SUNSHINE has narrowly avoided the wooden spoon in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association and immediately turned its attention to next summer.
The Crows finished a barren season with just two wins after their local derby with Williamstown at Dempster Park was cancelled due to wet weather on Saturday.
Crows captain Troy Stone told the Weekly it was not the most ideal way to end the 2011-12 season.
“We were keen to get our third win for the season,” he said.
The Crows have accelerated preparations for next season.
They plan to introduce a non-playing coach and have already sparked talks with prospective coaches.
“The days of a playing coach in my eyes might be over,” Stone said.
“We need someone with a clear vision who can take us to the finals.
“We’re looking for a great leader for the young kids.”
This week, the Weekly looks back at the season that was in our year-in-review special.
Here are the five key storylines of the Crows season:
Rough start: Sunshine made a promising start to its season opener against Plenty Valley in the comfortable surroundings of Dempster Park.
The Crows, however, could not seal the deal and their confidence took a hit in the process of the 30-run loss.
The Valley was bowled out for a meek 128 and the Crows were looking the goods at 6-81 before losing their last four wickets for 17.
“It was a big setback for our confidence as a group,” Stone said.
“It summed up our year. We couldn’t get over the line when we should’ve.”
Webb walks: The decision of opening bowler and co-coach Andrew Webb to leave the club only weeks into the season robbed the young Crows of vital leadership experience.
Webb, the cornerstone to the Crows bowling attack before his exit, told the Weekly at the time that unavoidable personal commitments were behind his departure.
“It’s the last thing that I wanted to do but I had to do,” he said.
Stone admits it was a fork in the road that his side would have rather avoided, but was pleased with the players that stepped up in Webb’s absence.
“It was a major loss, as I see him as one of the best bowlers in the competition,” Stone said.
“I could turn to him and rely on him taking a wicket. The others have stepped up well.”
Tiger tamers: Wins were hard to come by for Sunshine and the highlight of its season was a stirring Twenty20 triumph over Werribee on the road at Chirnside Park in the first game after Christmas.
The Crows posted 1-154 on the back of 92 not out to Romain Grenville and the Tigers could manage only 7-121 in reply.
“It was a game where everyone contributed,” Stone said.
“It was a good win, a tough win, but it was bittersweet knowing we could match it with those sorts of teams.” The only other win of the season came against Broadmeadows – a side that made the finals.
Joey’s journey: At 15, Joey Blake has taken the Crows and sub-district cricket by storm.
The teenage sensation has a career decision to make: continue his apprenticeship with the Crows or seek a move to Premier Cricket.
It was a super summer for Blake, who took out the batting (233 runs at 25) and bowling (19 wickets at 15) averages for the Crows.
“He’s really enthusiastic,” Stone said. “He goes out there with no fear and that’s something to admire.
“One of the highlights of the season for me was when he made 75 against Preston.”
The bolter: One of the features of the Crows was their willingness to give youngsters a go.
The one that came from left field with success was Sam Magnano, plucked from the Sydenham-Hillside ranks.
Magnano is a viable top-order option in the future after making 200 runs at 22 with two 50s.
“That’s a success story for me,” Stone said.
