McCann mops up after openers
LAYTON McCann says the form of North Geelong’s newlook top order was the catalyst for his breakthrough century.
McCann, in his second season at Osborne Park, cracked his maiden ton for the Magpies in Saturday’s six-wicket win over Newtown & Chilwell.
The 22-year-old’s 127 from 110 balls steered North Geelong comfortably past the Two Blues’ total of 124, with veteran Damian Vassiliou again leading the way at the top with 53.
Vassiliou has registered back-to-back half-centuries, while fellow opener Sam Hall smashed 150 against Leopold the previous week to provide the Magpies with a solid platform.
It has helped ease the strain on the likes of McCann, his brother Alistair and fellow recruits Brayden McGregor and Mitch Troy, who make up a formidable top order alongside allrounder Andrew Fergusson, captain Tom Mathieson and keeperbatsman Adam Costello.
“This year we’ve been strong at the top with Sam and ‘Vass’, and ‘ Greggy’ (McGregor) has got some starts, so I haven’t felt the pressure,” Layton McCann said.
“I have just gone out there and batted the way I would normally bat. Tommy has put a good message across to our bats to just tick it (scoreboard) over and play your game.
“Everyone knows what they have to do and there’s a lot of talent at the club. There’s so much depth.
“There’s people playing threes that would be playing higher elsewhere and the club is in a really good spot at the moment. It’s a good feeling around the place.”
In his second season at the club, McCann took 19 innings to notch triple figures — his seventh career ton, having made three at home club Moama, one at Shepparton and two for English club Hellingly.
Saturday’s dig was a patient one for him, who dug deep against the Newtown attack early before accelerating when the game was in hand.
“It was good to bat with Braden Szponar as well. He did a job at the other end and we kept ticking the scoreboard over,” McCann said.
Mathieson was full of praise for McCann, who had fallen nine runs short of making his first century last season.
“He’s been in some good form,” he said.
“For the whole pre-season he’s been our best net batsman and throughout the first three games he’s been hitting them well, so it is good for him to finally get a big score.
“It was a good feeling for him and I think most of the boys were fairly nervous for him when he got into the 90s.”