Swans look to young blood

By David Nagel
CASEY-SOUTH MELBOURNE is hoping the loss of key players will be offset by the emergence of young talent, when the Victorian Premier Cricket season hits off next week.
Coach Mark Ridgway doesn’t conceal the impact of the setbacks suffered by his club over the past three months.
It has been a tough pre-season. Where do we start?
The recent appointment of Damien Wright as New Zealand bowling coach headlines a list of departures from last year’s quarter finalist team. The failure to gain the signing of Tasmanian wicketkeeper Sean Clingleffer also hurts 2011/12 prospects, already affected by the difficulties of dealing with a new player points system.
The meteoric rise the club has enjoyed since Ridgway’s arrival is under threat, with many predicting a fall from premiership contention to the middle rungs of the competition.
It’s not all doom and gloom though.
Casey-South Melbourne still boasts one of the most potent attacks in the competition, which was perhaps only second to Frankston Peninsula last season – and has been reinforced by the arrival of former Hawthorn player, Rod Bird.
The batting list, despite inexperience, bristles with potential, headed by the arrival of 21-year-old Surrey batsman, Jason Roy. Jake Best, the Swans most prodigious home-grown batsman, has been given the captaincy, with Clive Rose as his deputy.
The recent disruptions have not thrown the club from its long-term ambitions to build a strong bond with the Casey community.