Latest / Death by Multimedia / Episode 198: An Uninformed Preview of the 2022/23 SCDCA 1st Grade Competition

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Episode 198: An Uninformed Preview of the 2022/23 SCDCA 1st Grade Competition · Death by Multimedia

0:00
This is thoughts from the metal cabin, where only one opinion
0:04
matters, and it's not yours g'day.
0:07
There regular and irregular listeners and perhaps, even some
0:12
new ones to this episode of thoughts from the middle cabin.
0:17
And I'm sitting here on the long weekend on the Saturday,
0:21
watching replays of old Grand Falls in preparation for
0:25
tomorrow. Night's NRL Grand Final Eating
0:29
some chili chips, having some Pepsi Max and considering the
0:36
fact that the cricket season starts next weekend and well, if
0:42
the rain goes away, then Cricket will be starting next weekend
0:46
which will be great for everyone.
0:49
It's been a rough three years really when you think about
0:51
Cricket everywhere, but also here on the south coast we've
0:55
had bushfires, we've had rain We've had covid, we've had just
1:01
about everything except cricket being played.
1:03
So what I thought I wanted to do today is just have a look over
1:07
the cut upcoming season of 2223 for the South Coast District
1:13
Cricket Association are generally.
1:14
Of course, this episode is just going to be focusing on first
1:18
grade. It's a new first grade
1:19
competition, which is exciting for everyone, and perhaps
1:24
there's another episode there, the week, after all week.
1:27
After that, just concentrating on.
1:29
The club's themselves all the way through the grades and
1:31
seeing how they're going. I don't know if I can do all
1:35
that but it's important that with the cricket season coming
1:39
up that we start to look at what is going to happen this season.
1:43
Is it going to be different from any of the past, three or four
1:46
seasons? And I'm not talking about the
1:48
weather. I'm talking about where teams
1:50
again to finish, because there's been a are of familiarity about
1:56
where terms of finished in the first grade.
1:59
And certainly over recent years and I think certainly all bar
2:06
one club would probably think it would be great to see some
2:08
change for for a period of time and have rather than just having
2:12
one Club dominating all the time.
2:14
It would be great to see all of the clubs competing for not only
2:19
a finals position in the long run.
2:21
But certainly then trying to compete for a Premiership.
2:26
So have a look at how things may or may not turn out.
2:29
Now, as the title suggests, it's a very uninformed preview of the
2:33
season, I certainly don't consider myself an expert on all
2:37
the clubs. It's been a while since I've
2:39
been a regular player in grade cricket and especially in first
2:47
grade Cricket. So I certainly don't know all
2:50
the players from all the clubs and I don't want to pretend to
2:54
know that, but we'll have a little Look at how tombs of gone
2:57
in recent history and how they may therefore go this season.
3:03
So without any further Ado of me rambling on for no reason, let's
3:06
get on with the show. So there's no doubt that perhaps
3:56
the most exciting part of this upcoming season.
3:58
In first grade in the South Coast District Cricket
4:01
Association, is the fact that for clubs from the shoalhaven
4:06
district Cricket Association have agreed to come up and take
4:08
part in the first grade competition.
4:11
So that in itself makes for a more interesting season or
4:18
around, for everyone involved now last season in the shoulder.
4:23
They had five teams in their first, great competition and
4:26
four of those have come up. I'll Abdullah being the only
4:29
Club not to forward. A first grade team into this
4:34
joint competition and it should be pointed out that way that it
4:38
is going to be a joint first grade competition.
4:42
It will include the seven clubs from the south coast that had
4:45
their first grade teams in last season.
4:48
With only during organ gymru, not putting teams up and then
4:52
before Clubs coming up from the shoalhaven so that's 11 clubs.
4:56
My belief is that it's a full 22 rounds.
5:00
All one day games and the competition will stretch down
5:04
into probably about the first week in April, but that's a good
5:08
thing for Cricket in our district and on the south coast,
5:12
because it brings some new competition into the
5:15
competition, and hopefully some more competition for the top
5:22
teams on the south coast. Case.
5:23
Because as I mentioned earlier, it doesn't seem to have been a
5:26
lot of difference in the teams making that top four for some
5:30
time. So we can have a quick look at
5:33
the four clubs coming up and for anyone who is listening to this,
5:38
who may well be from down that way, my apologies immediately
5:42
for not, knowing more about your clubs, all your creditors
5:47
because as much as you can, look at my Cricut and you can follow
5:50
scores from down there over the years.
