CAMPBELL Vadlja says he’s looking forward to making an impact after joining Adelaide Premier Cricket side Woodville District.
Vadlja, who spent the past two seasons at Adelaide University Cricket Club, makes the trip to the west Adelaide club after a couple of up and down seasons.
“I felt like I was starved for opportunity at (Adelaide) university. And I felt like I needed to put myself in a position where I could make a large impact on games. And I wasn’t really able to do that.”
Vadlja said the opportunity to bat at the top of the order would allow him to improve his consistency, especially knowing he would get out on the pitch every innings.
“Now I can consolidate and really work on my craft and try and get some consistent runs on the board.”
The former Mildura East cricketer had a promising debut in the South Australian competition, averaging 37.22 runs with a strike rate of 72.7 during the 2019-20 season. Adelaide University finished first in the 2020-21 competition, but Vadlja received fewer opportunities at bat, and he was unable to build on his maiden century (101 not out) from his first year at the club.
Vadlja will be joined at Woodville by former Australian cricketer Chadd Sayers, who returns after seven years away from the club.
“It’d be good to pick his brains because he’s (had) a lot higher honours than most people,” Vadlja said.
But he also looked forward to working with former Australian Test cricketer Peter Sleep, who will be coaching the side, and working with captain Connor McInerney.
“(Connor) is a very similar player to myself. We’re both top order left-handed bats. So that’s another big factor that I can turn to.”
Alongside Sayers, Woodville have had other players go on to represent South Australia and Australia, including Rodney Hogg and Denis Hickey. But the club last won an A Grade premiership in the 2011-12 season. Woodville open their 2021-22 season against Northern Districts on October 16.
