By Nick Creely
VICTORIAN PREMIER CRICKET
CASEY-SOUTH MELBOURNE – ROUND 16 PREVIEW
Casey-South Melbourne (6th) v Kingston Hawthorn (12th)
Casey Fields – February 11 and 18, 11am
CURRENT FORM:
Round 14: Casey 306 defeated Fitzroy Doncaster 284
Round 15: Casey 121 and 170 defeated Greenvale Kangaroos 120 & 3/36
There is absolutely no point sugar-coating just how important this match is for the Swans – a win means they can’t miss out on finals, and a loss, well that means they are back among the pack that are log-jammed for seventh and eighth spot.
In the last decade the Swans have played finals in just two seasons, and from their current group only two were learning their craft in the lower grades back then.
The pressure is truly on but the Swans have been a team that have defied the odds all season and won with their backs against the wall.
They are coming up against Kingston Hawthorn, a side that has tremendous ability, and a side that has the capacity to cause an upset.
The Hawks also must win for their own finals ambitions, because a loss means curtains closed and a win means game on.
For the Swans, it’s all about the three elements of fielding, batting and bowling that must come together – it may sound simple, but it’s been a major component of the club’s success this season.
Bowling in particularly has been an interesting case-study – earlier on in the season the Swans had plenty of bowlers who seemed in form but for some reason unable to consistently take wickets.
But now, when you fast-forward to Round 16, their bowling attack is arguably the most potent in the competition – does it come down to luck or hard-work?
The answer is both, but it doesn’t take away from the fact there is some seriously talented bowlers at Casey Fields.
Nathan Lambden and Brendan Rose are vital as the key-cogs of the attack, with Rose in particular becoming one of the most dangerous bowlers in the competition. Jackson Fry adds aggression, Leigh Diston is a tricky prospect as he is deceptively quick, and Dylan Hadfield is a clever bowler who breaks through at crucial times.
CASEY-SOUTH MELBOURNE
Round 16 1st XI 2016/17 statistics
Luke Manders 9 matches, 305 runs, Avg 30.50, HS 159
Devin Pollock 14 matches, 429 runs, Avg 28.60, HS 69
Michael Wallace 14 matches, 268 runs, Avg 20.62, HS 39
Lachlan Sperling 14 matches, 362 runs, Avg 24.13, HS 67, 6 wickets, Avg 33.33, BB 2/27
Ryan Eaton 14 matches, 314 runs, Avg 22.43, HS 64
Jordan Wyatt 9 matches, 206 runs, Avg 22.89, HS 92
Dylan Hadfield 14 matches, 297 runs, Avg 24.75, HS 48*, 10 wickets, Avg 37.30, BB 2/25
Brendan Rose 14 matches, 130 runs, Avg 14.44, HS 30, 30 wickets, Avg 18.60, BB 5/40
Nathan Lambden 14 matches, 109 runs, Avg 12.11, HS 38, 24 wickets, Avg 21.71, BB 4/34
Leigh Diston 13 matches, 49 runs, Avg 16.33, HS 28*, 12 wickets, Avg 45.83, BB 3/46
Jackson Fry 9 matches, 9 runs, Avg 4.50, HS 4*. 11 wickets, Avg 23.00, BB 3/34
WHAT THE COACH SAYS: “Kingston has as much to play for this week as we do – but the prize for us is that a win guarantees us a spot in the finals,” – Brian Keogh
“Having not played finals for such a long time, of course we look at it – our players will have their own calculations but we try not to talk about it, but we’re not naive, we know what’s required.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Swans all-rounder Dylan Hadfield has been such a critical player this season, whether it be chiming in with crucial runs or taking a much needed wicket. But he had his most disappointing performance of the season against Greenvale, making a pair and not bowling in either innings. Expect him to fire back to his consistent best when it truly counts. With either bat or ball he is a dangerous player, as seen by his brilliant performance against Footscray-Edgewater earlier this season.
Champion cricketer James Miller has been a brilliant Premier stalwart for as long as anyone can remember, and since moving to Kingston he has been excellent. He is third on the runs list at the club and tops the wickets by a comfortable margin. Last week he guided his side home in a tense clash with Prahran, making 60 not out and taking 2/28.
