Tara Murray
The timing is right for Nathan Shoesmith to step up and take on the captain-coaching role at Rupertswood.
Having played his junior cricket at the Gisborne and District Cricket Association club before going to Victorian Premier Cricket, the club has always been close to his heart.
But with his premier cricket days over, Shoesmith is keen to help the next generation at Rupertswood develop.
Shoesmith said he was looking for the challenge.
“It has worked out well,” he said. “It [coaching] probably hadn’t been on the mind until more recently.
“When I finished up at Essendon and Camberwell, I was looking to come back here as I still had a few mates.
“They offered me the role last season, but I decided to have one more crack at premier cricket.”
Shoesmith lasted half a season at Camberwell last season, before deciding that his time at that level was up.
He said while Camberwell was a good club, the amount of travel took its toll.
“I felt burnt out and I had dragged myself over hot coals for long enough.”
While he didn’t plan on playing after leaving Camberwell, Shoesmith was soon back on the field for Rupertswood.
For him it was about trying to just play and get enjoyment out of it, which is exactly what happened.
With Andrew Pizaro ready to take a step back, Shoesmith was offered the role again and decided to take it.
Pizaro will remain at the club and will play next season, but what division is still to be decided.
Pizaro, who made the McIntyre Cup team of the year, was captain-coach for six seasons and guided the side to McIntyre Cup finals earlier this year.
“Piz has been great and he has said that he would help me in any way that he could,” Shoesmith said.
“It makes life easier. Piz’s son is coming through and he is keen to play with him while he can.”
Shoesmith said he was excited by the future of the club and would continue that focus on home grown talent.
“The average age is really young, between the 17 and 23 age group, you don’t see too much of that in our competition,” he said.
“We’ve got a couple of young bowlers who are more than ready for first XI cricket. I want to develop the young talent at the club and look to provide some of my insight along the way from having played premier cricket.”
Shoesmith said they were speaking with some former players about coming back to the club. Max Howell is one that will return.
