The Hawkesdale-based cricketer, who is still aligned with Warrnambool and District Cricket Association outfit West Warrnambool, will commute to Geelong to kick-start his Victorian Premier Cricket career this summer.

Cozens, one of the south-west's brightest prospects, will follow in the footsteps of Warrnambool cricket exports Tommy Jackson and Brody Couch in pursuing the step up.

"I suppose it's probably the best time to pursue it now I have a bit of maturity," he said.

"I thought in going to Geelong the travel isn't as full on as going to a Melbourne club, as you're that hour west, and there's a few blokes I know down there.

"I still don't have my license obviously and we're on the farm with mum and dad so that makes the commuting a bit hard."

The 17-year-old, who has dislocated his shoulder twice through footy commitments in 2021, said he was now raring to go for cricket.

Cozens said he'd divide pre-season between West Warrnambool and Geelong in a bid to hit the ground running.

He said the quality of coaching at Davidson Oval - led through Alastair Templeton - meant it was a suitable arrangement.

"Al's been massive for my career so far," Cozens said.

"He's helped me a lot and has been really knowledgeable. It'll be good to go down there and get a bit of a taste for premier cricket and hopefully play some games at West too.

"I'll probably look to play (at Geelong) full time from next season."

While Cozens contributed heavily with bat and ball this past season, the all-rounder said he'd hone his craft as a batsman long-term.

He blasted 320 runs at an average of 18.8 and snared 21 wickets in the most recent Warrnambool and District Cricket Association season.

Those division one numbers complemented 453 runs and eight wickets at under 17 level in a campaign which helped West Warrnambool snare the colts premiership.

"Melbourne pitches are probably not as suited to medium-pace bowling," he said.

"Warrnambool has a few more green tops which do a bit and probably suit the slower stuff.

"Medium-pace down there isn't as much of a factor. You'd have to be pretty spot on every ball or you'd get put away, I reckon."

Cozens, who also plays for Hawkesdale-Macarthur in the Mininera and District league, said his enthusiasm for cricket was at an all-time high.

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