Tara Murray
Greenvale Kangaroos’ vision for the future in Victorian Premier Cricket is coming together.
The Kangaroos new coaching panel has been busy behind the scenes as they look to help put together a program that will help the club grow.
Director of coaching Ash Cavigan said there had been some really good numbers at the club’s meet and greet session held earlier this month.
“We had about 80 people attend, which was great,” he said. “There was a great mix of returning players, lots of under-age players, parents and friends.
“We gave them an insight into the coaches and outlined the pre-season. Hopefully they went away well informed and inspired for what we expect to be a good year.”
Among those at the meeting was new captain Justin Galeotti, who returns to Victoria from Tasmania where he has been playing at Clarence
Galeotti previously played at Essendon, having worked with Cavigan at the Bombers.
Cavigan said locking in a captain early in the piece was a key part of their plans.
“Getting a captain appointed really early was important and one of our key areas,” he said.
“We now have a structure in place and these guys can get to work.
“I did a little bit with Justin at Essendon. When we were thinking about guys potentially for the job, it was about the character, the work ethics and the ability as well.
“It all lined up which is good.”
Cavigan said Galeotti was aware of the club’s situation, with the club having been down the bottom of the ladder for a number of years.
He said Galeotti, was keen to take on the opportunity and saw it as a challenge.
“It was something we discussed in our initial chats,” he said.
“It kept coming back to the opportunity and the challenge going forward. We have spoken to potential recruits that are fearful of that and that is fair enough.
“It kept coming through with Justin, he knew what was ahead of us and wanted that challenge.
“Like the coaches, he wants to be the ones that get it right.”
The new coaching group’s start to life at Greenvale hasn’t been without hiccups.
Nick McGuane, Sean Nicholl, Darcy Bell and Michael Archer have all departed the club.
“It’s naturally disappointing,” Cavigan said. “We hadn’t even had an opportunity.
“It can be tough but everything happens for a reason and those guys have left, but the door is always open for them to return.
“It opens up for other guys to get an opportunity.”
Cavigan said they were expecting to be a young side this season, but that was part of the plan going forward. He highlighted Jordan Kosteas and Ivan Zmak as two players to watch.
He said they were backing their talent id to help bring them through together to form a good squad.
The club is also hoping to make some announcements in regards to new recruits in the coming weeks, with the club speaking to a number of people looking to move to Melbourne from interstate.
