Gallery ǀ Renegades star Tayla Vlaeminck offers expertise at St Georges Rd Primary

By James Kleeman

Jul 28, 2022

Fun and games: Renegades player Tayla Vlaeminck warms up with the kids at the Melbourne Renegades clinic at St George’s Rd Primary school. Photo by Megan Fisher

Ahead of the upcoming Women’s Big Bash League season, clubs have been getting busy in the regions promoting the latest instalment of the burgeoning franchise.

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This summer, the WBBL will stage its eighth season, starting on October 13.

Australia pacer and Melbourne Renegades recruit Tayla Vlaeminck was on the road for the Melbourne Renegades Roadshow, running clinics and training sessions for kids of all ages in school’s across Shepparton.

Ahead of a session with the Year 2 and Year 3 students of St George’s Rd Primary, Vlaeminck said delivering clinics and seeing kids give cricket a try had been very rewarding.

Having a stretch: Alex Matthey warms up. Photo by Megan Fisher

“It’s really cool, it’s really cool to see the kid’s getting around cricket and having a good time,” Vlaeminck said.

“We’ve been to a couple of schools so far today, there’s a lot of smiling kids around, they all just love being out and about, it’s been really good so far.”

Forced undercover due to some less than ideal conditions, Vlaeminck said the wet weather did little to dampen the kids’ spirits.

Lending a hand: Tayla Vlaeminck ahead of the clinic at St George’s Rd Primary. Photo by Megan Fisher

“We’ve been lucky — the schools have had some nice undercover areas which has been lucky, it’s not been ideal weather for cricket,” she said.

Vlaeminck inked a two-year deal with the ‘Gades earlier this year, returning to the club where her WBBL career began.

Despite a persistent foot injury which has hampered the 23-year-old in recent seasons, Vlaeminck said anticipation was building ahead of the 2022 campaign.

Ball on a string: Hasan Al Salem. Photo by Megan Fisher

“Pre-season is always a bit of a grind, it’s coming towards the end of it now which is nice, the girls are all in a really good spot,” she said.

“The Renegades side is coming together really well, especially from a WBBL perspective, there’s a couple of new faces on board.

“We’re just really pumped, it’s going to be a great season.”

Going through the motions: Cricket Victoria’s Owen Hulett runs the kids through some drills at the Renegades clinic. Photo by Megan Fisher

Participating in the session with assistance from students from Shepparton’s SEDA college, Vlaeminck said getting active had been the main focus for the school’s aspiring cricketers.

“We’ve just been doing some pretty simple skill work — catching and throwing, just getting the kids moving around,” she said.

“They’re Year 2 and Year 3, so the aim is to just get them up and running around, and they’re loving that; it’s just about being up and about and being active really.“