Development continues to be the main aim for Greenvale Kangaroos heading into the Victorian Premier Cricket season.
The Kangaroos have struggled in recent years as they look to bring through a core group of players given the task of bringing success to a club that’s been starved of it.
Kangaroos coach Stan Nell, in his second year in charge, says nothing has changed from last year in their approach to the coming season.
The Roos aren’t setting high expectations for 2016-17, which is year two into a four-year plan.
“They’re another year older with another season under their belts,” the coach says. “I hope they can perform better than last season
“We had a bit of a meeting with the whole group and I spoke about the four-year apprenticeship in Premier Cricket.
“Ninety per cent of the players are in that second year and all realise they have to invest a lot of time in their game.
“It will take us four years to get the club to be a top-eight side.”
Nell says they will likely start the season with a very similar line up to last season, with nine of the players from the first XI returning.
The playing group had been training since mid-July and been in the nets since August.
The biggest signing is that of former Melbourne University captain-coach Jarrod Leggett, who will be a playing assistant coach and captain the seniors.
“We picked up a few players. Michael Rosendale played with Prahan, before joining West Coburg last season. He’s returning to Premier Cricket.
“The others have been on the fringe at other clubs and are likely to start the season in the seconds and thirds. They’ll add some more depth.”
Nell sees good signs with the younger players, five of them having been named in the original under-19 Victorian squad.
Two players remain in the mix to make the final team.
“We’re getting a lot of good youngsters together, and how far they go it up to them,” Nell says. “They have to put the performances on the board.”
The Kangaroos’ season starts on Friday against Essendon at Windy Hill.
