Nestles unveils new leadership team as Jacob Hetherington takes on division one captaincy

Factory has appointed Jacob Hetherington as skipper, replacing veteran batsman Geoff Williams in the top job.

Alex Strauch will continue as senior coach.

Hetherington, a talented all-rounder, rose through the junior ranks at the Reid Oval-based club before earning a division one debut in 2014.

The photography student told The Standard he was proud to take on the role and hoped to steer the club back to finals cricket.

"Throughout the pre-season there was a bit of talk of finding a new captain as 'Wiz' (Williams) has done it for a few years," he said.

"He's done a good job but he's putting his life together now with a kid.

"It was time for someone else to step up and I put my hand up."

'Chook' - as Hetherington is affectionately known - said starting in the role with a strong support network was "the perfect introduction".

"Alex and I have both said we're pretty keen for the season. We get along pretty well on-field as well as off-field," Hetherington said.

"It'll be pretty exciting to learn from what experience he has. I've just got to build up my cricket and leadership qualities."

The tactical side of captaincy interested Hetherington, but he conceded he would continue to learn as he grew into the role.

"I do like it. There's still a lot to learn and playing Melbourne Country Week with some of the best players you're exposed to a lot of different tactics and it's about observing them and bringing them in," he said.

But for now, it's the full rise through the ranks. Hetherington started at the Reid Oval-based club as a Milo Cricket participant, rose to be a junior premiership skipper, and then a senior club champion.

"I always thought it'd be pretty cool to play division one," he said.

"The captaincy wasn't on my mind too much (growing up) but I've started to take on a leadership role a bit more in the past few years."

"We'll see how things unfold and where we can continue working on things. It'll be good with Alex and Wiz still there, it won't just be my leadership and (input)."

Hetherington blasted 322 runs - including a century against Merrivale - this past season while snaring 17 wickets at an average of 19.9.

Nestles finished ninth overall this past summer as struggled with the bat. It still managed five victories but is desperate for improvement in 2021-22.

Nestles president Gary MacLean said Hetherington was "highly respected" at the club and forecast a successful captaincy.

"He's a past club champion, junior premiership captain and he leads from the front with both bat and ball," Maclean said.

"He brings a fresh new look to our playing group.

"Alex is now in his third season as playing coach and we think he knows what's required to take us back to finals cricket."

MacLean was reappointed president at the club's annual general meeting while Luke Cann was elected vice president.

Garry Price will be Factory's secretary while Bill Hannah will take the reins as treasurer.

The Warrnambool and District Cricket Association will unveil its fixture and format in coming weeks.

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