New-look Rockets ready to roll

COACH Bryan Thomas is optimistic the Barwon Rockets can end a two-year finals hiatus when they begin the under-18 state championships today.

Unveiling a new-look unit, Thomas is confident he has the talent to progress deep in the tournament.

“If they can bond as a team, I’m a little bit excited about this squad,” Thomas said.

“We had seven bottom-age players last year to build for this season. We gave them opportunities in the hope that they would mature, and on form, most of those kids have been making runs and taking wickets in the local leagues.

“So if we don’t make the finals, I’ll be unhappy.”

Leopold leggie Sam Allen and Geelong City all-rounder Logan Taylor will lead the team, beginning with a clash against Metropolitan Northern at Geelong Cricket Ground today.

“Sam Allen and Logan Taylor are fantastic leaders, and when you’ve got two leaders like that, you’re half a chance,” Thomas said.

“You can have one of the best teams, but if they don’t play together and they don’t bond, they won’t go far. This team, on paper, looks very good.”

The Rockets also have a secret weapon — an all-rounder from Alvie, on the outskirts of Colac.

“We’ve picked up a kid by the name of Kade Parker,” Thomas said.

“He rocked up for the first training session in a Bintang singlet and footy shorts. I thought he was someone’s friend.

“Anyway, he walked past me and said ‘what do you want me to do, boom them or get singles’. I said ‘I want you to boom them’ and he did. He is freakish and he’s got a lot of X- factor about him.

“Him and Jackson Bye will open the batting, and if one of those boys get going, we’re away. Then we’ve got a lot of talent in Tom Courtney, Mitch Ford, Alex Inglis and Logan Taylor.

“Ben Drenovac is a good player and he’ll bat at five and the boys will bat around him.”

The bowling depth is also strong.

“Ezra Robertson and Lachlan Horan are two exciting quicks and (Matt) Tattersall, who is a bottom-ager, is an exciting quick as well and we’ve got some classy leg-spinners,” Thomas said. ROCKETS SQUAD: PAGE 29

Picture: MIKE DUGDALE Barwon Rockets had a team bonding session at Belmont Bowls Club. Vice captain Logan Taylor and coach Bryan Thomas keep an eye on captain Sam Allen’s style.