CRICKETERS around the district are counting down the days until their season start, with just 11 days before the new Gisborne District Cricket Association season.
New Kilmore Cricket Club coach Shaun Suttie is one of those eagerly counting down the days before he can unleash his plans on the Johnstone Shield competition in 2025/26, hoping to change the club’s fortunes and get it back into the top four after narrowly missing out last season.
Suttie says that growth will be driven by the club’s recent under 17 premiership players.
“We have done a fair bit of indoor training through pre-season. The numbers have been relatively good,” he said.
“I’m expecting a finals berth, and to build from there.
“Our under 17s won the premiership last year, so we do have some good talent there, and it is about bringing them through and getting them to earn their spot, but on the same token, the senior players in general will have a role to bring them through and set up the future for the club.”
One of those senior players who will take on a key role is Elliot Frendo, who has taken on the role of being the club’s under 17 coach this season as the club continues to drive a youth-led revolution.
“Elliot is a leader when it comes to our bowlers,” Suttie said.
“We have a young bowling attack, and he’s been really good working with them in the nets.
“I spoke to him about that leadership role, and he’s well and truly up for it. He’s stepping up to the plate and he’s been really good. If we had four or five of him to pick from, we’d be a lucky club.”
Suttie is honest about where he wants Kilmore to improve this season.
Having scored above 150 runs just four times last season, Suttie says batting is a clear focus for the club going into the new season.
“We need to get better as a batting side; there was too many collapses last season. There’s an emphasis on batting our overs and respecting our wicket. That’s the biggest thing. We have a good young bowling attack, improvement on the field is also a big one we have to work on,” he said.
“Off the field, we have a five-year plan in place, and it looks promising off the field and just as promising on it. There’s more structure to training net-wise and fielding-wise.”
A new-look first XI will take to the park, with recent returnees and the club’s youth replacing the club’s outs.
“We have lost first XI players from last year. Jacob Bourke was our leg spinner, Cam Bryant is doing a year in the army, and he’s a promising young kid, so he’s a loss,” Suttie said.
“We’ve had Rhys Quinert come back, and he played in our 2012/13 flag. He’ll be a great inclusion and a senior player who’ll help with the kids. We have a few new guys who will probably play twos and threes, but the door is always open. It’s a results-driven business.
“We also have a young kid from Wallan who has decided to come to Kilmore as a local, Riley Callaghan.”
Suttie said a practice match against Keilor Park, and a recent session on the ground on Sunday, helped keep players on their toes.
“We had a bit of a hitout on Sunday to get some time out on the ground, and we wanted younger players and senior players out there,” he said.
“You can do net sessions all you want, but you need to get out there and field for 25-30 overs.
“We had a practice match with Keilor Park, which was more about getting a look at younger guys and new senior bowlers.
“It’s exciting, everyone is getting ready. We’ll have four teams again, so it’s a matter of counting down the days and hitting our straps.
“We need to create the culture where we want to go up to McIntyre Cup, which is where we want to be. It’s all about getting everyone to buy in. I think we’re moving in the right direction.”
Kilmore’s first XI will be on the road to start its season, travelling to John McMahon Reserve to take on East Sunbury in its season opener on October 4.
