In this week’s edition of Let’s Talk Sport, the Gazette Sports team of DAVE NAGEL, NICK CREELY and TYLER LEWIS discuss the return of local sport, whether it’s too early to make any bold predictions and the stars of the show on the opening weekend of cricket…
LOCAL SPORT
Nick: Well boys, I thought our first edition last week went pretty well, some nice feedback, both positive and negative which is what we want to see, I’m glad people took notice. After so many false starts, local sport finally came back after an arduous period of lockdowns. The sun was shining and sport was back. Tyler, how did you feel being back covering sport? I know you had to apply the sunscreen quite heavily..
Tyler: Even though I applied it quite heavily, I still managed to catch a few rays, especially on the back of the neck, but it was good. It was a long day doing Vic Premier Cricket and local cricket but it was good, it’s not often you see a bloke play his 500th game so it was good to see ‘Scabs’ play his 500th out at Tyabb.
Nick: So for people that don’t know ‘Scabs’, that’s David Martin, a Heatherhill legend who Dave and I know quite well.
Dave: Played with ‘Scabs’. We probably had bigger days after 6pm to tell you the truth..he was a good party man. He stays fit, he’s a lawnmower and I think he credits that as being a big part of why he was able to stay fit. Never met a bloke that loves his cricket so much. Heatherhill wouldn’t be the same without him.
Nick: How was it being back in West Gippy territory this weekend, Dave?
Dave: I did the grand final at the start of this year, but prior to that it’s been probably six years since I’ve done WGCA Premier cricket, so it was great to see some smiling faces. I saw Geoff Miller down at Kooweerup, he’s a legend and had a chat with him. It was great to shake hands with the players, and it was great to see some lovely cover drives and pull-shots. For blokes that love cricket, it was just fantastic.
I then went to Pakenham and it was almost like a reunion. I knocked back so many beers, so I would have walked back very drunk if I’d accepted (laughs). It was great to watch cricket, it was a high-quality game but Cardinia were just incredible which we’ll touch on in a little bit.
Tyler: Looks like you caught more sun than I did.
Nick: Absolutely it does.
Dave: (laughs)
Nick: I must admit I’m envious of you blokes because my main comp I cover, the DDCA, decided on Thursday to postpone their games which was disappointing. They decided their turf wickets weren’t up to scratch on the weekend but are hoping to play those games around the January and February mark. Looking forward to finally getting back to cricket though this weekend, Hallam and Berwick clash in the grand final replay which will be a beauty.
Dave: Did they go too early Nick?
Nick: Maybe in hindsight yes, but there was a hell of a lot of rain, and they probably don’t have the same ability with ground staff and curators to be able to produce wickets. It’s probably easy to see it was early, but it was the right call. You don’t want some games getting on, and some games not.
BOLD PREDICTIONS
Nick: I wanted to ask you boys, it is only one week into the season, and we are journos who love to make outlandish statements. Is it too early to go with some bold predictions?
Tyler: It is a bit early on a team front, but early enough from an individual front.
Nick: Interesting..go on.
Tyler: Round 1 runs and wickets usually sets you up for a big year, and I said this to you boys last week when we did the Top 10 with Tom Hussey, he’ll make a 1000 runs this year.
Nick: In a one-day season?
Tyler: Yeah, including Twenty20s and finals, so he got 49 on the weekend. That’s a good start. Is that outlandish Dave?
Dave: The bloke can seriously bat. Just watching the games on the weekend, predictions are going to be hard. Tooradin made 262, Cranbourne Meadows made 300 but are capable of making 50 the next week, Cardinia were super impressive with their depth. In 40 over cricket you can have a Hussey take the game away from you, but it was weird to see how Cardinia’s depth was telling across an 80-over match.
Tyler: What might hurt Hussey is how often Tooradin bat second. If they roll someone for 130, he’s not got a chance to make a big score. That’ll be my outlet if he doesn’t make 1000 runs.
Nick: Dave, is it bold to see Cardinia are the ones to chase again?
Dave: Nah, they’re the side to chase. I was so impressed. They were challenged by Pakenham on the weekend, but Cardinia’s depth and enthusiasm was too much. Tooradin and Kooweerup are also others to watch this year. Tooradin has great batting depth.
Tyler: You’ve mentioned four good sides there Dave, is there going to be a fifth side that misses out?
Dave: Merinda Park made finals last year but were disappointing on the weekend. Their two openers looked good but they showed signs of impatience so it was almost predictable what was going to happen. They have a lot to work on, and Carlisle Park set a platform so it’ll be interesting to see how the season unfolds.
Nick: Tyler, you got a good look at Dandenong on the weekend. What did you make of their new look?
Tyler: Despite being a close finish, it was a lacklustre game of cricket, there wasn’t much brilliant individual acts of cricket. It was a classic early season game, the wicket was a bit dry, and everyone looked a bit tentative. But there was one guy that impressed me, Josh Slater. He played in the twos for a long time, and I think he’ll make 500-plus this year.
Nick: You’re bold, Tyler.
Dave: Nick, I know you’re running the show this week, but I wanted to ask you guys something. What are we looking at with the draft this week?
Nick: Tell you what, it’s a big haul for Berwick again.
Tyler: Mac Andrew’s the one to watch, for sure. Top 12 but surprised if he slips that. Judson Clarke, known as ‘Juddy’, a left-footer, real smooth operator, and then Miller Bergman who just runs all day.
Nick: And we could have a draftee out of Doveton?
Tyler: Yeah exactly, Connor Macdonald. He won best on ground on debut against Pakenham in senior footy, which as we know those aren’t for the faint hearted. He might go in the 30s or late 20s from the mail I’ve received.
OUR SATURDAY STARS
Nick: Back on the cricket now gents, I know from Casey-South Melbourne, Ruwantha Kellepotha, a name well-known in the DDCA and Berwick, dominated in his debut on the weekend. He took 3/24 with four maidens against the reigning premiers, an unbelievable performance. Did any other performances stand out boys?
Dave: Yeah, Carlisle Park ran into a red-hot Cranbourne Meadows on the weekend, and Karanvir Singh made 142 off 100 balls after being nearly dismissed off his first ball. I spoke to the coach of Carlisle Park, and he said that the ball missed by half an inch, but that’s cricket, it’s a game of inches.
Young Travis Wheller from Cardinia made 67 opening the batting and took 3/30 in the second innings. He changed the game for Cardinia.
Nick: And a young Beacy boy, Dave?
Tyler: He’s a DDCA boy, young Charlie Johnson, the son of Beaconsfield’s coach Brendan, took the ball in B Grade on synthetic, and took 7/8 off 4.3 overs, that’s incredible. It’s funny, Charlie made some runs in the morning, and the opposition got to 100 without taking a wicket, so he got a hold of the big boys. A young star on the rise.
Nick: Anything stand out to you Tyler over the weekend?
Tyler: Dylan O’Malley from Peninsula Old Boys, he’s a big tall opening batter, I’ve never seen someone hit the ball over cover for six more than him. He made 105 on the weekend.
Nick: I don’t want to put the mozz on this weekend, but the forecast looks clear, so hopefully we’ve got more to talk about next week, but it’s been a lot of fun as usual.
How good is it that sport’s back? It’s been a long time coming!
