VSDCA: East-West group season preview
From the key players to all the ins and outs of every club. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Subbies East-West group.
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The intrigue surrounding the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association East-West group has continued to grow throughout the off-season.
Endeavour Hills has captured all the headlines while Werribee will be quietly confident of making it three straight premierships.
Here’s a look at how every club is shaping up ahead of the first game.
ALTONA
Captain: James Grubb
Coach: Aaron Whear
Last season: 12th (4-2-9) – South-West Group
In: Luke Medlock (UK), Charlie Ward (UK), Archie Smith (UK), Mitch Marrison (NSW)
Out: Mitch Cullen
Snapshot: New coach Aaron Whear wants his side to be “hard to play against in all grades and aim to be really competitive” throughout the season as Altona was last season. The three English recruits – Archie Smith, Charlie Ward and Luke Medlock – have brought fantastic energy into the group and will be an interesting watch throughout the season. Smith is a leg spinner who bats in the middle order, Ward delivers right arm pace and Medlock is a strong middle order batsman. The club is also hopeful captain James Grubb can rediscover his best form after relinquishing the captain’s role at the end of last season. Altona has proven it can be more than competitive against most sides in the competition and that shouldn’t change. We can see them winning more than four games this time around.
BALWYN
Captain: Lachie Fitzpatrick
Coach: Clinton Kennon
Last season: Eighth (8-7)
In: Harrison Goad (Fitzroy Doncaster)
Out: Jack Lyndon (Camberwell Magpies)
Snapshot: Coach Clinton Kennon has put it to the batting order to lift this season in an effort to climb the ladder, imploring an extra 30 to 40 runs out of each. He believes this could bridge the gap on a season in which his charges fell three points and percentage short of a finals berth. He says it’s a list ready to take the next step, aged around 21-22, and the bonus is the Tigers have retained most of that group. The addition of paceman Harrison Goad from the Premier ranks is a major coup to open the bowling with Harry Dixon, who took a leading 22 wickets at an average of 18.91 last season. Consider the likes of Lachie Fitzpatrick (15 wickets at 15.80), Dom Greene (21 at 18.76), Vihaan Narayana (10 at 15.10) and Adi Narayana (16 at 18.88), and the bowling attack looks sound. At the crease, Adi Narayana (319 runs at 24.54), Tom Audley (313 at 24.08) and Vihaan Narayana (306 at 30.60) led the way. Internally, the coach says the expectation is that all four teams need to play finals, pointing to the thirds and fourths’ grand final berths generating hunger among the club. Kennon says the time is nigh for the First XI to take the next step.
BAYSWATER
Captain: Jason Kilby
Coach: Jason Kilby
Last season: 12th (5-10)
In: Jason Kilby (Ferntree Gully, FTGDCA), Jordan Ludgater (Bayswater-Morley, WA Premier Cricket), Eitan Litvin (Methley, Bradford Premier League, UK), Sachin Halangode (Casey South Melbourne), Luke Turner (returning)
Out: Rob Sacristani, Max Sacristani, Rex Sacristani (Fitzroy Doncaster), Tim Sugamar (Ringwood), Lachie Quinn (Ringwood), Muhammad Arsalan (Essendon)
Snapshot: There’s been a high turnover of players at Baysie with it set to field a new-look First XI. There’s been change at the top with Jason Kilby taking the reins as captain-coach, taking over from skipper John Salter Jr and outgoing mentor Shane Gordon. Kilby crosses from Ferntree Gully having also played Premier Cricket with Ringwood, and will bat in the middle order as well as bowl spin part-time. Meanwhile, keeper-batsman Jordan Ludgater returns to Victoria after playing in the WA Premier comp in the seconds, having previously spent time at Ringwood. He’ll open the batting alongside Robbie Cox, who led the run-scoring with 292 at 24.33 last season. UK import Eitan Litvin will pick up the gloves after crossing from the Bradford league in the UK where he was named young cricketer of the year after averaging mid-40s with the bat – a handy addition to the Waters’ top order. Meanwhile, all-rounder and off-spinner Sachin Halangode is set to feature in the firsts and his experience at a higher level can only be a positive, while opening bowler Luke Turner returns to the club after a stint as captain-coach at Mountain Gate. Despite a host of names heading to the Premier ranks, there’s been enough quality brought in to cover the losses. Expect Bayswater to improve on its five-win result from last season.
