By Nick Creely and Russell Bennett
CRANBOURNE will be looking to bounce into a new era of the Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA) with the announcement of Rowville champion Matt Blackman as coach.
Blackman joins the Eagles as they embark on a new journey in Turf 2, after a strong first XI career spanning almost three decades as a top order batsman.
The Eagles went looking for an outside coach after club veteran Steve ‘Funky’ Miller’s departure as club coach.
In terms of player signings down at Casey Fields, highly rated bowler and 2015/16 premiership player Marty Kelly will return for the Eagles after previously relocating for work, and will be a welcome addition to a side that has struggled for wickets in the last couple of years.
Fellow DDCA rival BERWICK has been typically busy in the off-season, with the signing of former Casey-South Melbourne star Brendan Rose.
In what comes as a bit of a shock, the lion-hearted quick is likely to be one of the stars of the Turf 1 competition, and helps offset the losses of both Jarrod Armitage (Springvale South) and James Wilcock (Dandenong), who is likely to have another crack at Premier Cricket.
Rumour has it the Bears could yet sign another Casey-South Melbourne cricketer in the off-season.
Another Turf 1 powerhouse, BUCKLEY RIDGES are on the verge of announcing two major signings, with two recruits set to bolster their premiership credentials.
It is understood that one of the big name players is a South African, while the other is a gun player from a local competition.
HEINZ SOUTHERN DISTRICTS has significantly bolstered its spinning stocks with the signing of former Cranbourne and Casey-South Melbourne spinner Cameron Dinger.
Dinger comes across from the Swans where he played a handful of first XI cricket, but will look to return to the DDCA ranks with a point to prove.
But one of the biggest movers in the DDCA off-season is BEACONSFIELD, which is compiling a powerful Turf 3 side.
The Tigers have confirmed that overseas recruit Matt Golding – who belted 589 runs and took 43 wickets last season – will stay on after putting pen to paper on a two year contract extension.
But the first big fish is that of former Frankston spinner and Eagles junior Jack Benbow, who returns to the club after a terrific Premier career.
Benbow played over 120 first XI games with the Heat, and is highly regarded for his ability to bowl economically and get key breakthroughs.
It is expected that the Eagles will announce a former Casey-South Melbourne all-rounder as another signing, with Peter Sofra – another former junior – the player linked to the club.
Another player set to suit up for the Tigers this season is 2012/13 Wookey Medal winner Alex Roberts, who has been a star of the DDCA for the best part of a decade.
Roberts, 34, was an England Under 19 representative and has played two Twenty20’s for Essex in the UK.
SILVETON are another club that have had a strong off-season to date, with the signing of star batsman Alex Kerr, who has played Premier for Dandenong and Greenvale, as well as North Dandenong. It comes after the announcement of new captain/coach Simon Beshara, who has had a stellar career with Ormond.
Looking towards the Victorian Premier Cricket and CASEY-SOUTH MELBOURNE are still on the lookout for a senior coach, complicating things with players leaving the club for local competitions.
The club has certainly taken their time to find the right coach to bring the club forward, but still have Prabath Nissanka and Nick Jewell locked in for 2018/19 as assistant coaches.
At this stage Leigh Diston (Western Park in the Warragul and District competition), Rose, and Dinger are three confirmed departures from the club, and the Gazette understands there will be more players leaving with a potential shake up of on-field leaders.
DANDENONG, meanwhile, is steadily working behind the scenes to improve its premiership-winning list, but have already retained some key players.
Darren Pattinson, initially tipped to retire, will go on again for the Panthers in a bid to snare another premiership, while premiership skipper Tom Donnell and Brett Forsyth will keep their champion opening partnership going for at least another season. A star quick from a rival club – who the Panthers have eyed for a number of years – is believed to be speaking with the club.
PEARCEDALE, meanwhile, has bid farewell to star all-rounder Chris Dew, who has made the move back to Frankston Peninsula for another shot at Premier cricket. Dew already has 146 club games and 3450 runs to his name at the Heat and is currently sitting on 49 first XI matches.
