By Tyler Lewis
It’s time to treat Casey-South Melbourne with the utmost respect.
The Swans continued on their merry way again on Saturday, maturely defeating a strong Northcote outfit.
The clash was one pencilled in about a month out, it was the clash that would determine whether the Swans were just beating good sides, or were a premiership threat.
And after Saturday, the answer is clear; this Swans outfit is a premiership contender.
With the potence of their batting side, there was no surprise the Dragons opted to bat after winning the toss, even if the pitch did have a bit of leaf on it.
And with a weakened bowling attack, the Swans were going to be tested, but they stood up to the occasion.
Nathan Lambden (3/22 off 9.1) got the ball rolling with the Swans first two wickets, as the big quick’s career best season gets better and better as the weeks roll by.
The Swans swiftly took the ascendancy of the game, by having the Dragons 6/52.
Northcote ultimately noodled its way to 162 – its lowest first innings total for the year.
The Swans had a few speed humps along the way in reply, but was guided by more runs from Ashley Chandrasinghe (52) and Ruwantha Kellepotha (32 not out) to win in the 42nd over by four wickets.
The Swans went in without their front-line attack against a typically dominant batting side, on a typically dominant track.
But it was an untypical day, as the Swans spinners came through for coach Will Carr.
“It was probably the greenest wicket we have played on this season at home,” Carr laughed.
“They do tend to flatten, Jackson Fry was out suspended, Cal Dodson was out injured, young Evan Allaway – who has played a few games – we thought it was best for his development if he played in the seconds.
“It was a matter of picking the best six bowlers available, we just had to work out the balance and strategy on the day.
“Probably not the ideal balance, but the best one we had available,” he said.
When he first laid his eyes on the Casey Fields track on Saturday morning, Carr would’ve had a chuckle, with a green deck and four spinners in his selected side, but he felt in one day cricket they could sneak another tweaker in.
“In one day cricket you can probably get away with an extra spinner than the red ball game,” he said.
“Not the ideal balance, but that attack was high quality.
“We certainly feel that one of our strengths is definitely the depth in our bowling, you need to have six bowlers and we feel that our depth (of that six) is as good as anyone’s in the competition”.
The win for the Swans now has them in fourth position on the ladder and a serious threat come the pointy end of the season.
And while his side is pushing its case for the most in-form and unwanted finals opponent, Carr is keeping his eyes firmly on what his side is doing, avoiding what others may think of them.
“Maybe, I can’t speak for other sides,” he said.
“We feel internally we have some momentum going, we’re playing good cricket and we are getting contributions from all 11 players.
“How other sides see us, that’s up to them, but it is maybe a fair assessment.
“Maybe not fear, but certainly take us a little bit more seriously,” he said.
The Swans will travel to AH Butler Oval this Saturday to take on Frankston-Peninsula.