BOX HILL
Captain: Tom Newman
Coach: Simon Cornelius
Last season: 14th (3-2-10)
In: Ashish Mathew (Kingston Hawthorn), Brad Yates, Cian Dickinson (both Bradshaw, Greater Manchester, UK), Tom Simmons (East Box Hill, BHRDCA), Numan Safda (Pascoe Vale Hadfield, VTCA)
Out: Blake Nikolic (Donvale), Kyle Rayner (season off)
Snapshot: The glaring omission is leading run-scorer from last season, Blake Nikolic, who has departed for rival, Donvale. He put on 348 runs at 26.77, followed by Kyle Rayner (205 runs) who will take a break this season. They’re significant outs, but the Mustangs have been active on the recruiting front. Premier all-rounder Ashish Mathew headlines the haul of arrivals, crossing from Kingston Hawthorn. His time was split between the Hawks’ First and Second XI in the past two campaigns, with last season highlighted by a 4-53 effort against Prahran in the firsts. UK imports in keeper/batsman Brad Yates and spinner/batsman Cian Dickinson should be handy additions. Yates, returns to the Subbies scene having previously played with Mount Waverley some five years ago, belting more than 800 runs and claiming 53 dismissals across two seasons. Dickinson enjoyed some campaign for Bradshaw, driving 665 runs from 22 league matches to go with 25 wickets at 22.48.
The Mustangs missed a host of key names through injury last season – none more so than captain Tom Newman and off-spinner off-spinner Muhammad Saeed, but coach Simon Cornelius says the list is ripe ahead of the season. Despite to key losses, the Mustangs look in a sound position to rebound from a three-win campaign – and a deeper list this time around should help if injuries strike again.
CROYDON
Captain: Steve Wright
Coach: Tom McQuinn
Last season: Sixth (8-1-6)
In: Leon Risdon (Bruthen, Bairnsdale league), Cam Voss (Fitzroy Doncaster)
Out: Hamish Paterson, Riley Paterson, David Hickey
Snapshot: A finals berth last season was short-lived, but the exposure to the high-pressure stakes was invaluable for the young list, coach Tom McQuinn says.
While the Cockies were met with a rampaging Kew outfit in their finals appearance, the coach says the group won’t be resting on its laurels heading into this year as it hunts another finals spot: “No less than last year,” McQuinn says of the expectations. “We’re eyeing finals again and we’ve now set ourselves a platform where we’ve allowed ourselves to do that. We’ve got a young list which will only improve … to see the way they (Kew) executed was invaluable experience for these boys.”
Croydon has waved goodbye to Hamish Paterson (15 wickets at 23.13 last year; 190 runs) and Riley Paterson (nine wickets at 43.22; 100 runs), while wicketkeeper-batsman David Hickey (95 runs last season) has also moved on. Hickey’s departure has however been offset by the arrival of Leon Risdon who’ll take the gloves, bringing experience from Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England. He’ll also boost the batting ranks. Despite the departures, the Cockies have retained most of the First XI, including leading runscorer Jake Marnie (558 runs at an average of 42.92) and leading wicket-taker Chris Brown (26 at 19.23). There’s also high hopes again for young talents Daniel Ivanovic (464 runs at 38.67) and Mitch Brooker (272 at 24.73) among a wealth of emerging names.