A little closer to home and there’s been a huge array of moves in the West Gippsland Cricket Association. The biggest departure to be announced so far is that of star keeper-batsman Tom Hussey, who has departed TOORADIN for MPCA powerhouse LANGWARRIN.
The news isn’t all bad for the Gulls though, as the Gazette understands the likes of Russell Lehman, Cal O’Hare, Kade Burns, and the Lownds brothers have all-recommitted to the club – along with a host of other returning players – under new coach, and club favourite son, Brenton Adams. Josh Lownds will serve as an assistant to Adams for the 2018/19 season.
CLYDE has given a clear indication that it wants to move forward in leaps and bounds, announcing a host of signings including: Jason Hameeteman (who last season scored 629 runs at 69.9 at District level for Carlisle Park); Kiefer Peries and Liam Bennett, who’ve returned to the Cougars from Frankston Peninsula as co-coaches; Matthew Aslett from Parkfield; and Anthony Marsden from Officer.
Back-to-back reigning Premier grade champion KOOWEERUP is again set to enter next season as the title favourite with a familiar core group leading the charge. Though Ben Spicer has departed for Ellinbank (where he’s now player-coach), the Demons have recruited former Officer young gun Tyler Clark in addition to welcoming back Ron Bright Jr and Shaun Donnelly from Lang Lang. It’s a case of sliding doors at Denhams Road though, in a sense, with Ron’s twin brother John departing for Foster in the same off-season.
Though the likes of Dwayne Doig and Ben Maroney have retired from playing first XI cricket at CARDINIA, the Bulls have wasted no time in bolstering their stocks for next season – signing former Narre Warren and Springvale South bowler James Giertz (most recently from Southport Labrador in Queensland); and former Emerald captain-coach AJ Walker, who is fresh off a premiership-winning turf stint with Bentleigh in the Southern Bayside competition.
PAKENHAM has welcomed premiership-winning quick Jack Ryan back into the fold, while Dale Tormey has also joined the Lions after a two-year stint as their marquee player in the Kookaburra Cup Twenty20 competition.
UPPER BEACONSFIELD, meanwhile, is yet to announce a new coach following the departure of star all-rounder Bathiya Perera to Frankston Peninsula as a specialist batting coach. Perera, it has been announced, will continue to have an involvement with the Maroons’ junior program.
EMERALD has announced its new coach for its return to the District division next season with Brad Trinnick taking on the role.
PAKENHAM UPPER-TOOMUC, meanwhile, has announced the leadership duo of Sahan Wijerathne (coach) and John Nooy (captain) as it embarks on its new chapter in Sub-District.
There have also been changes aplenty in the nearby Warragul District Cricket Association with JINDIVICK among the big movers. Former gun Pakenham all-rounder and 2017/18 WGCA Premier Team of the Year member Zac Chaplin joins his great mate Steve Dillon at the club. Young left arm bowler Thom Jones has also departed Pakenham for Jindivick alongside Shannon Mitchell. Jarratt Eastburn (Cheltenham Park), Craig Boswell (Narre Warren) have also joined the Jumping Jacks.
Interestingly, each of their recruits are only worth two points under the WDCA’s system, which encourages bringing in players from outside the competition.
WESTERN PARK, meanwhile, has announced the signing of Troy Lehman (formerly of Longwarry) in addition to new playing-assistant Leigh Diston.
DROUIN has announced the signing of new player-coach Sam Van Der Zalm from Devon Meadows in the WGCA, along with Jamie Glen (Glen Alvie) and Dylan Serong (Longwarry).
BULN BULN, finally, has announced the re-signings of premiership coach Bryce Monahan and Alan Rankin medallist as the best player in the grand final, Jack Paull, for their tilt at the 2018/19 flag. The Gazette will provide further cricket updates throughout the off-season.
