Rogers Reflects on Tough Calls as Vics Eye Shield Glory
Victoria’s Sheffield Shield campaign, marked by a dominant red-ball season, is on the cusp of a championship, but for coach Chris Rogers, the journey hasn’t been without its difficult decisions. Fresh from one of his most challenging coaching moments, the former Test opener has learned the art of compromise as his side prepares to face defending champions South Australia in the decider at Junction Oval, commencing Thursday.
Rogers, who took the reins as Victorian coach in 2020, confessed to agonising over what he described as a “50-50” call: omitting in-form seamer Mitch Perry from the final XI. Perry’s stellar season, boasting 32 wickets at an impressive average of 21.75, even saw him narrowly miss out on Shield Player of the Year honours, securing a runner-up finish.
Despite his outstanding form, there simply wasn’t a spot for Perry in Victoria’s formidable lineup. Instead, the bowling attack will be bolstered by Sam Elliott, who has claimed 33 wickets at a more economical 17.18 this season. Elliott will join a potent attack led by Scott Boland, and supported by Fergus O’Neill, captain Will Sutherland, and spinner Todd Murphy. This formidable unit has propelled the Victorians to a seven-win season, three more than their upcoming opponents, the Redbacks.
“It was one of the hardest conversations I’ve had to have,” Rogers admitted, reflecting on the Perry selection. “Both players were thoroughly deserving of a spot, but ultimately, you can’t fit 12 into 11. He took it well, and hopefully, it inspires him to go onto bigger and better things. I spoke to a lot of people, and nobody could really give me a compelling case either way. Analysts could provide reasons for both decisions. In the end, it came down to almost a 50-50 call.”
Rogers noted that such a decision might have been handled differently earlier in his coaching tenure. He’s evolved his approach, acknowledging that not all his initial strong opinions were necessarily the right ones.
“I’ve always had pretty strong opinions,” Rogers reflected. “What you learn over time is that not all your opinions are right, and people do things differently. It’s about meeting people more where they’re at, rather than demanding them to be where you want them to be.”
He recalled the early days of his coaching career in 2020, where the professionalism of a young Victorian side wasn’t quite at the standard he expected.
“And I probably didn’t react as well as I could’ve at times,” he stated. “But now, you know, they’re exactly where they need to be.”
Redbacks Aim to Defend Their Crown
The defending Sheffield Shield champions, South Australia, have navigated an injury-hit campaign to remain undefeated in the four-day competition since late October. Their last defeat came in round two against Queensland.
They’ve secured victories in two of their past three matches. A draw against Victoria in the final round was enough to seal their place in the decider, following a loss by the Queensland Bulls to Tasmania.
However, the Redbacks will be without the services of fast bowler Brendan Doggett, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Doggett was a standout performer in last year’s final, earning player of the match honours after taking 11 wickets.
South Australian captain Nathan McSweeney, who had yet to inspect the Junction Oval wicket, indicated that his final XI would be confirmed on Thursday.
“They’ve got some great bowlers, so I would have thought there’d be a little bit more (grass) on it, but we’ll see what happens and be ready,” McSweeney commented.
The skipper, who recently opened for Australia in three Test matches against India in 2024, acknowledged that a significant contribution in the Shield final could bolster his chances of a national recall.
“The bigger the occasion, the more opportunity there is to make a score and put your name up there,” McSweeney added. “But for me, it’s about doing that for South Australia. We had some great memories last year, and hopefully, we can repeat that.”
The stage is set for a compelling final, with both sides aiming to cap their respective seasons with the coveted Sheffield Shield title. The strategic decisions made by coaches and the individual brilliance of players will undoubtedly shape the narrative of this championship clash.