DONVALE
Captain: Blake Nikolic
Coach: Saliya Ahangama
Last season: 13th (4-1-10)
In: Blake Nikolic (Box Hill)
Out: Malinga Bandara
Snapshot: It was a tough initiation for the Lions in the Subbies last season with just four wins. They’ve brought in a gun batsman, but lost one of their most decorated players. Former Sri Lankan Test cricketer Malinga Bandara has finished up with the club due to family commitments, after a leading 22 wickets at an average of 17 last season, and 228 runs at 20.73. He’ll be difficult to replace, but the inclusion of Nikolic significantly boosts the Lions’ batting power, after leading Box Hill’s runs in 2021-22 with 348 runs at 26.77 and should slot in seamlessly. Shanogeeth Shanmuganathan (401 runs at 28.64), Udara Weragala (369 at 28.38) and Jayden Clay (325 at 23.21) spearheaded the runs as the Lions enjoyed wins over Preston, Balwyn, Mount Waverley and Box Hill in a mid-season charge, providing plenty of cause for optimism heading into a new season. The Lions should provide their share of headaches again.
ENDEAVOUR HILLS
Captain: Tillakaratne Dilshan
Last season: Second (12-1-2)
In: Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka), Fidel Edwards
Out: Susantha Pradeep (St Mary’s)
Snapshot: Few, if any, could lay claim to a rise on the scale of Endeavour Hills last season, finishing second at the end of the season after collecting a series of wooden spoons. Bringing in serious firepower certainly helped the cause, and this season looks eerily similar. It’s welcomed Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne who’ll open the batting early in the season alongside former Sri Lankan champion Tillakaratne Dilshan, who raised 512 runs at an average of 46.55 last season. It’s a potent combination to overcome the loss of Susantha Pradeep (369 at 33.55), while the services of Akshay Ballal (390 at 55.71) have also been retained. He’ll bat in the top order alongside Sri Lankan Test cricketer Lahiru Thirimanne, back this season after a handful of matches in 2021-22. Karunaratne’s campaign will be cut short due to international duties, but the arrival of Barbadian cricketer Fidel Edwards – slated for after Christmas – should be a nice boost. Edwards’ round-arm bowling style should fit nicely into the bowling attack, while he’s more than handy with the bat. Chris Pereira topped the wicket count last season with 21 at 17.67, followed by Ballal (19 at 11.05) and Dilshan (19 at 15.84) and again pose a tough prospect for opposition batting orders. Expectations are high internally, and it’s difficult to argue Endeavour Hills doesn’t have all the weapons in the arsenal to go all the way.
HOPPERS CROSSING
Captain-coach: Simon Lambert
Last season: 11th (6-0-9) – South-West group
In: Gurpeet Singh (Manifold Heights), Ed Common, Alex Bone, Shijut Chandran (India), Simon Lambert (St Albans), Jasan Singh
Out: Ajay Bhatt, Aditya Ganesh, Mason Frenkel
Snapshot: There’s a sense of change with Hoppers Crossing this season as the club aims to play finals for the first time in several years. There’s a plethora of fresh faces headlined by the arrival of captain-coach Simon Lambert who will immediately strengthen the club’s batting stocks. Gurpeet Singh is a spin bowler who recently moved into the area and fell into Hoppers’ lap. Lambert said the spin attack is as good as he has played with. The departures of Adita Ganesh and Ajay Bhatt will be felt after they were among the club’s top run scorers run last season. It’s hard to get a read on this side considering there has been so much change.
MELTON
Captain: Ben Mcrae
Coach: Mitch Stephens
Last season: 16th (0-1-14) – South-West group
In: Ben Macrae (returning), Mitch Stephens, Stephen Wiig (USA)
Out: Nil.
Snapshot: It was tough going for the young Lions last season but with new coach Mitch Stephens at the club, they’re confident on rising up the ladder. Ben Macrae’s return to the top of the order will provide the Lions with plenty of experience while Mitch Stephens has played a major off-field role in connecting the junior and senior programs in the off-season. American Stephen Wiig is a left arm quick and could be one of the surprise packets of the year. Shehan Hirudika scored 341 runs at 28.42 with the bat last season to lead the way for the Lions. More experience at this level is only going to hold the Lions in good stead. If the young guns can take big steps forward in their development, there is no reason they can’t pick up a few wins.
