By Tyler Lewis
The excitement is beginning to bubble for Casey-South Melbourne.
After defeating Ringwood on Saturday, not only are the Swans poised splendidly to make the final eight, but are also mounting an assault on the top four.
The Swans took on the Rams in what loomed as a danger game for the finals bound unit and, after losing its two leading run scorers – Ashley Chandrasinghe and Luke Manders – the Casey-South Melbourne outfit was required to show its depth.
It did so luminously, with a spread of contributors across the park.
Ruwantha Kellepotha strolled to the middle at a cross-road in the Swans innings, at 5/126, with his side having just lost 2/3.
The talented all-rounder played his best hand with the stick all year, maturely carving 56 from 50 balls.
His partnership with Luke Shelton (27) shifted Casey-South Melbourne from a cross-road, to miles ahead of the game, posting 10/234.
As he has done all year, Nathan Lambden got the Swans off to a lively start, dismissing the dangerous David King in the opening over.
Kellepotha was in the game again to cap off his performance with the bat by dominating in the field.
At times the crafty leg-spinner made the Rams batters look foolish on his way to 4/28 from eight overs.
If 56 from 50 rocks and 4/28 wasn’t enough to confirm the three Jack Ryder Medal votes, Kellepotha also threw the stumps down with a direct-hit run out in the final stages of the match.
The Swans steam-rolled through the Rams for 10/114 to gain not only the win, but the valuable bonus point that keeps them in the hunt for a home final.
Casey-South Melbourne coach Will Carr has seen plenty of Kellepotha in recent years, with their mutual ties with DDCA club Berwick where he won the Alan Wookey Medal in season 2021/22.
Carr revealed he was hardly shocked by the performance his star all-rounder delivered on Saturday.
“Not surprised, but at the same time very pleased,” he said.
“The last month in particular he has been bowling well without the rewards he has deserved; to get a four wicket-haul on Saturday is a reward for effort.
“With the bat it was as clinical a 56 that you will see. (He was) Under pressure when he came in, I think it was 5/160 odd, he didn’t make an error, and it was clinical.
“He did what I know he can do; he can play technically correct and knock the ball around and he can find the boundary when needed.
“And in the field as well, I mean a direct hit run out on top of that; he is brilliant in the circle or in the outfield.
“We saw all that Kellepotha can offer on the weekend.”
Carr was pleased that the victory came from contributions across the board, rather than the typical fire-cracker start from his two opening bats.
“It was something we spoke about, again, we’re trying to improve as a team and as individuals,” he said.
“You’ve got benchmarks around the competition that have been strong for a long period of time, we look at their attributes and good sides are able to have players to stand up when in need.
“You look at a St Kilda or Melbourne, if one of – or two – of their top four miss out, they have a capable number five, six or seven that generally stands up and you know can contribute.
“From that point of view, it was really pleasing that we had guys outside of our top two run scorers contribute, particularly down the order at seven and eight with Kellapotha and Sperling putting on 60 odd, it was very pleasing,” Carr said.
With Nortchote suffering a defeat to Geelong, the door has opened for the Swans to sneak into the top four, particularly if it’s to defeat the Dragons in a fortnights time.
But first, the Swans will need to overcome Kingston Hawthorn this Saturday at Casey Fields.
