Tara Murray
Altona has had a last minute coaching change ahead of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association north-west season with Shane Jones moving to Queensland.
Jones was appointed the club’s coach for this season earlier this year having returned from premier club Footscray. He was replacing Craig Swan.
But with a job opportunity in Queensland has meant that Jones couldn’t continue on in his role as A’s coach.
The club announced last Saturday that James Grubb, who was set to be an assistant coach this season, will step up into the coaching role.
A’s president Darren McConville said it was disappointing to lose Jones, who previously played at the club.
“We’ve lost Shane which is disappointing, but we’re happy for him also,” he said. “He’s a good fellow.
“Shane got the promotion and they asked him to move to Queensland to run the office up there.
“It’s a good opportunity for him and the family to relocate.”
McConville said it was an easy decision to appoint Grubb as coach. Grubb returned to the club last season after spending time at premier club Footscray.
McConville said with COVID-19 it meant it was difficult to look at external coaches without getting them into the club and being so close to the start of the season.
Lsst season Grubb averaged more than 50 with the bat, making more than 800 runs for the season, the second most in the division.
He also took 26 wickets to be in the top 10 as well as one of the standout players of the competition for the season.
“James is more than capable,” McConville said.
‘He was doing a lot of the pre-planning with Shane anyway, so it won’t be a massive jump in learning for him.”
McConville said that they had managed to keep most of last season’s playing group together in a bonus heading into this season.
The A’s made the semi finals last season, losing to Williamstown, which was crowned premiers for finishing on top of the ladder after the grand final didn’t go ahead.
Josh Young returns from Willy Imps in a bonus for the A’s, who had also had a few other players who had left the club had returned.
McConville said the club was looking to use the semi final appearance as a base to go at least one step further this season.
The As are scheduled to start their season on November 21 against Yarraville. The season will be all one-dayers due to COVID-19.
McConville said they would be ready to start training once they were given the go ahead. It’s expected that clubs will have clearer timeframes in the next week or so.
“We’ve had a lot of help from the VSDCA, Cricket Victoria and council,” he said.
“Everyone has been working together and ensuring that when we are allowed, we will be able to train straight away.”