MOUNT WAVERLEY
Captain: Michael Sheedy
Coach: Michael Sheedy
Last season: Seventh (8-1-6)
In: -
Out: -
Snapshot: Fell agonisingly short of a finals berth last time, with its failed appeal for a spot a bitter pill to swallow. But there’s plenty to be optimistic about if last season’s momentum is anything to go by, having knocked over eventual-premier Kew among its swag of wins. Michael Millier produced again to spearhead the run-scoring with 363 at 25.93, while Hareen Silva and Nathan Pruscino chipped in more than 300 apiece. On the bowling front, Kurt Benjamin (21 wickets at 22.48), Jake Rigby (19) and Hugh Birchall (16) dished out their share of headaches to opposition batting orders while spinners Angus Robbins and Pruscino brought further flexibility to the attack. The age profile of the list fits well with the majority of players aged under 30, and after missing the finals by a whisker last season, the hunger would have only built in the six months since.
NOBLE PARK
Captain: Janaka Liyanabaladalge
Coach: Dale Christie
Last season: 11th (6-1-8)
In: Gayan De Silva (Endeavour Hills), Chatharanga De Silva, JP Singh, Lyle D’Rozario (Ferntree Gully Footballers, FTGDCA), Sohail Sadiq
Out: Max Heffernan (Casey South Melbourne), Jeevan Mendis (Narre Warren South), Jasper Speas (Frankston)
Snapshot: It’s set to be a young Noble Park outfit, but coach Dale Christie has his sights set on a finals berth. The club’s identified a need to bolster its bowling attack by bringing in quicks Gayan De Silva and Sohail Sadiq who’ve both played at Endeavour Hills, while left-arm spinner Lyle D’Rozario arrives from the Ferntree Gully comp after a decade at Premier level with Kingston Hawthorn. De Silva and Sadiq look set to replace coach Dale Christie and the injured Anthony Salomon with the pair to open the bowling, while D’Rozario brings much-needed experience and leadership. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan left-hander Chatharanga De Silva is set to be arriving soon and should feature in the top-order and the bowling attack sending down left-arm offies, replacing Jeevin Mendis. Seventeen-year-old JP Singh looks a nice prospect as a right-arm off-spinner and top-order bat – a rare talent according to Christie, who more or less walked in off the street and is set for a senior debut this season. A host of names have linked with Premier clubs, with top-order bat Max Heffernan, all-rounder Jasper Speas among the departures.
It was some season from club champion Janaka Liyanabaladalge, with the experienced all-rounder enjoying a sizzling summer with the bat and ball claiming 483 runs at an average of 34.50 (highest score of 114) and 33 wickets at 11.97 and a best of 5-15. He was tossing up whether to play again this season, but he’s committed and has taken on the captaincy.
His experience will complement the young brigade, with plenty of emerging talents blooded last season – Josh Crozier (20 wickets at 17.65, 319 runs at 22.79) and Neil D’Souza (15 at 23.80, 154 runs) touted among the names to watch – and they’re under 20 years of age.
They’ll make up a host of similarly-aged players, with the coach keen to progress his group.
“Last year was setting the standard for culture and accountability, and this year is to go the next step – minimum is to make finals (and) we expect to be the best team in the east and we really want to challenge the west,” Christie says of his expectations.
SPOTSWOOD
Captain: Jakson Knight
Coach: Dan Schuppan
Last season: 7th (8-1-6) – South-West group
In: Jarrod Martinago (Melbourne Uni), Antony Keely (Melbourne Uni), Taylor Tatterson (Stratford)
Out: Jarryd Vernon (time off)
Snapshot: After stunning the competition in its first Subbies season last year, Spotty will have the rest of the competition on high alert. A finals push certainly isn’t out of the question with all three acquisitions bringing Premier Cricket experience to the table. The loss of last season’s leading wicket taker Jarryd Vernon is a big blow meaning coach Dan Schuppan and Matthew Sazenis will shoulder more of the bowling load. New recruit Taylor Tatterson was a former captain-coach of Stratford and will add more experience to the side. Riley Vernon (447 runs at 34.48 last season) and skipper Jakson Knight (429 runs at 47.67) will again look to establish themselves as some of the better batsman in the competition. Schuppan said his side got a lot of belief from last season and was aiming to go one step better with the hope of playing finals.
