BHBR season preview: Creswick confident of improving on last season's efforts

Last season, Creswick finished 42 points behind fourth-placed Ballarat and were -29 shots, too.

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It is a decent jump to make, however, one that will be made a lot easier with a strong start to the campaign.

It is hard to take much from the end of the previous season into a new one, it has been nearly eight months, after all.

However, Creswick did finish its 2020-21 campaign on a high, ending Linton's finals hopes with a 57 (12) - 52 (4) win.

Two weeks before it, Creswick challenged eventual minor premiers BMS to lose 55 (1) - 64 (15).

Considering the strength of BMS last season, this competitiveness with the ladder leaders should instill some confidence in Creswick as a new season approaches.

If any of that form can be taken into this campaign, then Creswick stand every chance of starting on a high and making finals spots competitive come the latter stages of the season.

It will get a chance to do so in the opening round against the side it beat in the final fixture last season, Linton.

Considering most pundits expectation that Linton would be the most improved side this upcoming season, a win for Creswick would be an ideal start to its campaign.

Ahead of the season start date, which is now just a little over two weeks away, The Courier caught up with club president Gerry Flapper to chat about the campaign ahead, how the side is shaping up and expectations for the season.

A - We have been very strict at Creswick to make sure everyone is doing the right thing. Where possible, we have been able to bowl, but not in the sense of true Pennant practice in our teams.

A - Everyone I have spoken to want the season to start and to get back to some sort of normality.

A - At this stage, we have the same side as last year but they will be in different combinations.

A - Being a small country club in the Premier division, every game is important to us and we look forward to playing every side.

A - It is hard to say, but I have always liked Linton. If they have recruited over the (off)-season, they will be hard to beat.

A - We definitely are (confident), our younger players have more experience and we all look forward to seeing their progress.

A - Of course it is, every club wants to win their first game to set the season up, so it'll be interesting to see. I think we play Linton first up, so it'll be interesting to see how they've improved and whether our combinations can match it with them.

A - We have not been together to try anything new, so we will see as the season progresses.

Ladder position: Sixth

Record: -29 shots, 99 points

2020-21 final round result: defeated Linton 57 (12) - 52 (4)

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