However, a commitment to find dangerous areas with the ball has the new Panther reaping the rewards as his club’s most potent paceman.

Hoy is in a purple patch of form, snaring figures of 6-48 over the last month of competition in the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association.

Alongside English spinner Jack Mills, Hoy is the Panthers’ leading wicket taker since crossing from Wesley-CBC at the end of last season.

“I’m really good friends with Benny Threlfall, Will Templeton and even Youley (Ryan Youl), and that was the main reason I wanted to cross over to West,” he told The Standard.

“I’m really loving it at the club, and there is such a good atmosphere around the place. It’s a young club, but it’s a club that wants to win. I’m loving my time there.

“It’s serious, but it’s not too serious. We can have a laugh. We’re training twice a week but cricket is a more social game than football.”

Hoy’s team, coached by Alastair Templeton, is defending a total of 125 at Dennington on Saturday.

Although he is expected to be a key component in West’s bowling attack against the Dogs, the 20-year-old is simply focused on bowling consistently.

“I just want to hit my spots, I don’t do anything too out of the ordinary. I just need to find the areas,” Hoy said.

“Especially down here, the decks (pitches) do enough for you. It’s a bit different to up in Melbourne where you’re playing on flat tracks everywhere.

“It’s handy for bowling though and gives us a good chance.”

The Federation University physical education student said while his keep was earned primarily with the ball, he still devoted time to his batting game.

“I try to even it out a little bit (how much time is spent on batting and bowling). I do try to get as many hits in as possible. Some days with the bat it will come off, and others it won’t,” he said.

“I’m not a big stroke maker by any means, I just work the ball around as much as I can and try to contribute with a score. I’ve been batting at number five and if I can contribute a 30 here and there, it helps.”

Elsewhere, Port Fairy will attempt to outright defeat East Warrnambool after the Pirates carved out a memorable victory last Saturday.

A Corey Couch half century has Nirranda in the box seat against Merrivale at the Port Campbell Recreation Reserve.

Brierly-Christ Church have an almost insurmountable task, chasing a season-high total of 320 against Russells Creek at Jetty Flat.

Geoff Williams and Brett Eldridge will resume Nestles’ chase of Wesley-CBC’s 127 on Saturday.