Star performer … Brad Robertson has been the star of Footscray Edgewater’s under-rated bowling attack this season. 55671 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By Luke D’Anello
FOOTSCRAY Edgewater’s Brad Robertson believes he has simply been “lucky” despite a long list of stunning performances in this year’s Premier Cricket competition.
The 26-year-old paceman has claimed 23 victims this season – placing him in the competition’s top 10 wicket-takers – at a more-than healthy average of 15.04.
But you won’t hear Robertson talking about his own exploits. He prefers to heap praise on his fellow bowlers and said bowling in partnerships had been key in their success.
Statistically, the Dogs have conceded the third-least runs in the competition behind St Kilda and Camberwell Magpies.
“I think I’ve basically just been a lucky beneficiary of pressure from both ends. I don’t see that I’ve done anything outstanding,” the self-effacing Robertson said.
“I’ve probably not bowled any better than any of the other blokes in the side. It’s just that maybe because of pressure from both ends I may have benefited.
“To be able to have won six games already with a side that, on paper, doesn’t look as good a side as we had last year – and just the way that our young group’s been able to gel together and play as a team – has been the most positive thing I’ve seen so far.”
Robertson has been the leader of an impressive Dogs’ bowling attack, with off-spinner Shane Jones (18 wickets), leg-spinner Sean Hollins (18) and all-rounder Ben Green (10) all contributing heavily.
Left-armer Matthew Livingstone has also been a member of the top side, along with Michael Kelliher.
Robertson, who has been at the club for a decade, said Footscray Edgewater was developing depth in its ranks.
“We’ve had a few guys who have rotated through the bowling group and everyone that has come in has been able to do the job that’s been asked of them, and we’ve been able to create pressure and create wickets.
“We’re a young group and there are not really any egos involved. There is no one who thinks they should go out and run through batting line-ups every week.
“We work to a plan, we work together, and we’ve executed our plans pretty well against some good batting line-ups, and we’ve been rewarded for that.
“Not only is that a strength of our bowling group, that’s one of my strengths as well, I suppose.
“My philosophy has always been to bowl in an area and bowl to a plan and let the batsman either get themselves out or work their way around it.
“I try to be consistent and that’s my major thing I think.”
The Dogs currently sit in ninth spot on the ladder, after finishing last season in 15th.
When some experienced heads, including ex-skipper Nathan Geisler (retired), Carl Sandri and Grant Lindsay, departed in the off-season, Footscray Edgewater was tipped to have another lean season.
But Robertson said his team remained confident of a strong showing, despite the losses. “Maybe in the eyes of people outside the club, I think we’ve probably exceeded expectations.
“But we’ve always said all through the year, and (captain) Travis Gloury and (coach) Barry Neivandt have both been very strong with this, is that the sky is the limit for a young group.
“We’ve got the tools at our disposal, we’ve just got to have the self-belief and, with the way that we’re playing, there’s no reason why we can’t go deep into a finals campaign this year, as long as we keep doing the things that we’ve been doing and don’t get ahead of ourselves.
“There’s a real healthy competitiveness at the club at the moment, and there are a few people beginning their district careers who are young and enthusiastic.”
These young Dogs might just continue to upset the apple cart.
