Tired of a 13-year first XI flag drought, Sunshine United initiated change in the off-season.
Installing one of its favourite sons, Ben Foster, to the role of captain-coach and a top to bottom overhaul at the club has paid off.
The Tigers will still be in the premiership conversation when finals begin on Saturday.
The Tigers were relegated to the Victorian Turf Cricket Association’s west B1, the lowest rung for a western suburbs club in the competition. Mere cosmetic changes would not get them any closer to their first premiership since 2000-01.
Foster implemented a stricter training regime and asked his players to adopt a more professional attitude.
“I made it clear to the committee when I took over the job this year that by stepping back a grade there was no guarantees it’s going to be easy,” Foster told the Weekly.
“It was going to take a lot of hard work and determination by the guys, and commitment The boys started pretty early and we’ve had a fairly intense year as opposed to previous years, so I’ve been told.
“I guess the rewards are paying dividends. Hopefully we can have a good finals campaign.”
Foster is a Tiger for life. He’s had the yellow and black running through his veins since his first game in the under 12s.
In a massive vote of confidence, Foster was offered the captaincy even after four years away from the club.
“I was lucky enough to play in our last A turf flag in 2001, but that’s a long time between drinks,” he said.
“We’ve been a successful club over the past 30, 40 or 50 years, so there is a lot of pressure to succeed, but there is a lot of support there as well. I would be so proud to lead us to a flag this year.”
The Tigers have one of the deepest and most even squads of the four sides in the finals.
They have five batsmen with 200 or more runs, including Indika Dharmawardane (417 at 29), Foster (348 at 38), Henry Popinski (245 at 40), Daniel Pace (223 at 74) and Daniel Raniolo (201 at 14).
Their bowling attack runs four deep with Dharmawardane (23 wickets at 11), Michael Glowacki (20 at 14), Leigh Sheridan (19 at 12) and Vijay Jassi (14 at 11). All are wicket takers and economical.
“It’s important that the whole team is contributing and we’re all standing up,” Foster said.
“We haven’t heavily relied on one or two people and our performances have been more consistent this year, which is what we’re after.”
Foster says Dharmawardane looms large as the Tigers player to be feared in the upcoming finals for his all-round capabilities.
“He’s a little gem. He can change a game in a session.”
WHERE DID YOUR CLUB FINISH
Finals
Taylors Lakes (north A1), Sunshine Druids (north A1), Sunshine Heights (west B1), Sunshine United (west B1)
Survival
Keilor Park (north division), St Albans (north A1), Deer Park-Ardeer (west B1), Sunshine YCW (west B1)
Relegation
RelegationKeilor (senior division), St Andrews (north A1)
