Brad Hunter has been appointed Sunbury captain-coach for the rest of the Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup season.
Hunter, who joined the Roar in 2012, replaces Dylan Wright, who stood down from the role over the Christmas break.
The club announced that Wright, who was in his first season at the club, had resigned due to work commitments and other reasons. He also won’t continue playing.
Roar secretary Marty Kelders said Wright would be a loss as skipper and batsman, but also as a wicketkeeper.
“There were a few issues and things didn’t work out,” Kelders said.
“The biggest issue was work commitments. We wish Dylan all the very best for his future endeavours and thank him for his efforts.”
Wright was the Roar’s leading batsman in the first half of the season, averaging 45.
Wright told Star Weekly he didn’t want to comment on the situation. However, on social media he said the move definitely wasn’t due to work commitments and he’s fully committed to sport.
Hunter previously coached Maribyrnong Park before moving to Sunbury. Kelders said Hunter brings with him enthusiasm, is an excellent on-field performer and provided outstanding leadership for the playing group.
Hunter said he was seeing the position as more of an organising role within the club.
“We’ve got six or seven players who have been captain or coach before,” he said.
“With a lot of senior players we know what we are doing for the most of it. At the start of the season, something like this wouldn’t have worked, but now everyone knows where everyone stands.”
Hunter said the biggest focus for him was to ensure the club’s second and third XI continue to progress.
He said he wanted to continue developing the younger players coming through the sides.
Mitchell Johnston and Lachlan Treweek would continue to get opportunities in the top side, while Conor Reeves had been named in the side at the weekend.
As for the McIntyre Cup side, Hunter said it was all about proper preparation and results would take care of themselves.
The Roar sits fifth.
“We have to do the right things and we’ll win games,” Hunter said.
Hunter said Dylan Landt was set to fill the vacant wicketkeeper position. Landt, who has previously kept in the McIntyre Cup side, has not played much cricket the past couple of years duo to football commitments.
Meanwhile, Sunbury’s match against Bacchus Marsh, and all the other scheduled Saturday matches, have been postponed until February 4. All teams in the top four grades will play one-day matches in the middle of a two-day match, both against the same team.
