TIME FOR CATS TO GET BETTER
GEELONG has urged its players to get better after Saturday’s devastating final over defeat by Dandenong or consider moving on from the Premier Cricket club.
The Cats’ hopes of contending for their first premiership were extinguished after the Panthers recovered from 6-82 to run down the host’s 6-219 with three balls to spare.
Geelong director of cricket Travis Agg said the group needed to reflect on the gutwrenching defeat to get better in 2021-22.
He said it was “absolutely a missed opportunity” for the club to secure its first piece of First XI silverware.
“Every player that played, plus those that didn’t, I hope are going to be sitting back and going, ‘OK, well what do I need to do differently and what do I need to improve on and what advice do I need to take from the coaching group to improve next year to win in that situation?’,” Agg said.
“If players are willing to do that, then I think the club’s going to be really, really strong and are going to bounce back really, really quickly.
“If players aren’t willing to reflect and change anything … then they’re probably not going to advance and the club’s probably going to either move forward without them and bring in people that do want to change and improve.
“Knowing the group, I’d be really shocked if anyone on our list wasn’t open to the idea of shifting, changing and developing.
“(Eamonn Vines) did some work last pre-season and wanted to shift and change on a couple of things and he’s come out and been the best player with the bat in the competition.
“He knew he needed to get better and he has.
“Every player on our list should be looking to him for inspiration.”
Agg expects the group to recommit for another flag tilt.
It was announced last month that coach Nick Speak had re-signed for a further two seasons.
“No one has indicated their time might be up or anything like that,” Agg said.
“We’re probably in a really good position thinking that we’re retaining the majority of our list now.
“I’m sitting here really confident that we’re going to have all our players next year.
“The fact we were able to debut eight players, be three balls off playing in a grand final, it’s fair to say our list is pretty strong anyway.”
He also praised the club’s new committee following board upheaval earlier in the season when its president, treasurer and secretary resigned.
“I don’t think you can under sell that,” he said.
“The committee has been nothing short of outstanding and supportive.”