5:53
If you haven't played against him, then you don't really know
5:56
what it's like. So my apologies from the start.
6:00
Now I can tell you that. At the last three seasons from
6:03
down there have been much like on the south coast the 20 1920
6:08
season was abandoned at the end because of covid, both the semi
6:14
finals were a band that I've believed it was for rain that ye
6:17
and then the final was not played because of covid.
6:21
So that meant that the team that finished first as the minor
6:26
premiers, which was Barry shoalhaven heads went on to be
6:29
crowned Champions that year. Following year 2021, the semi
6:34
finals were abandoned this time for wet weather.
6:37
Again, it's amazing how that's going to play a part in the last
6:40
three seasons and probably this season and the final was played
6:45
out between X servos and North narrow Campbell wara.
6:50
Now, the X servos batted first and made 282 and then the minor
6:57
premiers North American Bora stonewalled, their way to 74.
7:01
Hundred and eighteen off ninety four overs on the second day.
7:05
And on the basis of that we rewarded the previous ship
7:08
because they were minor premiers.
7:11
So that must have been an interesting days player.
7:14
I'd love to have known what might have been said on and off
7:17
the field training that second days play.
7:20
But that's the great thing about to day Cricket is that you are
7:23
able to try and do that and try and hold on for a drawer.
7:26
If you finished further up the ladder, which is what everyone
7:29
plays for. Now we wait, Get any of that
7:32
decision with one-day Cricket, but I admire the way that the
7:37
result came about and then of course last year, when 21 22,
7:43
there was only one game that actually got a result in the
7:45
last three rounds. All the rest were washed out and
7:50
none of the semi-finals. All the final were able to be
7:53
played because of wet grounds and wet weather.
7:57
So, once again, North narrow Campbell wara were Premieres
8:01
because they finished on top of the ladder.
8:05
So having said that, if you look at the last three years we have
8:11
of the four clubs coming up. We have Bombardier who finished
8:16
third in 1920 they didn't play in the 2021 first grade
8:20
competition and they were fourth out of five teams last year.
8:25
Barry shoalhaven heads, one in 20 1920, and then of finished
8:30
third on the next two years, obviously whether not enabling
8:34
them to get a chance to getting to the finals at year.
8:39
X servos finished, fourth in 20 1920 and then finished
8:43
runners-up for past 2 years, and North narrower were fifth in the
8:48
20 1920 competition, but have been minor premiers and
8:51
therefore premieres for the past two seasons.
8:55
So, as we can see, this would, you would think on paper and
9:01
again, this is only on paper that North narrow Campbell war,
9:05
and shall have a neck servicemen's.
9:07
Should be challenging for Falls in this year's competition.
9:12
It'll be interesting to see how the other two clubs have gone
9:16
about their recruitment for this season, and, and looking to
9:19
improve on last season. And of course, we don't know in
9:22
comparison how strong those clubs are in comparison to say
9:27
the teams in the South Coast competition that haven't played
9:30
files in recent years. I know that X servos certainly
9:35
have some journeyman in their lineup.
9:37
Some that we've seen play on the south coast before for various
9:40
clubs. So it'll be interesting to see
9:42
if they turn up again for this coming season.
9:46
Jill Johnson. Now, so when it comes to the
9:58
South Coast teams, it's been a similar story for the last three
10:04
seasons in regards to how the competition is.
10:06
Panned out the 2019. See, 2019 2020 season I should
10:13
say it was halted by the covid-19.
10:16
They make much the same as shoalhaven Wars with both the
10:20
semifinals and the final being called off without any play,
10:25
which left in first grade left Lake illawarra as premieres for
10:29
the 795 time, in the last 15 seasons in 2020, 21 covid, still
10:38
hung heavy over the season and must be said but once again,
10:42
both Timmy Falls were washed out.
10:46
Out and that left like illawarra to battle with the rail in the
10:49
final. In what was the best contested
10:52
Final in a long time like made 315 in their Innings and the
11:00
rail fought all the way to get to be finally bold effort, 294.
11:06
And that was a remarkable days play that second days.