TAYLORS LAKES
Captain-coach: Alex Deuchar
Last season: 15th (3-0-12) – South-West group
In: Aamir Raza, Osahda Fernando (Sri Lanka)
Out: Buddhika Janith (interstate)
Snapshot: Taylors Lakes would be more than happy with its off-season as it looks to make a significant move up the ladder. No move was bigger than the arrival of current Sri Lankan test cricketer Oshada Fernando who will no doubt be one of the best players in the competition this season. He’ll be joined by Aamir Raza who returns to the club after a couple of seasons away and will add plenty of energy to the group. If all three recruits are able to perform it will go a long way to helping the Lions rise up the ladder. They’ll look to the likes of Luke Denny and Lachlan Marr to also continue their form of last season. Coach Alex Deuchar described his players as a “competitive bunch who are looking to every at every opportunity”.
WERRIBEE
Captain: Tim O’Brien
Coach: Chris Hennessey
Last season: South-West group premiers
In: Luke Reid (Yarraville)
Out: Hamish Winter-Irving (work)
Snapshot: The Tigers will be right in the premiership mix again this season as they aim for three in a row. One of the club’s greatest strengths is its depth and that could see some guys push towards a place in the First XI if form warrants selection. Hamish Winter-Irving’s departure is a big loss but captain Tim O’Brien is confident the club has what it needs for someone to take his place. Batsman Luke Reid arrives from rivals Yarraville in another boost to the club’s batting stocks. Dean brothers, Matt and Shaun, will again prove pivotal with the bat while Nathan Taylor is one of the competition’s most exciting batsman. Jonathon Burton and Michael Kelly will lead the bowling attack. O’Brien said the expectation of this group is a “group of mates who want to be playing cricket together and enjoying it, that’s no different to the past – we know our best cricket is good enough to play finals”. You’d expect the powerhouse of the west to be there again when the whips are cracking.
WILLIAMSTOWN
Captain-coach: Sean Sturrock
Last season: 10th (5-2-8) – South-West group
In: Fraser Hay (Footscray), Jack Craig (Melbourne)
Out: Nil.
Snapshot: Williamstown will be desperate to move up the ladder this season after a mixed showing in 2021-22. In his second season as captain-coach, Sean Sturrock said his two new recruits, Fraser Hay and Jack Craig, have been the standouts during the pre-season. “They’re experience and knowledge from Premier Cricket has brought a good energy to the group and they’ve gelled quite nicely,” he said. But Willi has lost James Grixti and Matt Twentyman for a part of the season due to personal reasons. Sturrock said he is unsure whether they’ll see them later in the year but remains hopeful. Matt Dervan and Brenton Hodges were the leading batsmen last year and will again play an important role. Sturrock, who was the club’s leading wicket taker last season, said there would also be plenty of opportunities for junior players who have “developed nicely” in the past few years.
YARRAVILLE
Captain-coach: Jonah Koch
Last season: 14th (3-2-10) – South-West group
In: Harry Allinson (UK)
Out: Luke Reid (Werribee)
Snapshot: Incoming captain-coach Jonah Koch has been impressed with his team’s work ethic throughout this season and is confident they’ll make inroads on last season’s efforts. Englishman Harry Allinson will add plenty of excitement to the batting line-up, helping to cover the loss of Luke Reid. Koch also spoke highly of Allinson’s “exceptional” fielding skills. Ashane De Silva and Aidan Salvado will play key roles with the bat once again while Matt Grose looms as the leader of the bowling unit. Yarraville was “extremely disappointed” with its season in the last campaign and believes it has a “good mix” of youth and experience to win more games this summer.
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