By RUSSELL BENNETT
WEST GIPPSLAND CRICKET ASSOCIATION
PREMIER DIVISION 2015/16 SEASON PREVIEW
THE real question when it comes to the all-conquering Kooweerup this season isn’t so much whether the Demons can be toppled, but more … will they?
Of course they can be stopped – after all, they finished third last season with nine wins and five losses from their 14 home and away games.
But the Demons take their game to another level entirely come finals time and last year provided even more proof – all they have to do is make it to the business end of the season.
The 2015/16 West Gippsland Cricket Association (WGCA) Premier campaign starts off with a bang this week and the chase for Kooweerup’s crown will be one of the competition’s biggest talking points for months.
The Bulls will no doubt be raging about last year’s decider and they’ve left no stone unturned in their quest to vanquish their great rivals.
Dwayne Doig has returned as player-coach while fellow WGCA great Ben Maroney has returned to the competition from Cranbourne.
Pakenham, Maroney’s former club, could well be this season’s big improvers with gun all-rounder Dom Paynter returning to skipper the Lions while Rob Elston, Ben Shipperd and Harley Hulme round out an impressive list of ins.
Bradey and Matt Welsh have departed for Tooradin, which will be feeling the loss of Cal O’Hare to Buckley Ridges in the DDCA.
But the Seagulls still have a huge amount of star power – led by Aaron Avery and Tom Hussey – and they’ve got an exciting brigade of young all-rounders ready to take the competition by the scruff of the neck.
Dandenong and District run machine Bathiya Perera adds some big-time firepower to Upper Beaconsfield while Sri Lankan import Hashan Goonetilleke will provide some much-needed batting support for big-hitting Emerald star AJ Walker.
The Rebels from Cranbourne Meadows will look to make a real name for themselves in their first season up in Premier after winning promotion from District and, as for Kooweerup, well the Demons haven’t exactly sat idly by and watched the competition catch up.
Jess Mathers provides an ominous boost to both their batting and bowling stocks, while Jake Bardwell could be a real X-factor at the top of the order.
The first sight of bat on ball for the new season – Bring. It. On!
CARDINIA
Last season: First (Runners-up)
Captain: Neil Barfuss
President: Luke Turner
Last season most runs: Neil Barfuss – 563 runs at 37.53
Last season most wickets: Neil Barfuss – 40 wickets at 10.35
Ins: Dwayne Doig (Langwarrin), Ben Maroney (Cranbourne), Ben Parrott (Pakenham)
Outs: Simon Parrott (Flinders), Daniel Strahan (Catani), Daniel Glen (retired)
Captain’s comments
Players to watch: “It’s a given the players to watch will be two of the greats of the WGCA – Dwayne Doig (coach) and Ben Maroney. I’m excited to have these two back in the WGCA and in my side. Dean Henwood is another to watch. He has shown everyone how consistent and professional he can be over the past few years and without him toiling over after over we wouldn’t have won half the games we have over his time at Cardinia. On the young talent side, I’m looking forward to seeing the further development of Alex Nooy (vice-captain), Trav Wheller, Trav Welsh, Brayden Browne, Pat Nolen and our new recruit Ben Parrott. Young Lachie Ramage is another to watch. When given an opportunity with the new ball in the practice match against Skye he ripped through their top order.”
Improvement from last year: “Our batting stocks, our bowling stocks and our depth of talent. We have shown in our pre-season training and practice games that the hunger to win is clearly on the surface. The competitive nature of everyone at the club provides a great training ground for success on the field.”
Strengths: “Gaining the experience of Doig and Maroney, the young players are a year older, a year stronger and a year more experienced. The pain in coming so close to a premiership has given them the hunger that is required to go deep into the finals.”
Main threat: “Kooweerup. They have shown everyone in the competition that they are the greatest team of the modern era – winning four premierships in the past six years – so we will be gunning for them harder than ever.”
Expectations: “After getting so close over the past few years, I expect us to make it deep into the finals again, hopefully going one better this year.”
Gazette prediction: Runners-up. The Bulls went through the home and away season in 2014/15 undefeated before ultimately falling agonisingly short at the final hurdle. A couple of huge inclusions in Doig and Maroney could well put Cardinia over the top, but Kooweerup is again the benchmark.
CRANBOURNE MEADOWS
Last season: Premiers in District division
Captain: Geoff Bradshaw
President: Ben Warren-Smith
Last season most runs: Brent Murdoch – 724 at 48.27
Last season most wickets: Geoff Bradshaw – 22 at 22.05
Ins: Chris Milne (player-coach, Skye), Brent Whyte (Hurstbridge), Shameera Weerasinghe (Beaconsfield)
Outs: Shane Murdoch (Bendigo)
Captain’s comments
Players to watch: “Chris Milne and Brent Whyte”.
