John Hayes is the new head coach of Endeavour Hills Cricket Club. 30400 By Marc McGowan
FORMER Casey-South Melbourne head coach John Hayes has taken the reins of sub-district cricket club Endeavour Hills.
Hayes’ appointment as the Hills’ new coach was confirmed last Thursday night and he replaces club life-member Vaughan Baxter in the role.
Baxter will play the first half of next summer – in the firsts or seconds – before heading overseas with work.
Hayes re-applied for the Casey-South Melbourne head coaching position, but Swans officials gave the job to former Tasmanian state cricketer Mark Ridgway.
Endeavour Hills’ new mentor spent just one year in that role.
Hills president Darren Goodson approached Hayes about the club’s vacant coaching position before last summer, but the latter instead spent last season as an assistant coach at Premier Cricket club Dandenong.
But Hayes, who played in the seconds at Dandenong, said the time was right to become a head coach again.
“It was just one of those things with timing and everything and Dandenong was a good fit last season,” the Pakenham resident said.
“I’ll get a fair idea of where I’m at in a couple of years’ time by taking on a head coaching role of a side that finished sixth last year that was perceived to have a sub-standard squad and obviously did very well.
“That was enticing and to take on the head coach role again was enticing as well.”
Panthers legend Warren Ayres is set to come out of retirement and replace Hayes as second XI captain.
“Dandenong and (fellow coaches) Warren (Ayres) and Bruce (Waldron) were very good to me,” Hayes said.
“Dandenong is going through some changes themselves and I just had to have a look at what I wanted to do – did I want to work with younger players or look at an overall club scenario and put a program in place?
“Obviously here the focus is on winning, whereas at Premier or second XI level it was more focused on development.
“You still want to win, but it was probably focused more on development than anything else, so this is a good challenge in that regard.”
Hayes, who is an all-rounder, has already sounded out some players about coming across to Endeavour Hills and hopes he can lead the club to its first sub-district finals appearance.
He also revealed that he has put the demons of his Casey-South Melbourne experience behind him – despite Ridgway repeatedly being critical of his role at the Swans.
“To be honest, I haven’t spoken to him. He can say what he likes and the proof is in the pudding in regards to results,” Hayes said.
“I haven’t seen a change in regards to ladder position as yet, but I’ve got nothing against Mark.
“I certainly know if I had that job again I would structure myself differently, but, having said that, I thought I did some good things.”
Meanwhile, Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association officials selected left-arm Hills spinner and club champion Shane Peake in its team of the year last Friday night.
Peake, who took 34 wickets for the season, also finished equal fourth in R.M. Hatch voting for player of the year behind Box Hill batsman Andrew Goldsmith.
