Just a couple of months out of the first official ball on willow of the 2015/16 West Gippsland Cricket Association season, the silly season is in full swing. A host of big name players have joined, or left, some of the biggest clubs in the top couple of tiers – and this has the potential to shake up the competition. In the first of a series, RUSSELL BENNETT runs his eye over some of the most notable moves. Note: Some moves may be unconfirmed.
TWO-TIME reigning Premier grade champions Kooweerup could be forgiven for sitting back, content with the group that has delivered the town the last two flags.
But instead, they’ve pulled off the move of the off-season – securing former Merinda Park spearhead Jess Mathers, who took 24 wickets last season following a 2013/14 campaign in which he led the league with 37 scalps at just 13.95.
The Demons have bid farewell to Sri Lankan import Dananja Madushanka, but they’ve also brought in Jake Bardwell from Frankston Peninsula in Premier cricket.
Kooweerup’s long-time nemesis Cardinia has left no stone unturned in its title quest, either.
The Bulls have welcomed back favourite son Dwayne Doig from Langwarrin in the MPCA. The gun spinner took 32 wickets last season in the Mornington Peninsula competition, with his best figures a brilliant 7/30. And in his last WGCA campaign with the Bulls – in 2011/12 – he took 42 scalps at an average of just 12.
But the Bulls, who’ve lost former player-coach Simon Parrott (who has returned to Flinders in the MPCA) as well as Daniel Glen, have also welcomed in Ben Maroney from Cranbourne in the Dandenong District Cricket Association and Parrott’s son Ben from Pakenham. Maroney scored 364 runs in the DDCA’s Turf 1 competition last season and 664 runs (at 55.33) in his last WGCA Premier season for Pakenham in 2011/12.
Tooradin has lost gun all-rounder Cal O’Hare to Buckley Ridges in the DDCA but have welcomed in brothers Bradey and Matt Welsh from Pakenham. O’Hare is a massive loss, but the Gulls are still well placed for success in the WGCA’s top tier under Aaron Avery who will serve as player-coach this season, and the returning Tom Hussey.
Emerald has lost talented pace bowling trio Darcy Hellriegel (to Buckley Ridges), Alex Cann (to Frankston Peninsula in Premier Cricket) and Cam Williams (to Gembrook) but have welcomed in Sri Lankan import Hashan Gunatilleke under new coach Michael Nell.
Chris Savage is another big name departure from the league, with the former Upper Beaconsfield player-coach heading to Nerrena in the Leongatha and District competition (LDCA). But he has been replaced with Berwick star Bathiya Perera in a huge boost to the Maroons’ chances. Matt Hutson and Ricky North have also come aboard. Perera was fourth in the DDCA Turf 1 run tally last season with 372.
Devon Meadows has welcomed seamer Ash Adams across from Tooradin and Jamie Glen from Glen Alvie in the LDCA, in addition to the returning Daniel Street and Shane Filius.
Pakenham Upper-Toomuc has brought in top-order batsman Ben Spicer from Tooradin and Rory Gilliate from Bunyip in the Warragul and District competition, but has lost Andrew Hilder who is captain-coach at Gembrook.
Keep an eye on the Gazette over the coming weeks for many more moves at some of the other clubs.
KOOWEERUP
In: Jess Mathers (Merinda Park), Jake Bardwell (Frankston Peninsula – Premier Cricket)
Out: Dananja Madushanka
CARDINIA
In: Dwayne Doig (Langwarrin – MPCA), Ben Maroney (Cranbourne – DDCA), Ben Parrott (Pakenham)
Out: Simon Parrott (Flinders – MPCA), Daniel Glen
TOORADIN
In: Bradey Welsh, Matt Welsh (both Pakenham)
Out: Cal O’Hare (Buckley Ridges – DDCA), Ash Adams (Devon Meadows), Brenton Adams (retired), Ben Spicer (Pakenham Upper-Toomuc)
EMERALD
In: Hashan Gunatilleke (Sri Lanka)
Out: Darcy Hellriegel (Buckley Ridges – DDCA), Alex Cann (Frankston Peninsula – Premier Cricket), Cam Williams (Gembrook).
UPPER BEACONSFIELD
In: Bathiya Perera (Berwick – DDCA), Matt Hutson, Ricky North
Out: Chris Savage (Nerrena – LDCA)
DEVON MEADOWS
In: Ash Adams (Tooradin), Jamie Glen (Glen Alvie – LDCA), Daniel Steet, Shane Filius.
Out: Nil.
PAKENHAM UPPER – TOOMUC
In: Ben Spicer (Tooradin), Rory Gilliate (Bunyip – WDCA)
Out: Andrew Hilder (Gembrook)
