Tara Murray
Now the hunted, Spotswood isn’t resting on its laurels in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association.
After winning a first XI premiership in their second season in the competition, the Woodsmen have been busy in the off-season boosting their stocks.
The club first announced the signing of Englishman Harry Lumsden, before last week announcing the big signing of Lachlan McKenna.
Woodsmen coach Dan Schuppan said they were always looking to add quality players to their squad.
“After winning a premiership we are now the hunted,” he said. “We always add to our list and looking for ways to improve.
“The players we’ve brought in add a little bit. We’ve lost Matthew Sazenis, who has retired, and Jackson Wadden is going to premier cricket, so it’s good to get some guys in.”
Lumsden is no stranger to the club having trained with the club one a week for the back half of last season.
Schuppan said he would get the opportunity to replace Wadden.
“We look to bring in good people and most Englishmen are sound individuals, but it can be a bit of an unknown,” he said.
“He fits the bill perfectly and we had no hesitation to see if he wanted to have an opportunity at a higher level of cricket than he did last year.
“I was bringing down on a Thursday night. He initiated coming down most weeks after the chance was there.
“From a coach’s point of view he is eager to learn.”
McKenna’s record is impressive having played at Victorian Premier Cricket with Carlton.
He played 318 premier games, including more than 150 in the first XI, making 16 centuries.
Schuppan said the two had a long relationship.
“Lachie is an amazing signing,” he said. “I’ve known him and the whole family for a long time.
“I coached Lachie and his brothers Eamon and Pat.
“I played with Lachie at Carlton when he was starting out and he’s a quality person.
“We tried to get him a couple of years ago but he’s loyal to Carlton. When the opportunity arose we got on the front foot and we’re absolutely stoked to get him.”
Schuappan said McKenna still had a lot of cricket ahead of him and they would tap into his knowledge to hopefully take them to the next level.
He said while they had recruited their main pieces of the puzzle they were always keen to add more players to the club.
“Winning a premiership last year, people come to watch us and know what we are about,” he said.
“We’re very small compared to other clubs, but it’s good to be a destination club.
“We’ve got a lot of young guys who want to come to the club and that is what we want.
“Our lower levels are not quite there yet, but we’re optimistic and want to add players no matter what XI they play to keep us moving forward.”
