COUCH’S CALL
RISING STAR’S GEELONG DEBUT:
BRODY Couch had been admired from afar for the best part of three years.
Dominating the Dowling Shield for the Western Waves as a 16-year-old, Couch quickly came on the radar of Geelong Cricket Club.
With bat and ball, the Nirranda product was a thorn in the side of the Barwon Rockets.
“We first identified him in the state championships a few years back,” said Geelong veteran and Rockets’ under-16 coach Luke Muller, who will today line up alongside Couch as he makes his first XI debut in the clash against Ringwood.
“He was a class above in that tournament. He got wickets and runs and really impressed us.”
Snaring 2-28 in a hostile eight-over spell, and contributing 21 with the bat at No.5, Couch led the Waves to quarterfinal victory over the Rockets.
Since that day, the Cats targeted the bowling all-rounder in a bid to lure him to Kardinia Park. They got their wish this season, with Couch signing and starting in the thirds.
And just 14 rounds into the season, the tall medium pacer has hit the big time.
“I’m pretty excited,” Couch said at training on Thursday night.
“I got the call (from coach Andre Borovec) and I rang mum and dad straight away and let them know I was in the team.”
“Borra said I’d made it on the back of hard work and I’d worked my way up the grades.”
Couch played four games in the thirds before locking down a key role in the seconds.
With nine wickets in his past seven matches, as well as handy lower-order runs, Couch’s form was too good to ignore.
He always aspired to reach Premier ranks, having toiled away in top flight cricket in the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association since he was 13.
“Mum and dad live on the farm and, being a country boy, I wanted to give it a crack at Geelong,” Couch said.
“I thought it would be the best fit for me and I’m really enjoying it as well.
“It’s been a big step up and I’ve found it pretty hard.
“You have to be on the ball for the whole game. It’s been a very big step up from Warrnambool especially; the standard in the twos picks up a level.”
Couch is likely to bowl first change and bat at No. 9 for the Cats against a classy Ringwood outfit. But he couldn’t care less what role he plays.
“I’m just excited to get out there and do my bit for the team,” he said.
It’s been a whirlwind season for the Emmanuel College Year 12 student, a part of Victoria’s under-19 team in the national championships where he made 78 runs in six digs at No.8 at a neat average of 19.50.
Nursing a back injury, he managed just one wicket.
“It was a new experience, playing against the best cricketers for my age in the country,” Couch said.
“With the elite level, it was a massive step up.”