By Tara Murray
Greenvale Kangaroos are looking to use this season as a stepping block as it tries to rise up the Victorian Premier Cricket ladder.
While the Kangaroos finished this season in 17th with just three wins, there has been plenty of positives for the Kangaroos under first year coach Matthew Love.
Love said they had spent a bit of time reflecting on the season in recent weeks.
“Since Christmas and the last few rounds reflected a little bit and overall the felling is really positive,” he said.
“It wasn’t just about wins on the board, a lot of hard work off field has happened. It’s about getting the little things right.
“Trent Johnston and Peter Peter Di Venuto have worked hard in setting the foundations. It was always going to take a couple of years.
“We’ve been competitive in every game… We should have won more games than we have.”
Love said the next step was adding some experience to the list to help support the younger players.
He said they would likely look for a couple of strike bowlers and high scoring batsmen.
Love said among the positives was the development of some of their younger players, some who played Premier cricket first XI matches for the first time.
He highlighted Humza Ali as one guy who had showed a bit.
“He hadn’t played in the first Xi before this season and now he has played every game.
“There’s been a lot of experience for the younger guys who have been coming through.”
Photo Gallery: Footscray vs Greenvale Kangaroos
The star for the Kangaroos this season has undoubtedly Sunam Gautum who has been the standout with the bat and ball.
Love said if he continues with his development he will go on to become one of the premier players of the competition.
On Saturday, the Kangaroos finished their season with a loss to Footscray.
The Kangaroos started the day needing 363 for victory. They fell well short, bowled out for 197.
Love said it always going to be tough after they were in trouble at 6-69.
“Footscray has some really good bowling and we were unable to keep them out. We knew the pitch would have a little bit in it for the first session.
“Once we lost a bunch of wickets early we knew it would be tough. We were able to frustrate them, but they eventually got us out.”
Love did most of the damage for the Kangaroos, making 85.
Love admitted it might be his last premier cricket first XI game.
“It was one of those things,” he said.
“I saw the benefit of the pitch once it flattened out. I played my first premier game at that ground and who knows if it will be the ground I play my last premier firsts game.
“The body is a big sore at the moment.”
Love said he was negotiating his coaching future with the club and said he expected there to be a few announcements in the coming weeks.
