New Altona coach Liam Keating is in the coaching hot seat sooner than he expected, but is excited for the challenge ahead at the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association club.
Keating, who has played at the club for more than 25 years, steps into the role replacing Aaron Whear who decided to step down at the end of last season.
Keating said he was really looking forward to the challenge.
“It’s pretty exciting,” he said. “It’s still the winter months at the moment and we’re looking forward to getting stuck into it.
“I’ve been here since I was 14 and been here for more than 25 years. It will feel a bit different, but there’s a really good group and support network around me at the club.”
Keating, who has a teaching background, said he hadn’t really thought about coaching at this stage.
Still playing and with a young family, he was focused on that.
With a passion for teaching the next generation he decided to take on the role now.
Keating has played nearly 300 games for the club and also spent time at Footscray in Victorian Premier Cricket, where he captained the third XI.
The reaction around the club and from past players to his appointment had been really positive.
“I’ve got a good relationship with a lot of former players, guys who were in the ones when I was coming through,“ Keating said.
The A’s will be hoping for a bit of luck under Keating after a couple of near misses the past couple of years.
Last season, they were in a winning position in the first week of finals before the game was washed off and they were eliminated.
The season before they fell just short in a semi final to eventual premiers Kew.
Keating said they had faith in the group at the club to help take the next step.
“The first XI group has played together for a few years now,” he said.
“We have the nucleus there and I still see there’s a lot of improvement coming through the grades.
“We’re a young club with lots of depth in the 23-24 age group.”
Keating said they would look at possibility recruiting, it wasn’t their key focus.
He said James Grubb, who has been captain, would be like a new recruit after missing most of last season.
As well as a new coach, the club has a new president with Adam Lewis stepping into the role.
Keating said the pair had a good relationship which would be a key.
