Premier Cricket: Prahran has added a stack of recruits ahead of the 2023-24 season
Prahran is preparing for a dazzling 2023-24 with the addition of four impressive recruits. See the latest.
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Prahran is set to fast track its push for a Premier Cricket finals berth with the additions of four ready-made stars.
The True Blues have added Anna O’Donnell, Mia Perrin and Lucy Page from Melbourne, as well as Olivia Henry – who currently holds a state contract with Victoria – from Ringwood.
Although it was competitive each week, Prahran finished at the bottom of the Women’s First XI standings in 2022-23 and has made moves that should see it propel up the ladder next summer.
Prahran president Nigel Parsons welcomed the four high-calibre players, outlining what they bring to the young and promising True Blues group.
“I think if you go back a few years, we had a number of Victorian players – some have retired, Alanah King went to WA, Erica Kershaw went to ACT, ect, ect,” he said.
“We had a strong depth of talent and when you lose five or six (players), you leave a massive gap in your depth, so we have really focused on the last two years in building up the younger generation.
“We have a number of under-17 and under-19 state players, Paris Bowdler has been contracted by ACT, which is just wonderful for her.
“We have been fixated on development but you have to build some depth, we feel if we don’t get the depth right we won’t progress the results on the field.”
Parsons is confident O’Donnell, Perrin, Page and Henry bring a level of knowledge of the game that is unmatched.
“Someone like Anna brings a heap of experience, she will act as our bowling coach and she’s obviously got an outstanding Premier career behind her,” he said.
“She is not only going to bring capability and depth, but a world of knowledge to fast track some of the great talent we have at the club.
“I think both of them (Anna and Henry) bring that knowledge base on the field but – as importantly, if not more importantly – that knowledge at practice.
“When it comes to finals you need that depth and experience to step up, hopefully we will get that with Anna.”
Prahran is expecting Toorak Park to be ready for play by January and the facilities to be finalised by June 2024.
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