11:10
Play, When a different times, it looked like a the lake was going
11:13
to win or that the rail were a massive chance.
11:16
A chase them down and I'm sure that in those concluding moments
11:21
that like certainly had sitting on the edge of their seat, but
11:25
again, they managed to get up and win that final.
11:27
So they actually won this one rather than letting the rain
11:30
when it for them for their 795 title in the last 15 years.
11:36
The last season obviously started light it began in
11:39
November because of the covid restrictions that our Council
11:44
area had been on that. It seemed no one else in the
11:47
state had to actually put up with even though we had no covid
11:50
patients at that time. Anyway, let's not go back into
11:53
that. And, of course, fourth grade had
11:56
started in December due to covid restrictions, not allowing
12:01
anyone to play who had didn't have their double vaccinations
12:04
now, Last season. The rain was the MVP for the
12:08
season, there's no doubt about it.
12:10
First, great had a combination of one day and T20 cricket and
12:14
no.2 no.2, they Cricket at all. We're all the results when into
12:19
the final table for the Susan. Now, there was a separate
12:22
competition for the 220 competition and there was a
12:26
final held for that, but all of those games, then contributed to
12:31
where teams finished on the table in the first grade
12:33
competition, the fine. Provided somewhat of an upset
12:39
with Kaymer managing to hold off a fast finishing Lake illawarra
12:43
to win the match by a run or two runs or was it drawn
12:49
controversy, not short on controversy that last ball.
12:54
Dear idea if only people would just give the ball back to the
12:57
man at the stamps and then the game's over, isn't it?
13:00
However, sanity prevailed and Kaymer were awarded their first
13:05
four? Upgrade competition title since
13:08
1983 84 which gives them a glimpse of Hope for the coming
13:13
season and indeed there's no doubt that climber felt there a
13:17
chance of making the fall last year if they'd been able to get
13:21
on the field. But as it turns out four of
13:24
those last five rounds, we're completely washed out as were
13:28
the semi-finals and assets a final.
13:32
So this resulted in the least amount of cricket been completed
13:35
in Season, since the start of the sadc, a competition in 1946.
13:42
And another point there, she'll, Harbor and Oak Flats both had 12
13:47
draws out of the 18 rounds of cricket, so they barely got on
13:51
the paddock and, of course, by doing by finishing as minor
13:57
premiers like a Laura was awarded the first grade
13:59
Premiership and one, their 796 Premiership over the past. 15
14:06
years. So, where does that leave us for
14:10
the coming season? We've seen what has come in the
14:12
past? What can we expect in 20, 22,
14:16
23? So in looking at all the clubs
14:31
for the coming season, Let's start with the four shoalhaven
14:35
clubs and again I don't know enough about them and it's an
14:41
informed review preview so you know, absolutely completely
14:46
uninformed but I can read my Cricket.
14:49
But again, the stats for last year, of course are so lacking
14:56
because so few games were actually played but we'll go
14:59
with it anyway. So North, naira, Campbell War.
15:03
As we've said in the past three seasons, I finished fifth.
15:07
And then first and first. So there the form team coming up
15:12
from the shoalhaven. Their batting last season was
15:16
led by Justin. Well ER, Nick McDonald and Jack
15:19
sweet and the bowling was lead by Troy.
15:22
Sweet, Matt Hickman and Justin well on there, just to will also
15:26
played in the recent great greater illawarra versus
15:30
Sutherland match. Each and took 6421 of his 10
15:34
overs against subtle and, and pretty much contributed to
15:37
greater than illawarra winning that game.
15:40
So, on the past to Susan's form, you would expect that.
15:44
They would be contending for a top four spot there Susan.
15:46
And I'm sure that that's what they've set themselves up for
15:50
especially as they would feel that they probably want to be
15:54
able to prove themselves against the South Coast teens, which in
15:58
recent times as it had been too tough thing to Has it.
16:02
So I would expect that North American boar would be right up
16:06
there this season, and will be very interesting to see exactly
16:09
how they go about their work. She'll have a neck servos
16:13
parsley, three seasons of finished, fourth S, and S.
16:16
And again, always when these things, rain has played a big
16:20
part in it. Now, they're batting last season
16:23
was led by Nathan Terrell, and Chris Bramley, and the bowling.
16:28
Again, Nathan, Terrell Rocky Nunavik.
