Dixon says Swans looking at recruits, kids to bolster turf squad
SOUTH Barwon coach Bill Dixon concedes his side must strengthen its top seven in a bid to push for a premiership next season.
Dixon said the Swans, who climbed to second before the season was abandoned, were hunting a classy top-order batsman in the off-season. “We’ve got a list of people we’re talking to,” Dixon said.
“We don’t have any ironclad commitments, but we’ve got our focus group and we’re keen to put some offers in front of people.”
Dixon is confident the club will retain a bulk of the turf squad for next season.
“We’re reviewing our list at the moment,” Dixon said.
“I don’t think any club goes into a new year and keeps exactly the same turf cricketers. For us, we want to evolve. We’ve got some really exciting juniors that we want to give an opportunity to play at the appropriate level, so I’d think there’d be a little bit of change.
“I’m hopeful we can get everyone fronting up. Ryan Gibson has signed on again, which is great.
“When you get an opportunity taken away from you like that, I think our group will be pretty excited to back up again next year and make sure the season is successful.”
Boasting a raft of all-rounders, namely Joel Davies, Kyle Bienefelt, Ryan Gibson and Brad Hauenstein, Dixon admitted his team was eager to find a batsman to add potency to the top-order.
“If we were able to recruit a key bat and keep everyone else, I think we’d be pretty good,” Dixon said. “Having said that, when you have Damian Koliba walk out at No.7, you know you bat pretty deep, and we’re hoping to bring Harry Hauenstein, Bryson Nicholls and Darcy Pearson up and one of those would be good enough to bat in our top six.”