It is going to be a brutal off-season at the Werribee Cricket Club after its finals dream was left in tatters on Saturday.
Tigers captain Shaun Dean told Star Weekly the premature exit would promote harsh self-assessments for individuals and a wide-ranging review of the club’s processes would be inevitable.
“We’ve got a lot of things to mull over in the next month,” he said. “You can’t mask anything when you don’t make the finals.
“We’ve got a bit more time now to sit down and improve the club and reassess what we’re doing.”
No part of the club will escape review.
Dean will take time out to assess if he is the right man for the captaincy.
He has been at the helm for three seasons, steering the Tigers to a grand final and a semi-final in two of the three seasons, but he is concerned by this summer’s failure.
“Have I run my race as a captain?” Dean asked.
“I’ve given it a fair crack, but maybe a different voice, like Tim [O’Brien], can come in and give a few ideas.”
The days of the Tigers three-man coaching set-up could be numbered.
Dean suggested the club might look for an external head coach, though a decision will largely be up to president Ivo Havard and the board.
“We’ve gone with the three-man system and it’s probably run its race,” Dean said.
“We might look for a new coach, but that’s for Ivo to decide.
“I think we might head the way of looking for an external coach.”
Dean put responsibility back on his players after Saturday’s loss, telling them to take a look in the mirror and ask themselves if they’re up for the challenge of getting Werribee back to the finals.
Year in, year out there are changes at a cricket club, but the churn could be a lot harsher for the Tigers this off-season.
“I urged my players to have a think … why they play the game,” Dean said.
“If it’s to come and improve themselves as cricketers, well come back. But if it’s not, you’re wasting your time and the same thing will happen again next season.
“I dare say there will be a lot of movement in the off-season.”
Werribee is also waiting on a decision from Cricket Victoria to see if its bid for a Premier Cricket licence has been successful.
The Tigers are one of three clubs in the running, along with Melton and Plenty Valley, and should be notified within weeks, if not days, if they will be part of Victoria’s top club competition next season.
“If it’s Premier Cricket, the whole dynamic changes,” Dean said.
“Everything we are planning to discuss for sub-district goes out the window and the whole club gets a revamp.
“It’s a bit of a waiting game.”
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