it out of the Sub-District tier in which it’s just been relegated.
It shouldn’t be forgotten that the Marygoons experienced real success not all that long ago.
In fact, they vied for a Premier division berth with Emerald in the 2013 District grand final.
The club has stumbled since then, but its fall doesn’t have to be permanent.
Their Spencer Street base is blessed with excellent clubrooms, a recently reconstructed playing surface, and virtually brand new practice nets – and it’s all just a 10-minute drive from Pakenham, despite its rural surrounds.
“This is a changing of the guard really,” Glen said.
“The way we’ve got to look at it is that almost all the blokes who’ve played ones cricket at Nar Nar Goon over the past five to 10 years are no longer playing ones cricket at Nar Nar Goon.
“Our advantage is that, no we haven’t been successful (recently) in the top grade, but our average age in that grade would be 23 or 24 so we’ve still got plenty of youth which we’ve watched develop over the year.
“In Sub-District we’ll certainly be more competitive … this is a perfect building point for us.”
In addition to a boost in playing numbers, the Marygoons are after a playing-coach with strong leadership and communication skills, and someone with extensive playing experience.
“It has to be someone who’s willing to work because I’m very confident we’ve made positive change this year and we’ve started moving the club in the right direction,” Glen said.
Anyone interested in leading the Marygoons into a new era should contact Troy Schepisi on 0457 591 141 or troyschepisi@bigpond.com.
