NEW Wangoom Cricket Club coach Kevin Bond says this summer will set the foundations for the Roosters as they return to the top grade after a season away.
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Wangoom’s lack of experienced players last season saw it drop its A grade side, but a stellar summer ending with the B grade premiership paved the way for a top-grade return.
Now, Bond hopes to see the core group of players start to build towards strong form against the best opposition.
“They’re obviously seasoned – they won a B grade grand final,” he said.
“They’re sticking together. There’s some standout players there.
“They’ve been together for a while now. There’s a few in their mid-20s, which is handy.
“Some of the older guys might stay in B grade, but that gives us a chance to recruit some players and bring the younger ones up.”
Bond said he was excited to take on the position, given the strength of the administration at the club and the quality of its facilities.
He comes to the club with a wealth of coaching, umpiring and playing experience – having played upwards of 250 games in the Warrnambool and District league across stints at Dennington, Russells Creek, West Warrnambool and Allansford.
He was also involved in junior coaching at Russells Creek from 2007-2013 as assistant and head coach.
Although Bond is contracted to Wangoom on a year-to-year basis, he and the club are working towards a three-to-five year plan to see the Roosters become an A grade force.
Last summer’s captain-coach Nick Kermond will be able to take a step back and focus purely on playing, while more juniors are looking at establishing themselves in senior ranks.
Wangoom club president Peter Melican said three of the club’s 18-year-olds had spent most of last summer playing for the B grade side and would look to carry their development through.
“I think if we all stick together, we’re a really good chance of being competitive,” he said.
The club has also started casting out the net as it looks for recruits to bolster its list.
Melican said the Roosters had been keen to bring in someone from outside the club to bring in external experience and help with the development of the younger players.
“We needed someone just as a coach, not as a playing coach … which frees him (Bond) up for putting time into younger fellas,” Melican said.