The first-year leader believes Creek’s depth and proactive mindset will help it in its first Warrnambool and District Cricket Association two-day grand final this weekend.

“The club, committee and coaching staff let me do my thing on a Saturday and sometimes it’s attacking or risky but the players are backing me,” he said.

Williams, 24, said Woodford, striving for its third straight flag, would provide a stern challenge at Reid Oval, saying “whoever gets into rhythm first” would be in the box seat.

The former Nestles wicketkeeper said Creek was laden with match-winners, including all-rounder Jimmy Elford and bowler Matt Petherick. 

“Our lower order – Josh Campbell and Jayaweera Bandara – has batted really well the past two months and put on an extra 60 or 70 runs each week to give us a good total,” he said.

Eels skipper Nick Butters said teenager Alex Jennings, the returning Tom Batten and recruit Jason Fowler were chasing their first top-grade flags with the club.

“Alex at the start of the year was our third spinner but now he’s definitely our number one spinner and a good bat,” he said.

Butters, who will spend the Australian winter playing cricket in England, said captaining the Eels was an honour.

“It’s a pretty easy gig because there are a lot of leaders in the team,” he said.

“I was pretty lucky to inherit the team that I did.”