Season start crucial

By Marc McGowan
A GOOD start is the key to Casey-South Melbourne ending its lean run of recent seasons.
That is the view of head coach Mark Ridgway, who believes the Swans’ success in negotiating their way through a tough opening month will be crucial to their fortunes.
The club’s opening three matches see it face Carlton, St Kilda and local rival Dandenong.
Fellow recent cellar dwellers Melbourne University and North Melbourne follow, and Ridgway has set his players the challenge of winning at least three of those five clashes.
“We talked about mental state and sticking to basics, just as we did at the end of last season,” he said.
“If we stick to basics we’re a pretty good team, but if we differ off that path we’re a very ordinary team.
“There was a gulf between our best and worst last year – a big gulf – and we need to arrest that.
“If we’re not 3-2 after the first five one-dayers, I’d be disappointed.”
If Casey-South Melbourne achieves that it will have already topped last summer’s one-win effort.
The victory did not come until the last round when the Swans humbled Dandenong, which missed the finals for the first time in four seasons, at Shepley Oval.
The newcomers include Victoria’s number-one gloveman Matthew Wade, who is only expected to play up to five games, and Bairnsdale run-machine Rohan Blandford.
Blandford will step straight into the first XI this weekend and bat anywhere from first drop to number seven.
Ridgway also lists Damien Wright as a virtual recruit, since state commitments restricted him to only five Premier Cricket games in his first season at Casey Fields.
Wright could reach double-figure matches this season after replacing veteran batsman Craig Entwistle as captain.
The former Tasmanian belted two centuries in his limited appearances for Casey-South Melbourne and remains a force with the leather.
Wade and Wright, who is battling an injured calf, are in India for the Champions League Twenty20 tournament for the next few weeks.
Entwistle remains as a player and will look to return to his 2006/07 form that saw him earn Premier Cricket team-of-the-year honours.
But Ridgway’s off-season recruiting was focused more on the future than the present and is thrilled about the club’s new-found depth in the lower grades.
Rising stars Jayde Herrick and Clive Rose, fresh from winning the Swans’ club champion award, are set for strong seasons.
Both have been involved with the Bushrangers in the off-season and will be hoping to push their causes for state selection.
Menacing quick Herrick will be part of the Victorian second XI team that heads to Adelaide on Monday week.
Ridgway is hoping for around 20 wickets and up to 500 runs from Rose, who will open the batting again, and is tipping Herrick to snare upwards of 50 scalps.
“Herrick has lost about 7kgs – he’s as strong as a bull – and he’ll be our vice-captain,” Ridgway said.
“If he doesn’t get between 45 and 55 wickets, I’d say he’s had a disappointing season.
“That’s where he’s at now. You can’t use any more excuses; this is a watershed year for him.”
Evergreen fast bowler Matt Hawking will be relied upon for another consistent campaign, but left-armer Ash Perera needs to more than double his meagre wicket total of 12 from last season.
Ultimately, Casey-South Melbourne’s success will come down to more production from its batsmen, who have been nothing short of horrible in recent years.
The Swans open against Carlton at Princes Park on Saturday at 11am.