IT’S an unusually cool February evening on the Great Ocean Road but the sound of willow on leather is ringing through Nirranda Recreation Reserve.
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Although it has endured tough results and is anchored to the cellar of the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association ladder, enthusiasm isn’t hard to come by as Nirranda pushes through its second-last session of the season.
Jason Mungean runs a tight ship as head coach.
He orders players through as intensity reaches its pinnacle, and pauses for one-on-one dialogue with his young charges between changeovers in the nets.
Slowly, but surely, each of the Knights’ division one and three players have put the pads on and the scent of fish and chips can almost be felt wafting from the club’s function rooms.
Before they can leave, however, Mungean positions club president Mick Walsh in the nets, complete with protective gear and a bat for throw-downs and asks each of his players to watch the scenario carefully.
Walsh, a farmer who has suited up to play division three seven times this season, prods the leather ball away, without chasing wide deliveries or skying any in the wrong spot.
Mungean, like he has many times before, explains the need for the players to protect their wicket and challenges each player to continue their development against East Warrnambool on Saturday afternoon.
“The most pleasing thing is that each player has stood up for us a different point in the year,” Mungean says.
“(Developing juniors) was something we decided to do. These kids are the best recruits you could have. We’re building that base so that down the track hopefully we can buy in one or two.”
Walsh believes the signs at the country club are positive, given the young team’s ability to push the sides and players many years its senior.
“We’ve managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory a lot this year,” he laughs.
“But you’re always going to get that with the kids. They’re a great group of mates and coming up through the under 17s together, they are fairly tight.
“Now that we have the turf pitch down in Port Campbell and the new nets out here there’s really a great opportunity for these kids to develop.”
For Bailey Brooks, crossing to Nirranda from Merrivale Oval has proved to be a perfect fit.
The 17-year-old is taking a role as an opening bowler in his stride and is enjoying a 16-wicket season across both division one and under 17s.
“I played country week under Munge and he offered me the chance to come out here and to open the bowling,” Brooks tells The Standard.
“Jason has been helping me out with my a bowling a lot. If I get a bit aggravated, he comes in and will tell me to take a few deep breaths.”
Just a stone’s throw from North Warrnambool, Woodford is pushing its boundaries in a sweaty training session.
Led by captain Nick Butters and playing coach John Houston, the men steaming in to bowl in were, for the most part, brought up in the neighbouring suburbs of Woodford and Bushfield.
It’s a common sight for Woodford. Houston, an experienced coach with stints independently and via Dennington, knows how to bring out the best in players coming through the ranks.
He understands the development the club had invested in its juniors early on was largely responsible for the Eels’ double premiership success in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
“We’ve been lucky, in some ways, to keep our guys together. But it’s more than that. It’s about empowering the young people to want to succeed at the club,” Houston says.
“People have different views on what makes a club better or successful and my philosophy and certainly Woodford’s philosophy is to bring through the juniors to develop a good grounding for them.
“I know players move on for school and whatever else but I think they get a certain ownership of the club if they’ve come through.
“It’s about developing them and making them feel part of a successful club.”
Houston says he understands why clubs bring in overseas players but is personally in favour of developing youth as an alternative.
“I guess one of my pet hates is the concept of overseas players. I fail to see what it brings, long-term, to clubs,” he says.
“I can understand why clubs do it but the benefit you can get out of developing juniors and giving them opportunities is massive.
“There are a lot of talented kids playing in the competition and if overseas players are filling those roles, I don’t think its as sustainable as putting the faith in your juniors.
“For the league, too, it’s got to be better to develop our talent and to get the talented juniors playing division one cricket. Hopefully in the future we won’t need as many imports to make the competition stronger.”