Jaidyn Kennedy
Woodend has announced that favourite son Josh Eastley will be returning to take the reins as coach for the 2024-25 Gisborne and District Cricket Association McIntyre Cup season.
The position will be Eastley’s first head coaching gig after having spent the past five years as an assistant coach at several successful clubs across Victoria.
Eastley said he was, “really excited about the opportunity of Woodend’s direction this year, we’re going with a coaching development strategy for the entire club not just the seniors”.
The strategy is a holistic one that is bringing the senior and junior squads closer together in an attempt to strengthen the club.
This will see him supported and mentored by Gavin MacKay and Brett Cavigan who will be coaching the junior sides. Mackay was a premiership winning coach at Gisborne.
The excitement around the Eastley’s homecoming is palpable, according to president Daniel Heaney.
“There is a real buzz around the club at the moment – and its only July!”, he said.
“Ninty per cent of our team is homegrown, which is what we’re most excited about.”
The excitement isn’t limited to local talent, with the arrival of medium-fast bowler Joe Monk from Shropshire, England set to turn heads.
He will be joined by a returning James Morley, bolstering the club’s bowling attack.
The two experienced recruits are set help improve upon a team that narrowly missed finals last year.
Not one to set team goals in stone, Eastley’s main vision is to develop the list and start playing consistent cricket.
“I’m really excited about some of the youth we’ve got down there”, he said when discussing the second eleven that will help blood senior talent,” he said.
Eastley’s commitment to a whole club approach reflects his team first coaching philosophy.
While the desire for all squads to play finals this season is obvious, Eastley and the club are committed to a much bigger vision of sustained success.
“My goal for Woodend this year is to purely bring on and develop as much as can and start performing consistently on the park- across all grades,” he said.
Josh’s older brother Daniel Eastley, who has played sub-district cricket will also be among the experienced heads tasked with the development of tomorrows talent.
Josh further stated that they wanted to use their experience to then bring on the youth as well, so they will try and find the balance between youth and experience.
Woodend is also set to field its first-ever girl’s under-13 side and seeking any girls interested to reach out to the club.
Details: www.facebook.com/WoodendCricketClub
