Josh Doherty's glittering career with Cavaliers will come to an end after this weekend's Orange District Cricket Association grand final, for now anyway, but he made one thing very clear in the lead-up - the decider is not a farewell tour.
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While he did admit he's desperate to go out on a high and lift the Challenge Shield again before he links with a club in Wollongong next summer - he's already living there - the last thing he wants is for his side to use that as motivation.
For Doherty, his teammates should be doing it for themselves and the club.
"I try not to get caught up too much in that stuff and I hope the other guys aren't either," Doherty said, before reflecting somewhat on his time in maroon.
"I've got some pretty mixed emotions about moving on with a new adventure waiting and, honestly, travelling back-and-forth in the second half of this summer has knocked me around a bit.
Obviously I want to win, but it's about Cavaliers winning not about me going out on a high or anything like that.
- Cavaliers' departing star Josh Doherty
"Cavaliers have been a big part of me developing and growing into the person and player I am now and I have been lucky enough to share some success with a lot of other guys.
"More importantly I've learned from he mistakes and difficult times. That's the kind of thing that really builds character and culture.
"Obviously I want to win, but it's about Cavaliers winning not about me going out on a high or anything like that."
There's no questioning the fact Cavaliers will enter the decider as front-runners to do just that, win, and when you consider their form this summer simply calling them favourites is an understatement.
The maroons suffered just one defeat on their way to the minor premiership, a shock outright loss to CYMS way back in round six, and come into the decider on the back of six consecutive victories.
Two of those wins were over Orange City and the maroons handed the Warriors another defeat before that in round four as well, the Matt Corben-led maroons' record against the reigning champions is quite formidable this summer.
Quite simply, all three of Cavaliers' wins over the Warriors were absolute hammerings.
That round four victory came by 123 runs, they won by 117 runs in round nine and then by 222 runs in the penultimate round of the regular season and, despite the Warriors' attack widely being considered the competition's best, they piled on more than 1000 runs in those three games.
In reply, Orange City managed just 551.
"It's no secret we've been pretty on song this summer but I think we have more than enough experience and enough youthful fearlessness too to not get caught up in that stuff, we know none of it really matters now, it's about what happens this weekend," Doherty said.
Doherty's been at the forefront of those victories as well.
Although he hasn't replicated his stunning, cricketer-of-the-year form from last summer he's saved his best for the Warriors. While he wasn't required to bat in their opening encounter, he pummeled 80 in the second and 101 not out in the third.
"Mate, it was always going to be tough to replicate last summer," Doherty laughed, although he has still bashed out 307 runs at an average of 51.5.
"Luckily for me and the club there's been a handful of other guys scoring a million runs and then guys like Mitch Black doing his thing with the ball."
Doherty, who finally broke into the Western Zone system this summer, may not be the only star bringing his time to an end this weekend either.
Although it remains unconfirmed, Orange City quick Jackson Coote is reportedly a chance to finish up with the Warriors after the decider and Doherty made a point of lauding the left-armer, who has also won the ODCA's highest honour.
"I did hear he might be thinking of finishing up with City after this season and if he does he'll leave a huge hole for those guys to fill," Doherty said of his 2018-19 Western teammate.
"I grew up playing with Cootesy back in my days with City in juniors and we've obviously played a lot of cricket with and against each other since.
"He's been a class player for Orange City for a long, long time and he was with Kinross as well, I suppose he's an alright bloke too, and it's been an absolute pleasure doing battle with him over the years, and it will be again on the weekend."
Although he said he hopes it doesn't, Doherty and his side are well-aware of the benefit they have being minor premiers and only needing a draw to win, if rain intervenes at all over the weekend they'll rocket further into the box seat.
The opening delivery of the 2018-19 grand final is scheduled to be bowled at 1pm at Wade Park on Saturday and continues from 11am on Sunday.
- CAVALIERS: Matt Corben (c), Kaleb Cook, Ryan Kurtz, Bailey Ferguson, Josh Doherty, Mitch Black, Hugh Middleton, Max Pearce, Wes Lummis, Hudson Izzard, Mark Maybin, Ryan Noon
- ORANGE CITY: Ed Morrish (c), Blake Weymouth, Darren Barrett, Nathan Rosser, Shaun Grenfell, Lachie Coyte, Andrew Gordon, Jeremy Bartier, Brett Causer, Jackson Coote, Harry McGregor
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