16:31
H and an old name from the last. How many years has he been
16:36
playing for 4050? Anyway, Darren O'Connell that's
16:40
still trundling around down there for X server as last
16:44
season and still getting wickets and still scoring runs.
16:48
So he's someone who will certainly know about the south
16:51
coast situation and again on the past two shortened season.
16:56
You'll have to think that they will believe that they can
16:58
compete against at Least many of the South Coast teams and so
17:04
they will obviously be setting themselves up as well, looking
17:08
to push for that finals position.
17:11
We come to bury shoalhaven heads, whose past three years
17:14
were first third and third. There batting led by Alec Dobson
17:19
Jared Mitchell and David crap, while the bowling, again, with
17:23
Dobson. And also, David, Troy, and Max
17:28
Karma, Karen. So the fact that they won it two
17:32
years ago is, at least indicative that the club is in
17:37
good shape. The fact that Obviously, Falls
17:40
haven't been played in recent times, so they haven't had an
17:43
opportunity to push from their third position to try and make a
17:47
final and then win a final. So it's difficult to say that
17:50
they're not one of those top teams.
17:52
So again, they will believe on their recent form in the past
17:56
two to three years that they can certainly have a bit of a crack
18:00
at it this year as well. And then we come to Baba Dairy
18:03
who were third three years ago. Didn't play the first grade comp
18:08
the following year and then we'll Fourth last season Curlin
18:12
Blattner was their leading batsman last year, along with
18:14
Jung Jackson, Ingram, and their bowling led by Sebastian,
18:19
Jeffrey and Ben - so, there you go.
18:24
That's that's the for shoalhaven teams.
18:26
Coming up some of the players who did well last year.
18:28
Now again, at this point in time at the as of recording, I'm not
18:32
sure if they're all still at the club's that they've been playing
18:35
for or what's going on with that.
18:38
That's the problem with doing previously.
18:39
He's with such little information and little idea of
18:42
what you're actually doing. You can only make things up as
18:45
you go along. But the fact that these four
18:47
clubs are coming into first grade this year in a combined,
18:50
first grade competition is a terrific thing and it will add
18:53
interest as we go along through 20 22 23.
19:11
Moving North now and we have, let's start.
19:15
It's just a random choice of clubs really here as I go along
19:18
and make up whatever nonsense, like an O Platts.
19:23
So Oak Flats in the last three seasons have finished fourth out
19:26
of six teams and then fourth out of seven teams.
19:29
And then last you finish 7th which It's a bit of an anomaly
19:33
as I've said before, with the rain and the fact that so many
19:36
teams were closed on points. And so, if you games can be
19:39
played at the end of the season, so they're being led last season
19:44
in stats mainly with, it's a jack Bennett and Scott mcandrew.
19:49
And of course the veteran, Ryan Chatterton who is still playing
19:53
his. He's almost in that Darren
19:54
O'Connell sort of era. He probably doesn't like me
19:59
saying that. I thought you've got some good
20:03
Juniors coming through that who've had a bit of a look at
20:05
first grade last year, you guys like Harry Cooper, the Logan
20:11
flag and the Lawler Brothers, like, and barn.
20:13
Sorry about that. And Finn is it, Finn, big age
20:17
aleph, I hope I pronounced that right if not, I apologize.
20:23
Now, In the history. Certainly over the last 25
20:27
years. Oak Flats haven't been down very
20:30
often and I certainly haven't been down for very long.
20:34
So again the positioning on the ladder last year is a bit of a
20:39
blip but they will be looking for a more consistent season in
20:44
the coming season and you would expect that if the, if the
20:47
veteran players and I use the term lightly, please don't be
20:51
offended by, but if they can keep producing salt, Has scores
20:55
and solid figures with the ball and the kids can keep improving,
21:01
then you would expect that our class will again be around the
21:05
periphery of the finals. Contention once again, as I
21:09
said, they are very rarely down for very long.
21:13
They find a way to build themselves back up again.
21:16
So numbers have struggled over the last couple of years, but
21:22
you would still think that the guys who they're the main three
21:24
or Guys, they have been there for a long time, they will
21:28
certainly be keeping the team and the other teams honest
21:33
throughout the season. If we go to Shell Harbor and the
21:38
last three seasons, they finished second at a six teams.
