Tara Murray
A small conversation set things in place for Warren Haffenden to become Melton Centrals’ new coach in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Russell Pollock Shield.
Centrals announced Haffenden as their new coach, who brings a wealth of indoor and outdoor cricket experience.
Haffenden said initially he had no plans on taking on the coaching role.
“It’s nerve-wrecking and exciting at the same time,” he said.
“I was taking a step back from playing as I’m not getting any younger. I was going to play in the lower grades and play a bit more one day games.
“I was asked to take on a mentoring role with the younger kids coming through. I was having a conversation and they said they still didn’t have a coach.
“I thought about it for a day and thought, why not and cover all bases.”
Haffenden has been at the club for the past few years, but didn’t play much last season.
Before that he was at St Anthonys. He coached the women’s side at the Saints.
“When their women’s side first started my wife was playing and I was going to all the games and thought why not help them.”
Centrals are coming off a couple of tough seasons on field.
They were relegated after the 2022-23 season before finishing bottom of division 5 last season with just one win.
Haffenden said they would continue to progress the younger players into the side.
“We have got kids coming through that are really good,” he said.
“We’ve got a few more who will get chances and that is part of the plan.”
Haffenden said as a group they would need to be more consistent to get a few more results on the board.
He said while they were always looking for new players, it’s unlikely they would pick up anyone else being so late in the process.
“We need a bit more consistency with our batting and bowling,” he said. “At stages we were outplayed and we had a bit of an aging team compared to some other clubs and didn’t have that consistency.”
