Tara Murray
The time is right for change at Wyndham Vale Cricket Club.
The Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 5 club will have a new coach and new president, who are both familiar faces.
Jay Dolliver, has stood down as coach and has taken on the president’s role, while Liam Mclaughlin will take on the coaching role.
Mclaughlin said he was excited for the new challenge.
“It’s not something I originally thought about, but the opportunity came up and I thought why not,” he said. “It’s now or I will never do it.
“For a while people have been saying they thought Jay would be good in the president’s role and he had the opportunity to step up.
“It’s time for a fresh start and new direction and he thought it was time.”
Mclaughlin, who played his 100 first XI game last season, has grown up the club having been part of a first XI premiership at the age of 17.
He said while he thought about leaving the club in the past, it was like home and he couldn’t see himself playing anywhere else.
Mclaughlin said he was keen to put his spin on things and help the club go to the next level.
The Vales finished in 11th spot last season with two wins from their 13 matches.
“Things have been done the same way for such a long time, so I’m looking forward to being able to put my twist of things and a bit of me in things,” he said.
“We have a really young group and they’re very keen and eager to learn, which is good.
“The younger ones have been in and around the first XI and playing in the second XI. They’re starting to stand up and hopefully this year take the next step forward and help us out of division 5.”
Having only just been appointed, Mclaughlin said that he hadn’t had a chance to think too much about possibly recruiting.
He said he would look to chat to some former players and try and get them back to the club.
“Ideally we’ll look to focus on what we have,” he said. “Outside help will not go astray.
“We wanted to have a mix of youth and experience and get the mix right.”
Mclaughlin said he wasn’t setting expectations too high for his first season in charge, with a focus on taking it one week at a time.”