21:43
Three years ago. Third out of seventh two years
21:46
ago and then Fifth and seventh day on points again.
21:50
Last season. The anomaly Susan.
21:54
You look at their team and it's it's pretty strong and has been
21:59
a similar sort of player base. For some time, Alex Brown, Mitch
22:02
Watterson Ben. Mitchell was back.
22:05
Ned Taylor. And then you've still got Chris
22:08
Thompson, bow Chamberlain. They're still plying their trade
22:11
as well. But what's impressive coming
22:13
through for Shell? Harbor is the the number and the
22:16
quality of their Juniors and they're not.
22:19
All of these guys are going to be looking at first grade this
22:22
coming season. But in the next two or three
22:25
years, you can see these guys coming through, like, we've got
22:31
say the common twins. David and Jacob, who are just
22:33
terrific talents, Aiden foremost is obviously, is already played
22:37
first grade, their hunts are all cannons.
22:39
Been coming through for the last few years guys like Baxter
22:43
McDonald all the Wright brothers who are coming through Isaac K,
22:47
who's had his chance in first grade two and you would expect
22:51
would be playing more first grade, this Susan.
22:53
His brother, Lucas k, k wood, and then the younger guys like
22:57
Josh leichman and Tom Wills. The junior base is just so
23:02
strong and along with the senior players who have been there for
23:07
the last two or three years, you'd expect that she'll have a,
23:09
will be back in the thick of things.
23:10
Again, if they can get their full strength team on the field
23:15
and to perform to the ability that they have.
23:19
And as I said, their future is quite brilliant coming through
23:22
if they can Nurture the talent that's there and hold on to
23:26
them. The Cougars.
23:29
Well, the cookers will always be were relatively, I'm sorry.
23:33
I know they've rebranded and all that kind of stuff, but I can't
23:36
call them the cookers. It's where Ella always will be
23:40
the last three years. They finished fifth out of six,
23:42
sixth out of seven. And then third at a seventh last
23:45
year, which unfortunately did the no good with the washouts.
23:50
Their play bass. Again, is been dwindling, is not
23:55
the right word, but they have been struggling for numbers in
23:57
recent years. Last season.
24:00
Jake Moni and Scott. Pietschmann again, were there
24:02
leading the team Mark demmas. I showed up Josh Kaufman, has
24:07
been there for quite some time. And of course, Craig Bramble.
24:10
Who is definitely in the Darren O'Connell class when it comes to
24:12
Veterans status. The cook is lack of juniors.
24:17
In recent years, has probably been a Problem in topping up
24:20
their player numbers and getting numbers through into the top
24:24
grade. But through sheer force of, will
24:27
they continue to be competitive and even though they finished
24:32
third last season, You expect that they will probably need to
24:35
find wins this season where rain provided draws last season.
24:41
Well no, we know better sorry then to ever write them off,
24:48
especially those who played in my generation 160 years ago.
24:52
You just knew that you could that we really could come back
24:54
from any any point in the table, any point of a match and they
24:58
could still win it. You have to think that probably
25:02
mid-table appears, their best case scenario this stage.
25:06
But of course, I've been proven so many proven wrong.
25:09
So many times in my life, that I wouldn't be surprised if I'm
25:12
wrong again. The rail has been probably this
25:20
the second best club running around for the last few years.
25:22
They finished third three years ago second two years ago and
25:26
second again last season. But they players have been there
25:31
for a long time and they've been building up for some time Jared
25:34
colas Haden Church Kieran and Brett Gilly.
25:39
They've got young Jeremy Fanning coming through.
25:41
Team Goodall's been there for some time, Dylan.
25:43
Ray and Zach Huffman last you to was good with the ball.
25:49
So they've been the bridesmaids for most of the last five to six
25:52
seasons. And their first grade Squad is
25:55
one of the most experienced and well equipped of all the 11
25:58
teams in the competition. And they will absolutely believe
26:02
that all things being equal that this is their season to break
26:06
that Premiership drought. And I'm sure that they will be
26:10
telling themselves that this year, that this is the year that
26:15
they've been so close in recent years that if they can get on
26:19
the field, if we can get on the field for the whole season that
26:22
they can break this Premiership trap.
