Every year, in the lead up to the grand final, a player, sometimes more than one, gets that dreaded tap on the shoulder.

Words along the lines of “sorry mate, it was a tough decision but we’ve had to leave you out of the team” usually follows.

For next week’s SCG Country Cup final, one of those players was Wodonga’s Jack Robinson.

The medium-quick bowler, 17, got the news from CAW coach Trent Ball early in the week.

He wasn’t alone, with Lavington duo Brendan Klein-Boonschate and Andrew Taylor, and East Albury’s Cameron White also missing out.

Despite obvious disappointment the first reserve has taken the news on the chin.

“It’s always disappointing to miss out on a side but someone had to and it was just unfortunate that it was me,” Robinson said.

“I’m first reserve at the moment so if someone pulls out I’m the first one in.”

The Catholic College Wodonga student played a pivotal part in CAW’s run to the final.

He played particularly well in the team’s quarter- and semi-finals on the Central Coast in December.

Ball said it had made the decision to leave Robinson out of the team even harder.

“I wish we could pick everyone who has played rep so far but we only get to pick 12,” he said.

“So telling Jack Robinson, who performed well in Gosford, was hard.”

Robinson admitted he had learnt plenty from his time in the team.

“To play with the big boys is always a good opportunity,” he said.

“You can learn a lot from guys like Trent (Ball) and Robbie (Jackson) and how they go about their cricket at that level.”

While the young gun doesn’t expect anyone to pull out of the team ahead of the final, he knows a good performance today against East Albury can’t hurt.

Robinson will use momentum he picked up from playing with the North East Knights in Melbourne last week where he picked up eight wickets including a five-for.

“I reckon last week is the best I’ve bowled,” he said.

“The team didn’t do so well but I feel I bowled well.”