Cats get cracking
Geelong swings into action as others locked down
GEELONG has taken guard for the Premier Cricket season, getting the jump on its metropolitan rivals through a series of internal hit-outs.
The Cats have been back training for a few weeks and had centre-wicket simulation on Friday, while the 17 other clubs remain in lockdown.
Geelong director of cricket Travis Agg said the group had enjoyed getting back together ahead of a slated November 21 start date.
“I think we’ve been going for four, maybe five weeks — and it’s been brilliant,” Agg said.
“Even though we’re not playing, it’s been really good for people to get around each other and interact.
“From a cricket perspective, it’s just great to see 40odd people getting excited about playing sport again.
“That for me is probably the biggest upside.
“The boys can start to see some light and they’re really getting down to work, which is great.”
Regional restrictions allow clubs to train in groups of 10.
Geelong has been able to run four groups over 50-minute sessions, which Agg said could provide a template for the future.
“Obviously smaller numbers allows for more conversation, more coaching … it’s actually been something where we’ve sat back and gone, ‘Well, is this something we could look to do more into the future’,” he said. “Some players would turn up at 4.30pm and wouldn’t leave until 7.30pm because they just love it … but are they getting a great benefit out of it?”
First-year mentor Nick Speak has also been putting his stamp on the playing group, Agg said.
“Just the way he talks to players, from First XI players down to our Fourth XI players, he knows the game and
FROM A CRICKET PERSPECTIVE, IT’S JUST
GREAT TO SEE 40-ODD PEOPLE GETTING EXCITED ABOUT PLAYING SPORT AGAIN. THAT FOR ME IS PROBABLY
THE BIGGEST UPSIDE.”
GEELONG DIRECTOR OF CRICKET TRAVIS AGG
he’s happy to challenge their thinking and happy to challenge the way they go about it,” he said.
“He sees that as the next layer of their improvement because he knows all the players that play at Geelong have got talent. They’ve been through pathway systems and that kind of thing.
“It’s about different conversations with different players to educate them and develop them to think about the way they play the game and that kind of thing.
“He has brought a different player to coaching that we’ve been exposed to but I think the way he goes about it is just a different way.
“I think the players are really enjoying that.”