Strengths: “Our bowling will be our strength this year with most players handy with the pill.”
Expectations: “After a shuffle of players the Premier team looks to be in good shape. We will look to be more than just competitive.”
Gazette prediction: Eighth. The big question mark on the Rebels’ first season up in Premier will be their ability to perform consistently against the WGCA’s most proven sides. If they get off to a strong start, they still have the potential to cause some serious headaches. But a shaky few months prior to Christmas could prove too hard to come back from.
EMERALD
Last season: Seventh
Captain: AJ Walker
President: Jarred Gillespie
Last season most runs: AJ Walker – 629 at 48.38
Last season most wickets: Darcy Hellriegel – 27 at 18.67
Ins: Hashan Goonetilleke (Sri Lanka), Nathan Copey (returning Emerald player), Dave McDonald (returning Emerald player)
Outs: Darcy Hellriegel (Buckley Ridges), Alex Cann (Frankston Peninsula), Cam Williams (Gembrook)
Captain’s comments
Players to watch: “Hashan Goonetilleke and Trent Rolfs.”
Improvement from last year: “I’d say consistency in our batting efforts and match endurance.
Strengths: Our deep batting line-up and an exciting list of talented young players.”
Main threat: “Cardinia, closely followed by Pakenham.”
Expectations: “To build on our competitiveness and consistency from last year and play finals cricket after falling short the previous two seasons.”
Gazette prediction: Seventh. The Bombers’ batting will take a big step forward this season but now a question mark hangs over their bowling stocks. Emerald has some genuine match-winning talent, led by the brilliant Walker, but consistency could again be the issue.
KOOWEERUP
Last season: Third (Premiers)
Captain: Michael Giles
President: Paul West
Last season most runs: Matt Davey – 426 at 30.43
Last season most wickets: Chris O’Hara – 28 at 15.57
Ins: Jess Mathers (Merinda Park), Jake Bardwell (Frankston Peninsula)
Outs: Dananja Madushanka (returned to Sri Lanka)
Captain’s comments
Players to watch: “Ron Bright Jr. He had a terrific year last year and really stepped up with his bowling in big moments. He’ll bowl plenty of overs and I’m hoping for him to take 30-plus wickets.”
Improvement from last year: “I think our batting can certainly improve. We’ve brought in two top-order batters so we’re hoping to strengthen that right up.”
Strengths: “I think our bowling is a real strength of ours. We pretty much have nine bowlers I can rely on. It has certainly won us big games in the past.”
Main threat: “I think the competition is really even and anyone can win on their day. Pakenham look as if they will be really strong, as well as Cardinia and Tooradin.”
Expectations: “I see it as we are one of eight teams fighting to make finals. Hopefully we are there come March and can have a tilt at three in a row.”
Gazette prediction: Premiers. The two-time reigning premiers only got stronger – much stronger – over the off-season. While all eyes will be on the Demons again this year, particularly the performances of Mathers and Bardwell, this side copes with the attention better than any other. Giles backs his men to battle their way out of any tricky situation, and this group’s self-belief is off the charts.
MERINDA PARK
Last season: Second
Captain: Danny Diwell
President: Tony Clarke
Last season most runs: Daniel McCalman – 381 at 31.75
Last season most wickets: Jess Mathers – 24 at 20.63
Ins: Jason Toan, Reece Williams (Surfers Paradise), Nick Tucker (Bamawm Lockington United), Paul Filippone (Skye)
Outs: Jess Mathers (Kooweerup), Andrew Martin (Hallora), Caleb Boswell (Buckley Ridges), Craig Boswell (St Francis Xavier), Dale Cunliffe (Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll), Grant Pearson (Nar Nar Goon/Maryknoll)
Captain’s comments
Players to watch: “Daniel McCalman and Dylan Cuthbertson.”
Improvement from last year: “I’d like to think we will have a well-rounded, balanced side.”
Strengths: “Our batting will be our strength, and consistency with the ball.”
Main threat: “It sounds like an even competition this year with most teams picking up new players, so it could be a very tight year.”
Expectations: “To make the top four again and have a consistent year all-round.”
Gazette prediction: Fifth. The Cobras should never be underestimated. After the Gazette predicted a similar finish for Diwell’s men in 2014/15, they climbed all the way to second by the end of the home and away season. The loss of Mathers could be a game-changer for the Cobras but the boys from the snake pit could relish the extra workload and responsibility spread throughout the group. Never write them off.”
