Panthers leggie Hayden McGovern to keep rivals on toes at under 17 country week

The West Warrnambool leggie wants to keep working on his suite of deliveries for Warrnambool Gold at under 17 country week from January 3. McGovern will play under Panthers mentor Alastair Templeton and teammate Fletcher Cozens in a talent-packed side and is keen to add another badge to an already momentous campaign.

The 15-year-old was handed a division one cap on the back of impressive division two form and is working to hone his craft further on the training track.

"I've been looking to work at a bit of everything. Being a spinner, those variations are important and my batting needs that bit of work too," he said.

"If you keep working hard it'll come. I've been bowling well but I probably still need to keep those variations going. I've just started to get a few more going. I used a wrongun in a match the other day and got someone with it so that was beautiful. It came out really well which was good."

McGovern said country week was no place for complacency. He said while his side was jam-packed with talent, researching opposition was near impossible.

"You can't really study any other players unless you know them or you've played with them before," he said.

"It's difficult to see other players but it's a good challenge and really run.

"Last year I went to under 15s country week and there were three or four really good teams and Wimmera Mallee came from nowhere and nearly beat us in the grand final. You just can't underestimate anyone because if you do you're probably going to get beaten."

SQUADS:

Warrnambool Gold

Flynn Wilkinson, Harry Schrama, Noah Greene, Noah Dawson, Blake Rouse, Will Colla, Tyson Hales-Morton, Hayden McGovern, Mitch Lloyd, Ryan Lucas, Ryan Bellman, Flynn Gleeson

Warrnambool Blue

Hugh Fleming, Tom Powell, Joe Douglas, Blake Mottram, Darcy Bourke, Sam Slattery, Jesse Mahoney-Gilchrist, Will McConnell, Charlie Noonan, Ryan Barnes, Aiden Forsyth , Isaac Wilson

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