Casey-South Melbourne left-arm orthodox spinner Clive Rose is looking forward to an improved season at Casey Fields next season. 27194 Picture: Stewart ChambersBy Marc McGowan
CLIVE Rose wants to make one thing clear – he isn’t going anywhere.
Rumours have abounded in recent weeks that the Australian under-19 star and Casey-South Melbourne left-arm orthodox spinner was headed to rival club Dandenong.
The latest word even had him meeting with Panthers officials this week.
The 19-year-old admitted he was weighing up his options midway through the season, but that a heart-to-heart with coach Mark Ridgway and bowler Damien Wright persuaded him to stay.
“No-one has approached me about going to Dandenong and I have no intention of going there,” Rose said.
“Midway through the season or just before midway I wasn’t too sure where I’d be next season or what I’d do, but I had a talk to Mark Ridgway and, of course, Damien Wright and thought I’d stay another year and see how we go.
“I thought that there were a few too many bowlers at Casey and I wasn’t getting as much bowling as I thought I’d get.”
Ridgway convinced Rose that the Swans would be a more competitive club in 2009/10 and that he would have a greater role in the attack.
Rose was disappointed with his individual performances this summer and feels he hasn’t done enough to achieve his pre-season goal of earning a Victorian Bushrangers’ contract.
“I probably could have done better in the first half of the season with bat and ball, but the second half of the season was a lot better,” the Narre Warren South resident said.
“At the start of the season, I wasn’t too confident about opening and didn’t really want to do it, but because Mark asked me I didn’t want to say no.
“He thought it would be better for the team if I opened and I only got one score over 40 in the first half, which was a bit disappointing.
“But he just kept with me opening and I was a bit more confident in the second half of the season and I did a lot better than I did in the first half.”
Rose, who models his batting on Dandenong opener Brett Forsyth and his bowling on Carlton spinner Jon Holland, finished up making 383 runs at an average of 29.5 and claiming 16 wickets at 29.3.
“I think I’m still developing as an all-rounder – my batting could be better and a bit more consistent,” he said.
“I wouldn’t consider myself as an all-rounder just yet.
“From what I have heard, Casey will hopefully be a bit stronger next year and a bit more competitive and hopefully we can have Wrighty for a few more games.”
