They may not have had the greatest start to the season, but there’s something building at the Barr Reserve.
City Colts’ A grade squad are winless from their first three matches of the 2025/26 WDCA season, but their youthful group is improving hand over fist with every game they play.
The young Colts have been resolute in their batting - through their three games this season, they have batted their full allotment of overs bar two balls, showing the talent at Bill O'Callaghan Oval is definitely there.
Skipper Aaron Thrum said the fight and courage shown by the youthful squad was encouraging.
“We haven’t really rolled over at all, which has been really positive, especially from a young group,” he said.
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“We’re definitely seeing the positives, we’re heading in the right direction.
“Everyone’s really putting their hands up, everyone’s really getting behind what we’re trying to build.
“I’ve been really impressed with everyone.”
Without the batting and bowling talent they had last season, the next cabs off the rank have performed admirably.
“Max Marek has come a long, long way with his batting, in the first two rounds, he really took on a team role,” Thrum said.
“His energy in the field’s been really good, he’s attacking everything, he’s been one that’s stood out for me.
“Jed [Marek], Connor [Ormond], Alasdair [Brett], our top three bowlers are really putting in the effort at training, they’re charging in hard every ball, they’re really trying their absolute heart out for us.”
While they are in a building year, the Colts are well-placed to notch up their first win of the year when they take on Benalla, who are also winless after three matches.
The Bushrangers are dangerous opponents, with big opening batter Brayden Stepien capable of hitting huge scores if he gets off the chain.
It will be up to the Colts’ young bowling attack to keep him under control and strike early.
“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves at all, we know that any team on their day in this comp can fire," Thrum said.
“They’ve got Steppo [Brayden Stepien] up the top who can take the game away from you if you let him, so we need to make sure we’re ready to go from ball one.”
City Colts take on Benalla Bushrangers from 12.30pm on Saturday at the picturesque Benalla Gardens Oval.
Meanwhile, Rovers United Bruck will head into their scheduled bye with an unbeaten 3-0 record, a scintillating start to their title defence.