26:26
They appear almost certain semi-finals and that's a very
26:31
dangerous thing to say. But out of all the other clubs
26:36
in the comp days appear, one of the two or three who are really
26:39
best to quit to try and win the competition this year, unless
26:43
something goes completely belly-up.
26:47
That out of Long Island but he needs to be 25 seats back.
26:54
I don't know about you, but surely, everyone is sick to
26:59
death of like bloody illawarra winning every bloody ye So I
27:06
wants. Okay, but despite that it's spot
27:11
that it doesn't mean that you can't admire the club who is
27:16
able to stay on top for as long as they haven't been able to
27:20
continually recycle players and bring players in and up and down
27:26
grades as well. In order to stay as successful
27:30
as they have. And even saying that in a first
27:34
grade composite Absolutely doesn't possess the same sort of
27:39
strength that it did 20 years ago across the board.
27:43
When there were so many clubs like five or six clubs who are
27:47
constantly competitive with each other, and we don't have that in
27:50
our competition and haven't had that for some time, but that
27:54
doesn't negate how terrific the lake illawarra clubbers.
27:58
Be over football. Just let's say the last decade
28:02
and it's probably longer. But certainly in the last
28:05
decade, Naming what that mean flies from?
28:11
Like, it seems Superfluous because everyone contributes
28:14
every year and that's one of the best parts of their Club is that
28:17
if the top order fails, then down the bottom, they're able to
28:22
find runs. If the bowl is, can't take
28:25
wickets someone comes on who might and Bowl as much as they
28:28
used to anymore and they're able to Jag two or three wickets and
28:31
that's been well in my view the secret of their success.
28:37
Will the loss of Brendan and Cara, Dwight hurt them this
28:40
year? Well, we all know that Brendan
28:42
is obviously faked a broken leg in order to give himself a rest
28:48
at the start of the season. I think, and try and take the
28:51
pressure off himself from everyone saying that you get to
28:54
play another year. You going to play another, you I
28:58
don't think there's any doubt that both of these players will
29:01
somehow, whatever the qualifications are will find a
29:04
way to make sure that they qualify to play.
29:08
First grade finals this season just on the off chance that they
29:13
may be needed or that they just want to again for another year.
29:20
I like again that have a really good junior Bass coming through
29:24
Michigan. State new has been outstanding
29:26
as a legs being prospect over the last couple of years and his
29:30
rise through representing me Cricket is been Swift and
29:35
successful, but they also have lots of young kids coming
29:38
through who again, may not play first grade this year, but will
29:42
certainly play a higher grade cricket and will come through in
29:44
the next two years guys. Like Jay and Robinson, Jared
29:48
white know, 01. McWilliams Jackson Taylor.
29:51
Jacob can standard all of them are terrific, young kids.
29:56
So the fact that they have such long serving senior members who
30:01
carry on playing in second grade, and third grade who get
30:04
to bring these kids through and teach them the lake illawarra
30:08
Cricket. Way has been a terrific benefit
30:11
for their club. And I think these kids are going
30:14
to be a key component going forward as to regenerating like
30:18
a law. Laura success.
30:20
Now can they do it again? Can they be first again?
30:24
Well, I'm already hearing the cries from across the lake at
30:26
them. Screaming at me, say, of course,
30:28
we bloody will win all four grades again.
30:31
Yeah. Well, Some time or another, you
30:34
have to fall off the pedestal, don't you?
30:37
But that depends on two things that depends on your opponent's,
30:41
increasing their strength and ability to beat you and also for
30:45
you to drop in intensity and allow other terms of chance.
30:50
I don't think the second part is going to happen the first part
30:55
met but certainly, I don't think like a Laura will drop in
30:58
intensity in any way shape or form and they will once again be
31:03
one of these main teams again this season, if not the outright
31:06
favorite when we start this weekend,
31:21
That leaves two clubs left and they are the two clubs that I
31:24
have a small slight involvement in.
31:26
So I've left them to last to avoid trying to see and biased
31:31
in any way shape or form, which will obviously completely fail.
31:38
Our being part have been back in first grade for the past three
31:42
seasons. They did the right thing by the
31:44
club in game back in the first grade even though to in order to
31:49
try and keep Young Juniors, who would have left the club if they
31:53
didn't have a first grade team to go up into?
31:56
And as a result, they have built over the last three years.
