A SOUTH West club hopes a partnership with a Victorian Premier Cricket outfit will have far-reaching benefits.
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Heytesbury Rebels will work with Essendon-Maribyrnong Park - the oldest female cricket club in the world - to provide specialised coaching for VPC players in the Western District.
It stems from Port Campbell-based teenager Milly Illingworth progressing through the ranks at the Rebels to become a division one fast bowler for Essendon-Maribyrnong Park.
Illingworth, who plays in the division two men's competition for the Rebels on Saturdays before scooting to Melbourne to take her place in EMP's first XI on Sundays, completes the bulk of her training at the Timboon-based club.
Heytesbury Rebels coach Simon Harkness, who also works with the Geelong women's team, said while the partnership was in its infancy, it had the potential to expand and help numerous cricketers across the region.
"Girls have the option to train with us and as a coach I'll get sent some cool resources and possibly opportunities to learn off Essendon coaches," he said.
Harkness - using Illingworth as an example - wants to provide individualised training for country-based players competing in the metropolitan VPC.
"It is a logistical thing because they (EMP) want the best out of Milly and we want the best for Milly," he said.
"It will evolve, it's very fresh to me, but we'll get some stuff she needs to work on for them and we'll put it into practice here.
"We have game plans we work on as senior cricketers but it might not pertain to what Milly is doing.
"Milly bowls quite quick for her age and in women's cricket she's quite quick and me teaching her to bowl line and length doesn't necessarily work for what they want and her future."
Harkness said it was a chance for him to build his coaching nous too.
"It is only going to be positive, from a selfish point of view for me, because it's going to improve my coaching and give me access to more resources and be a good challenge because you've got different players and have to adjust to it," he said.
"At club level you might give five or six guys across 30 who want to improve their cricket whereas if these girls are coming to training, they really want to improve their cricket and will step up their training a bit."
Rebels president Michael Vogels is excited about where the partnership could lead.
"We don't care where you play; you're welcome to train with us," he said.
"The door is open. EMP and the Rebels are on the same path, we want to produce elite cricketers.
"EMP has produced eight Australian players, two Australian captains and numerous state and international cricketers - they know what they're doing."
Essendon-Maribyrnong Park coach George Shaw knows the importance of developing country players.
Mortlake's Georgia Wareham - a regular in the Australian team - is a part of the club.
"EMP have seen the talent coming out of the south west and we're keen to get a strong foothold. This is very exciting for everyone, this hasn't been done before," she said.