Warriors’ recruiting heading offshore

MODEWARRE is on the hunt for an import for next summer, as it pursues a return to GCA2.

The Warriors embark on their first turf cricket grand final on Saturday after being demoted to the association’s third tier at last season’s end.

English opener Ash Suddes played for the club last season, hitting 312 runs at 22.9. He didn’t return this summer, but the club is keen to re-explore importing an overseas player.

“I’ve mentioned it to Pete (president Peter Edwards),” coach Luke Davidson said.

“We had good success with Ash last year and why not go back down that same path to get someone out here and experience the Australian life, and help our junior program grow a bit more with a new face, new voice to listen to?

“I think it’s only a benefit to the club that we get an import out here to help grow cricket in the area.”

Davidson said if Modewarre could attract an overseas player to play for the Warriors, then the club could appeal to any cricketer in Geelong.

“Some don’t realise that it’s only 10 minutes from the cen- tre of Geelong to get out here; they think it’s a cut lunch trip to come out and play cricket, and what better place to play cricket than the rolling hills of Modewarre?” he said.

“We want to be the best club we can be.

“We’ve successfully fielded three teams this year. We probably could have fielded a fourth but it probably would have been that last four or five numbers each week we would have struggled with.

“But in knowing that our junior program is progressing the way it is, in future years, those numbers will be fielded by the kids. Hopefully next year we can field four sides, and then on from there.”

The Warriors are the only club to field first and second XI sides in this weekend’s turf grand finals.