Tara Murray
New Sydenham-Hillside coach Geoff Pretty has seen the Storm play from a distance in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association, but now gets the opportunity to watch them up close.
When Pretty and his former club Aberfeldie Park mutually parted ways after last season and the Storm coaching job became available, he put his hand up for the role.
Pretty, who has been appointed as coach for the next two seasons, said he was impressed with what he had seen of the Storm.
“They’ve had a bit of success in a young area,” he said. “I’ve followed them for afar in the VTCA the last few years as I was coaching at a lower level.
“I was drawn to their level of play and professionalism and I applied for the role. I was impressed with Warren Hackney [head of cricket] and Bob Kunesevic [president].”
Pretty has a long cricketing background having either coached or played with various clubs in Victorian Premier and Victorian Sub-District cricket associations, as well as at local cricket level.
Pretty joins the Storm at an exciting time.
The first XI made the semi finals in their first season in division 2, having won back-to-back premierships in division 3 and 4 in the previous two seasons.
Pretty said they now know they can play at that level and wanted to continue to progress.
“We want to continue and get promoted up the grades,” he said.
“We don’t want to stay in division 2. We have some good players coming through the good.
“We have lots of kids coming through the club’s junior development program and the seconds have won the grand final the last two years.
“It certainly shows the depth we have in the playing group.”
Pretty said the Storm looked set to keep most of the playing group heading into this season.
They have already signed a spinner-middle order batsman who would strengthen the side, which had three players in the VTCA division 2 team of the year.
Pretty said they were expecting to lose Cameron Clayton.
The experienced Clayton, who was in his first season at the club, took on the coaching duties at the last minute with premiership winning coach Alston Bobb not able to return to Australia for a second season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pretty said they would look to add a few more players to the team ahead of next season.
“We’ve still looking to recruit more players if they are available, but a lot of people are staying at clubs that are close to their homes.”
Pretty has already met many of the players at a meet the coach night. Training is set to start with three weeks in the gym before they hit the nets.