31:59
That was 6 out of 6 in that first year.
32:02
They were seventh out of seventh the next year, but finished
32:06
fourth out of seventh last year and of course, were denied that
32:09
semi final Opportunity by the rain.
32:12
But the fact is the club, the certainly the players improved
32:18
every year and especially the kids whose Improvement actually
32:22
improve the performance of the club and the first grade team,
32:27
it's been led by senior players like, Cain, Grove, Tom Wilson,
32:32
the indefatigable, Matt Burns and young Eddie Meyers, as well
32:37
as come along as well. The three main young kids that
32:41
the club has had who came through that first grade team in
32:44
the past three seasons, Kobe Ross, Zane Mitchell and Cooper
32:48
Hayes for different. Reasons are all not at the club
32:52
this season, which is both disappointing, but also good for
32:58
their Cricket. Kobe of course, has moved on to
33:01
Sutherland, Zane's moved on to bankstown which is terrific for
33:05
their careers and justifies our impacts decision to Back in the
33:09
first grade to enable them to play first grade Cricket for
33:14
their club before they needed to move away because their talent
33:18
outgrew, the South Coast District competition.
33:22
So this season will be difficult, we'll have Logan,
33:28
Coombs again, will be playing first grade.
33:30
There's another young good kid Coogan Campion will be more
33:33
pressure on him to school runs this year and not get dropped
33:36
seven times in one Innings while making those runs.
33:40
But that was the thing, all the hard work from the last three
33:42
seasons, culminated. In that top four finish last
33:45
season. The loss of those three main
33:49
kids that brought the success, probably brings the Eagles back,
33:54
a foot again, and we'll make this season, not a rebuild and
33:59
not a rebuilding, but certainly going to make it more difficult
34:02
to find victories where without those players in their team.
34:08
But having park again, like, she'll Harbor and like, Laura
34:12
have quite an amazing Junior base at the moment.
34:15
And those kids again, may not play first grade this year.
34:20
But over the next two to three years, they will be the ones who
34:22
will flood into first grade again.
34:25
And of course, Khan and Barton is one who will probably fight
34:29
play first grade this year. He's done his time over the last
34:32
two years, through third grade, and second grade.
34:35
But he's also got his brother Casey.
34:38
Who has been terrific? And then we have lots of
34:42
campaigns and and Scofield's and all these kind of kids coming
34:47
through, who are going to make their Mark and without naming
34:50
them. Because I don't want to put any
34:52
pressure on them, but they will be playing third, grade second
34:55
grade this year and that would be great for the club.
34:58
So again, for Albion Park, as much as they would like to be a
35:03
shoo-in for first grade finals this season.
35:07
It looks like on the surface that it will be, every win will
35:11
be one that will be celebrated. And then we come to Kiama now,
35:17
comrade, over the last three seasons.
35:20
Well, it's only been the last two because they were at a first
35:22
grade for Four Seasons. So, three years ago, they didn't
35:26
have the team in first grade they came back into first grade,
35:29
two years ago. Finished fifth out of seventh
35:32
and last year, finished Sixth, and a seventh.
35:35
And one, as we mentioned earlier, the T20 competition in
35:38
first grade Now, both those Seasons, they had opportunities
35:43
to play final. Certainly two years ago, they
35:45
played Album Park and a Flats in the final two rounds.
35:49
And only had to win one of those games to get into the top four
35:53
and they drew both of them, which was disappointing that the
35:58
time. And last year, again, had a
36:01
similar situation where they needed to win two out of their
36:04
last three. And of course, all three rounds
36:06
were washed out. In since they returned, I've
36:10
been led by the veteran class, draw a heart growing, Nathan
36:14
bar, Dan Riley, in particular. They've also had terrific young
36:20
kids coming through, like William mackerel.
36:23
We had Norris's coming out of our noses, both old and young to
36:29
come and play first great for the team.
36:33
So and we had a full for one year, Zach, Parker, and the
36:37
Apparently is back this this year and they're big thing.
36:42
This year is the return of Del PSI Fleet who although being
36:46
old. And I love say that about you
36:48
Dale. He's still a high quality
36:52
player, who will add to this kind of team.
36:54
Now there are other players who have been Whispers of playing
36:58
again this year for climber, but I've not delved into whether
37:02
they are actually playing or not, if they come back in, then
37:05
the team will be much improved for them.
