Bucks rebuilds from the youngsters up

THE rebuild has begun at New Town, and it is being constructed by the juniors.

While the wins are far from flowing for the Bucks, New Town has four players representing Tasmania in the under-15s, 17s and 19s state boys sides this season, but the female talent coming through is even more impressive with four under-18 players selected in the squad of 13.

Wicketkeeper-batter Emma Manix-Geeves, 18, leg spinner Cassandra McLoughlin, 14, all-rounder Grace Molnar and top-order bat Amy Smith all made the trip to country Victoria for the nationals that started yesterday.

Manix-Geeves is no stranger to representative cricket, having played for the state at seven carnivals and has been a member of the national indigenous team that toured England last year.

“I said to the girls yesterday it is not all about winning,” Manix-Geeves said.

“Every club has their lows and I think at the moment we are rebuilding from one, so I think the future is looking good for New Town.

“We are obviously not going too well this year, but there are a lot of good young girls coming through so it is looking promising for the future.”

Even at just 18, ManixGeeves has seen first-hand the explosion in women’s sport, especially cricket.

“It is really exciting to be part of it,” she said.

“Other sports like netball and hockey have to pay thousands of dollars to go away, we don’t have to do that. It is definitely very encouraging and good to see lots of girls getting around it too.”