“We’ve got a flag in our sights.”
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First-year VRI Delacombe Cricket Club playing-coach Jarrod Burns is not mincing his words when it comes to the club’s 2016-17 aspirations.
The club has had an influx of players come on-board over the off-season with 12 players joining from the struggling Amphitheatre Cricket Club where Burns has previously played.
Last year the club finished on top of the Ballarat Cricket Association second grade ladder but was bundled out by a strong Ballarat-Redan outfit in a do-or-die first versus fourth final.
Burns said the club was again aiming to finish on top and would be bolstered by it’s new-found depth which will allow it to field a second two-day team – something it has not had in previous years.
And he was hopeful a triumphant season would have it on track for its long-term vision of entering the BCA’s top grade.
“We’re looking to finish as high as we did last year and take it two steps further,” Burns said.
“Our biggest goal as a club is we want VRI to be pushing into the BCA first grade over the next two to three years.
“We’ve got our eyes on a pretty good result this year – we’ve got the flag in our sights.
“I think over the last three years or so they’ve just been comfortable with where they’re at but now I think that’s changed.”
We’ve got our eyes on a pretty good result this year - we’ve got the flag in our sights.
- Coach Jarrod Burns
VRI Delacombe has also gained the services of former Brown Hill off-spinner Jacob Branch. Burns expects Branch to be a quality addition to its first XI.
And while many of the recruits would strengthen the lower grades, he was excited to work with what he viewed as a talented young crop and was pleased to surround the group with some experienced heads.
“It’s a young group which is exciting.
“I think the biggest difference this year is they haven’t had a coach for a few years and hopefully now having a coach there and a few of the guys who are coming across are a little older.
“There’s a bit more guidance, (it gives) a bit more confidence to the younger guys as well.”
VRI Delacombe kick off its 2016-17 season against Napoleons-Sebastopol, a former club of Branch, on October eight in a two-day clash.