Tara Murray
New Craigieburn coach Sean Bathman is keen to continue to bring through the talent in the club.
The Victorian Turf Cricket Associations senior division club announced that Bathman would lead the side for the next two seasons as a playing coach.
Bathman said it was an excited by the new opportunity.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s a new journey in my coaching journey.
“I decided that I wanted to coach on turf having been coaching on synthetic. I wanted to coach in the highest grade possible and Criagieburn was a fantastic opportunity and are a really good club.
“They have five senior sides, a strong junior program and a women’s side. I’m now back on turf and this gives me the best opportunity to progress my coaching.”
Bathman has most recently coached Lalor Warriors in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association, having been at Diamond Valley Cricket Association club South Morang before that.
His only experience in the VTCA was a year at Sunshine YCW many years ago,
Bathman said he doesn’t set any expectations coming in.
“The main thing is I don’t want to put a ceiling on what we can achieve,” he said. “It’s about getting better every day and work out what is the best strategy going forward.
“There will be internal growth and I’ll see who is ready to take the next opportunity.”
Bathman will have a new captain to support him with Josh Eaton joining fellow senior side, Yarraville Club.
He said they wish Eaton well and that there would be other players waiting in the wings to take an opportunity.
Former coach Nathan Pappin will stay on as a player, which is a big support for Bathman.
Bathman said there may be recruits that come into the side, but it wasn’t his focus.
“At this stage we will work with what we have got,” he said. “If there’s recruits, there’s recruits.
“We’ve looking getting better with the group that we already have.
“Who will take us take the next step we want to take. I’m looking forward to what we can achieve as a cub.
“Hopefully we’ll get strong numbers on the training track and see how far we go and see if we can push towards finals.”
