A lot has changed in 12 months for Spotswood, having gone from heartbreak to VSDCA contender. Here’s what sparked the change.
It’s amazing how much can change in 12 months.
Spotswood is the perfect example.
A year ago, Dan Schuppan and his players were licking their wounds after falling out of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association finals race despite sitting on top at Christmas.
But they’ll now enter this season’s finals as the team to beat after finishing on top of the east-west group ahead of competition powerhouse Werribee.
Spotswood cemented the minor premiership with a win over Bayswater on Saturday.
And Schuppan believes it’s still important for the players to live in the moment.
“We know there’s a bigger prize to play for but it’s important you acknowledge the season you’ve had so far,” he said.
“When we sat down at the start of the season, we wanted to put a plan in place to avoid suffering a similar fate to last season. The big thing for us was winning the key moments in games for longer and we managed to do that.
“In the past, if we had of been 5-90 we might have rolled over but we didn’t do that this season, we fought through those challenges.
“That came down to the growth from within the club. When guys are coming up from the lower grades, they aren’t just filling a hole, we expect them to perform and a play a role.
“In the past, we might not have had that and that’s what changed this season. It’s why we’re in the position we’re in.”
One player who has underlined that attitude is Nick Bartol who took out the club’s McCarthy Medal — the senior men’s best-and-fairest — on Saturday night.
Bartol got the better of Schuppan who finished in second, one vote further back.
It was a simple swapping of places between the pair after the Spotswood coach took home the award in season 2021-22.
“He’s had a fantastic year, even though he’s spent most of the season in the Second XI,” he said.
“He came in on the weekend and took three wickets, it’s just another example of someone coming up a grade and having an impact.”
Spotswood will now host Endeavour Hills in a qualifying final this weekend after the eastern club finished sixth on the ladder.
“We played them earlier in the year and it was a tough contest,” Schuppan said.
“They’ve got some high quality cricketers and we won’t be underestimating them.”
EAST-WEST FINALS FIXTURE — WEEK ONE
Spotswood v Endeavour Hills at Donald McLean Reserve
Werribee v Box Hill at Chirnside Park Oval
Williamstown v Mt Waverley at Williamstown Cricket Ground
Originally published as Spotswood reflect on 12 months of change