37:08
Returning to playing for the Cavs.
37:12
But if they're going to play finals if chimeras going to play
37:14
Falls in first grade then realistically, this is their
37:17
season, the team has been building.
37:20
And as I said, if all the players who have been playing
37:25
more or less as part-time as the last couple of years actually
37:28
commit to playing the full season, then the comet team that
37:32
would get on the paddock is capable of playing files this
37:35
season, and they need to be able to Certainly be not only aiming
37:39
for that, but I need to get Beyond a semi final position.
37:44
As I said, past two seasons, if they one final one final games,
37:48
they would have played semi-finals, they can't leave
37:51
that in the back this time. They need to get out there.
37:54
And not only get a good start to the season and get wins on the
37:57
board straight away. But fight hard to not.
38:01
Have to put themselves in a position where they're trying to
38:03
win the last round of the second last round.
38:06
The do it. And I say that this is their
38:08
year, not necessarily because most of their players are old
38:12
Crocks. We certainly have hopefully see,
38:16
black mackerel play first grade this year, who is a terrific
38:19
young Talent, perhaps, even the possibility of a young Darcy
38:23
Norris. Let's get another Norris in the
38:24
first grade. I mean, there's already 17 of
38:26
them, so let's get another one up there.
38:29
The playing Talent at Kiama old and young is good enough to play
38:34
finals and hopefully this Reason, they've all got their
38:38
mind set on that, which means getting out on the paddock and
38:44
not taking a backward step. So, I don't know if this ends up
38:57
being a preview or just rambling, it's definitely a
39:01
rambling, there's no doubt about that.
39:04
So whether anyone who actually listen to this, got anything out
39:06
of it, I don't know. However, if I was a betting man,
39:12
ha ha ha go put that form got away if I was looking, this
39:18
Susan as two teams, it would be challenging for finals.
39:22
Thank you. I find Lake illawarra and the
39:24
rail will be up there. I believe she'll Harbor will be
39:29
up there. Again, looking to force their
39:32
way in. I'm going to say chi Emma and I
39:37
think that certainly North narrow Campbell Laura will be
39:41
one of the other times and that's that's five teams.
39:43
They're out of the 11 who will be fighting for a top four spot.
39:49
How, right. Am I the answer to that?
39:52
Is I am not writing. All in fact, I am most likely
39:55
extraordinarily role because that's generally what I am.
39:59
But this has been a fun process for me.
40:01
Looking over Dean starting to the season, I've probably put a
40:06
lot of people off side. We'll probably not because no
40:09
one's actually going to listen to this.
40:10
So that's not really a problem. But if anyone is listen to it, I
40:13
was probably going to put people off.
40:14
So I with how they think, how I've said that, I think their
40:17
Club will go this year. Well, it's not a dig at clubs,
40:20
it's just a matter of looking at where the strengths and
40:23
weaknesses. Weaknesses are for each club and
40:24
trying to decide just how will they will go?
40:28
I hope I'm wrong about our being Park.
40:32
But anyway, look looking forward to the season.
40:36
I hope everybody's got their bats out.
40:38
Got the, the bat soiled and the whitewashed the pads.
40:43
Although you can't do that. This universe great, Kenya, it's
40:45
all colors. So probably don't whitewash.
40:48
Your pads are else. Now want to be able to give out
40:50
an old BW. Best of luck to all teams this
40:54
season. Let's hope that we don't get
40:57
stuck with the rain. Let's hope that we can play all
40:59
of our rounds in beautiful Australian Sunshine.
41:03
Let's hope that the runs are plentiful.
41:06
The wickets are many that the beer after the game is cold.
41:10
Thanks for tuning in and I hope that anybody who's new to this
41:13
podcast and is listen to my crap.
41:15
Here may tuning in for another episode.
41:17
Sometime down the track on thoughts, from the middle cabin.
41:23
The thing outside edge, tell your story, walking pal,
41:26
Australia, right on top of the, I love them all.
41:28
Want to book them, get them up here.
41:31
You have been listening to a metal, Kevin production.
41:23
The thing outside edge, tell your story, walking pal,
41:26
Australia, right on top of the, I love them all.
41:28
Want to book them, get them up here.
41:31
You have been listening to a metal, Kevin production.