By DAVID NAGEL
THE Casey-South Melbourne Cricket Club will field teams in the West Gippsland Cricket Association junior competition for the very first time, starting in the coming 2015/16 season.
CSM cricket operations manager John Hayes and WGCA general manager Rob Hansen have been meeting since late October, discussing ways on how to make the relationship stronger between the parties and to how create a better pathway for junior cricketers in the region.
The Swans, who are looking to field teams in the WGCA under-13s, under-15s and under-17s in their first season, have until Monday 25 May, when the WGCA sits for its annual general meeting, to put forward their proposal.
Hayes, a former WGCA Country Week captain, said the club – which plays in the elite Victorian Premier Cricket competition – was not out to raid WGCA junior clubs and become a powerhouse of the league.
“I understand the concerns of the WGCA clubs but that is not what this is about,” Hayes said.
“This is about Casey-South Melbourne and the WGCA coming together to build from the ground up, and to establish firm foundations that we haven’t had in the past. Both parties agree that the positives far outweigh the negatives and hopefully the clubs can open their minds and think about that bigger picture.
“There’ll be rules and regulations put in place to make sure there’s an even playing field for all clubs.”
The benefits for both parties would appear obvious, the WGCA gaining access to the Swans’ elite facilities and training methods while the Swans take a more hands-on approach to talent identification throughout the WGCA.
Hansen agrees that the partnership is exciting and says the WGCA clubs should have some faith in the decision that has been made.
“We’re not dills, we’re not going to agree to something that will have a detrimental effect on our clubs and the WGCA as a whole,” Hansen said.
“This is about growth and expanding proportionally to one of the fastest urban growth corridors in Australia.”
The WGCA clubs had no reason to fear a mass exodus of players to the Swans, Hansen said.
“Casey-South Melbourne will have to become affiliated with the WGCA if it wants to play in the junior competition which means the WGCA has control over clearances between clubs.”
The Swans are looking to play some under-17s games on turf and are working with the City of Casey to have a suitable number of synthetic pitches installed at Casey Fields.