PAKENHAM
Last season: Fifth
Captain: Dom Paynter
President: Phil Anning
Last season most runs: Russell Lehman – 522 at 40.15
Last season most wickets: Russell Lehman – 42 at 14.07
Ins: Dom Paynter (returning from injury), Rob Elston (Casey-South Melbourne), Harley Hulme (Casey-South Melbourne), Ben Shipperd (Caulfield)
Outs: Bradey and Matt Welsh (Tooradin), Ben Parrott (Cardinia), Josh Gonzalez (Catani), James Vela (Hallora), Greg Interlandi (Casey-South Melbourne), Nathan Goodes (Dandenong West)
Captain’s comments
Players to watch: “A fair bit of improvement from players in and out over the off-season will see some new faces in the side throughout the season. We’ve recruited well with some good experience batting-wise while hoping to continue to develop the younger talent such as Zac Chaplin and Harley Hulme. Players to watch will be Rob Elston, Ben Shipperd, Zac Chaplin and Jack Ryan.”
Improvement from last year: “We’ll be a bit more solid and focused through the middle order and we’ll hopefully see greater contributions from the whole batting line-up.”
Strengths: “Having a number of all-rounders gives us good versatility. We’ll be young and energetic in the field.”
Main threat: “All seven opponents.”
Expectations: “To improve on last year we must make finals, and that’s our sole aim.”
Gazette prediction: Third. The Lions look set to be this season’s big improvers, with the return of gun all-rounder and captain-coach Dom Paynter leading the way. Elston, Hulme and Shipperd are all huge ins and will provide real class despite Pakenham losing plenty of depth over the off-season. The continued development of young all-rounder Zac Chaplin will be fascinating to watch.
TOORADIN
Last season: Fourth
Captain: Tom Hussey
President: Kane Latham
Last season most runs: Tom Hussey – 662 at 47.29
Last season most wickets: Jarred Thompson – 18 at 24.94
Ins: Bradey and Matt Welsh (both Pakenham)
Outs: Cal O’Hare (Buckley Ridges), Ash Adams (Devon Meadows), Ben Spicer (Pakenham Upper-Toomuc), Brenton Adams (retired), Bodie Brown (break)
Captain’s comments
Players to watch: “Dylan Sutton has had a massive pre-season and will look to have a big year with both bat and ball. He has really led the way at training, setting excellent standards and showing big improvements in his game early. Daniel ‘Spider’ Hunt and Jay Wilson are two blokes we are really looking forward to taking the step up into the ones this season. They’re damaging batsmen and are both capable with the ball.”
Improvement from last year: “Our improvement will come through understanding our game and controlling the controllables. We’re striving for consistent cricket.”
Strengths: “Our batting line-up is coming together nicely with a mix of power and defence. Spots up the order will be hotly-contested. Our youthful energy and positive approach from our coaching staff and playing group will also be a strength throughout the upcoming season.”
Main threat: “It’s hard to go past Kooweerup and Cardinia, having added to their respective sides after grand final appearances last season.”
Expectations: “To play finals. From there anything is possible.”
Gazette prediction: Fourth. The Seagulls look likely to return to the finals this season despite losing star all-rounder Cal O’Hare, top-order batsman Brenton Adams and wicket-taking seamer Ash Adams. The rate of progression in their young all-rounder stocks will go a long way to determining if they make the finals. Look for big seasons from both Hussey, and player-coach Aaron Avery.
UPPER BEACONSFIELD
Last season: Sixth
Captain: Scott Pitcher
President: Damien Bayard
Last season most runs: Chris Savage – 425 at 30.36
Last season most wickets: Tommy Tyrrell – 27 at 13.70
Ins: Bathiya Perera (playing-coach, Berwick), Matt Hutson, Rick North (Heinz Southern Districts)
Outs: Chris Savage (Nerrena), Jake Serong (Longwarry)
Captain’s comments
Players to watch: “I’m looking forward to guiding a young side for the upcoming season. Players to watch include Bathiya Perera, Robert North and Jayden Joyce.”
Improvement from last year: “Batting.”
Strengths: “Our bowling.”
Main threat: “Cardinia.”
Expectations: “To push for a top four spot.”
Gazette prediction: Sixth. There could be very little separating the Lions, Seagulls, Cobras and Maroons when it’s all said and done. Savage is a real loss, but Perera is a massive inclusion. One of the most prolific run-scorers in the DDCA, Perera can bat all day. The return of Hutson is also a big plus. Look for Tommy Tyrrell to have another stellar season with the ball.
