By Nick Creely
With six rounds left to play, Casey-South Melbourne is determined to climb further up the ranks of the Victorian Premier Cricket ladder.
The Swans haven’t been helped by key injuries – particularly in the bowling department – but under the leadership of first year skipper Michael Wallace, remain confident it can do some damage and have a real say on proceedings in the lead-up to finals despite the frustrations that have ensued.
After sharing points with Greenvale Kangaroos due to Victoria’s lockdown last weekend, the Swans sit 13th on the table, 12 points adrift from the top-eight.
But injuries aside, Swans coach Brian Keogh is hoping for a massive lift in a crucial block of cricket before finals, putting the onus on the batting group to deliver and get more wins on the board after a string of competitive losses against some quality sides, including against a star-studded St Kilda, Melbourne, Geelong and Northcote recently.
“Being 4-6, in three of the last four games against quality opposition, we’ve been in really good positions to win the game,” Keogh told Star News Group.
“We haven’t been able to get it done with the bat – we’ve got a lot of guys averaging mid 20s, and we just haven’t been able to get one of the guys to really go on.
“Apart from Ashley (Chandrasinghe) to be fair, we want the guys to convert one of those 20s or 30s into an 80 or a 90 and win us some games.
“Ashley (Chandrasinghe) has got really good numbers as we all know, and our bowling’s been good.
“But 4-6 feels a bit under par, to be honest considering the positions we’ve been in – it’s the reality, unfortunately, we haven’t been able to win the big moments.”
Picture: Chris Thomas
The Swans will take on Fitzroy Doncaster at Schramms Reserve after Victoria’s lockdown was announced on Wednesday to be over.
Ejaaz Alavi’s side – in seventh position on the table – will be no easy task.
But Keogh said the group was raring to go, desperate to make amends for the close losses and to put pressure on the top-eight.
“We missed out on Greenvale on the weekend, but we’ve got a big game against Fitzroy on the weekend,” he said.
“We know we need to probably win five of the last six to make it, possibly all of them, and I think that’d doable – but we need to bat better.”
Injuries have been a major obstacle for the Swans this season, in particular in its fast-bowling group, and Keogh said that despite the juggling act, they should start to welcome back some troops in the coming weeks.
“Injuries have really taken their toll,” he admitted.
“Last week we would have missed Jacko (Jackson Fry) and (Tillakaratne) Dilshan with hamstrings, and we don’t know if they’ll get up this week either.
“Nathan (Lambden) will probably bowl a few overs in the seconds this week, but he won’t be at 100 per cent.
“And Lachie (Sperling) too – he’s been as big a blow as any of them, and he fields so well too, and can field anywhere.
“Hopefully he’ll be a chance for this week.”
One player that has stood up in the absence of injuries around him has been first year quick Cal Dodson, who has stepped up from local cricket with Aspendale to capture 17 wickets (a club best) at an average of 26.94.
Some of his Premier Cricket victims have been impressive, including Melbourne’s Meyrick Buchanan, Northcote’s Solomon Mire and Josh Sundberg, Geelong’s Hayden Butterworth and Angus Boyd, and Essendon’s reigning Ryder Medal winner James Seymour.
“The thing with Cal is, he’s like a role model in how you want a first-year player to behave,” Keogh said.
“He’s fitted in really well with the guys, he works really hard, and he’s made a real effort to get to know everyone.
“He’s so focused on the team result, he’s a great team person, and his bowling in his debut season could see 22, 23 wickets which would be an outstanding first season.
“He’ll be around the group for the next five years or so, he’s a terrific player and a great club person.”
With injuries to key players, the Swans have turned to plenty of youth this season, with a total of five debutants, Harrish Kannan, Cal Dodson, Blair Clymo, Isaiah Jassal, as well as veteran Tillakaratne Dilshan exposed to the level as they get a glimpse into the future.
But Keogh said despite the younger edge to his group, it won’t be used as an excuse for the close losses.
“We are young, Harrish Kannan’s come in, Blair Clymo’s come in, and that’s been great to get games into them, but probably we’re a bit frustrated to be honest, and the players are too,” he said.
“We know we’re young, but we feel we should be further up the ladder.”
Keogh also pointed to skipper Michael Wallace’s debut season as skipper, praising him for his ability to navigate through the challenges.
“Mid-season we did a bit of a review, and Damien Fleming was on the call as well, and Flem used the word ‘control’, and that’s what good captains are, they’re in control,” he said.
“That’s been Wally in year one – its only 10 games into his captaincy, and he’s got great control of the group.
“He’s a good listener too so he takes on other people’s opinions, and hopefully he’s a long-term skipper of the club.”
Keogh said there was a temptation to expose a few more players to the level before season’s end, but wants to ensure that the group is still staying in touch with the finals and focusing on the win-loss column.
“Both Brayden and Justin Lambden are pushing hard for a chance – Brayden particularly has really improved his batting and probably fallen into the all-rounder status,” he said.
“And Justin has really impressed, so we’re hopeful they’ll get a chance at some stage.
“But right now, we want to win every game of cricket in front of us, but we’ll reassess around Round 13 or 14 and see where the seasons at.”
The Swans take on the Lions on Saturday, with the action to begin at 11am.
The season leaders so far….
First XI (13th, 4 wins, 6 losses)
Batting: Ashley Chandrasinghe (441 runs at 49), Devin Pollock (238 runs at 26.44), Michael Wallace (234 runs at 26)
Bowling: Cal Dodson (17 wickets at 26.94), Lachie Sperling (13 wickets at 24.15), Ash Adihetty (13 wickets at 27.31)
Second XI (18th, 0 wins, 9 losses)
Batting: Blair Clymo (271 runs at 33.88), Aaron Bardwell (200 runs at 20), Connor Phillips (191 runs at 23.88)
Bowling: Evan Allaway (11 wickets at 35.27), Brayden Lambden (10 wickets at 31.30), Cam Brown (9 wickets at 34.56)
Third XI (14th, 3 wins, 5 losses)
Batting: Dhanusha Gamage (282 runs at 35.25), Ben Perry (195 runs at 39), Odil Perera (157 runs at 19.63)
Bowling: Maheesha Gamage (11 wickets at 23.45), Sam Jones (8 wickets at 21.25), James Symons (7 wickets at 14.86)Fourth XI (2nd, 6 wins, 2 losses)
Fourth XI (2nd, 6 wins, 2 losses)
Batting: Atharv Deshpande (253 runs at 84.33), Blake Glen (169 runs at 56.33), Stu Fairley (157 runs at 31.40)
Bowling: Rehan Majoka (11 wickets at 11.91), Riley Davis (10 wickets at 6), Cooper Smith (8 wickets at 23.25)
Under 16s (2nd in South East, 2 wins, 1 loss)
Batting: Atharv Deshpande (255 runs at 255), Liam O’Connor (80 runs at 40), Will Ashton (78 runs at 39)
Bowling: Tom Wrigglesworth (5 wickets at 13.40), Patrick Ireland (4 wickets at 23.75), Thomas Turnock (4 wickets at 24)
