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All the moves from every VTCA club

The Victorian Turf Cricket Association off-season is in full swing with new players and coaches being unveiled across the competition. Keep on top of every move in our signing tracker.

Salman Afridi is on the move. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)
Salman Afridi is on the move. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Clubs are already making moves in a bid to chase their premiership next campaign.

Here’s a look at all of the confirmed moves.

SENIOR DIVISION

DEER PARK

Fawad Ahmed: The star leg spinner has joined the club in a move from Hoppers Crossing.

Aaron Shellie: Part of the double Aaron arrival from Coburg. Was brilliant in the Subbies last season with 572 runs at 38.13.

Aaron Ayre: The Coburg gun joins the reigning premier off a Subbies season where he scored over 400 runs.

SYDENHAM HILLSIDE

Anthony Barton: The top order bat has crossed from rivals Aberfeldie.

Jack Harding: The ex-England under-19 international is a left-arm quick who will add plenty to the bowling attack.

Akon Mawien: The pace bowler crosses from Adelaide where he played for Prospect District.

Sanka Ramesh: Crosses from Hoppers Crossing in the VSDCA and will slot into the middle order. He has previously been a VTCA Team of the Year selection.

Cameron West: An explosive batsman and will add a “new dimension” to the Storm. Makes the move after recently moving to the area.

Tallan Wright: The ex-Aberfeldie gun joins the club in a head of cricket role.

ABERFELDIE

Captain-coach: Kieren Gray has been appointed into the dual role. He previously held the role for six years.

Aberfeldie’s Kieren Gray in action. Picture: Stuart Milligan
Aberfeldie’s Kieren Gray in action. Picture: Stuart Milligan

YARRAVILLE CLUB

Matthew Doric: The Brunswick gun will add an extra element to the pace bowling line-up.

Josh Eaton: The now ex-Craigeburn skipper joins the Senior Division rivals after 19 wickets last season.

Viraj Lakshitha: Joins from Haig Fawkner where he was a 2022-23 Team of the Year all-rounder.

ST ALBANS

James Meggit: The UK import joins from Cardiff where he scored over 700 runs last season.

Jason Udagedara: The fast bowler joins from Altona and will add “exceptional skill and experience”.

Dan Blatherwick: Set to be one of the club’s UK imports. An all-rounder who has scored over 500 runs back home.

Coaching announcement: Michael Else has returned to the club having previously been the senior coach during the 2022-23 season.

KEILOR

Mick Allen: The former Ryder medallist has joined the Blues as their First XI captain.

SUNSHINE UNITED

Ben Luca and Shehriyar Cutterlywala: Announced as the club’s newest recruits.

Salman Afridi: The all-rounder joins from Haig Fawkner in Division 1. He scored over 600 runs at 69.67 last season.

Udith Fernando: A top order batsman from the Gold Coast, he scored over 400 runs last season.

Shehan Wedikkara: The left-arm spinner crosses from Sydenham Hillside where he took 29 wickets last year.

Coaching announcement: Aussie international James Muirhead has been named as the club’s new captain-coach.

CRAIGIEBURN

Coaching announcement: Sean Bathman has been named as the club’s coach for the next two seasons. He has played for several different clubs. He replaces Nathan Pappin.

DIVISION 1

DRUIDS

Subhan Ramzan: The talented all-rounder will join the club as a batting all-rounder from the UK.

Jacob Wescott: A right-arm fast bowler.

Darcy McPherson: A former First XI player who has returned to the club.

Lachie Brodie: The fast bowler joints the club from Mt Clear.

Declan Clerkin: Has signed as the club’s overseas player. The 24-year-old Englishman is an all-rounder.

Tom Hazell-Evans: A top order batsman who is coming from the UK for the summer.

Captain-coach: Sean Nicholson agreed to the role for the next two seasons. He is a gun all-rounder who played in the club’s last First XI premiership.

Sean Nicholson has been named Druids' new coach.
Sean Nicholson has been named Druids' new coach.

SUNSHINE

Pramud Hettiwatte: Described as a “destructive top order batsman”, the Sri Lankan arrives on the back of a first class career back home.

Coaching announcement: Shafraz Mohamed has been appointed as the club’s new coach, joining from St Albans.

DOUTTA STARS

Nalin Nipiko: The hard hitting all-rounder is a Vanuatu international.

Williamsing Nalisa: The 24-year-old Vanuatu international joins as a leg spinner.

Rory Freeman: A 22-year-old still on the rise who will slot in at the top of the order.

Cormac Hassett: Joins after a successful career in country competitions where he scored over 6000 career runs.

Jurgen Andersen: Originally from New Zealand, the former Dandenong District Cricket Association star joins after a stellar career with Buckley Ridges where he won four premierships. His time at his previously club included over 200 wickets at an average of 19.

ST FRANCIS DE SALES

Coaching announcement: Sean Warren has been announced as the club’s new coach. He has previous experience across the competition.

FOOTSCRAY UNITED

Pabasara Waduge: A highly rated batsman who has joined the club.

Coaching announcement: Michael Deasy has been appointed as the club’s new coach, with previous experience at St Bernard’s. Ali Hussain stood down after three seasons with the club in a coaching capacity.

ALTONA NORTH

Asela Aluthge: The right-arm seam bowler who joins from Druid.

Joe Harrison: The all-rounder joins the club alongside his brother, Tom, from the UK.

Tom Harrison: The left-handed opener is coming from the UK alongside his brother Joe.

DIVISION 2

GRAND UNITED

Leo Turnbull-Gent: Joins his former Golden Point coach at the club. He is a talented bowling all-rounder.

Faez Qureshi: Joins the club from Wycliff. A former Kuwait under-19 international.

Jack Holloway: The UK wicketkeeper batsman joins from Birmingham.

Tyler Black: Joins the club after a positive start to his senior career with Werribee.

Kyle Chamberlain: Returns to his junior club. Has been playing in country Victoria.

Ryan Comensoli: The all-rounder has re-joined his junior club for the next two seasons.

Coaching announcement: Andrew Warrick has been named the Gorillas’ new coach. He previously led Golden Point in the Ballarat competition. He also has Premier Cricket experience with Essendon.

WEST NEWPORT

Simpson Obed: The leg spinner joins having played international cricket for Vanuatu.

Dan Laver: The batting all-rounder will be a UK import.

Coaching announcement: Amit Padwal has been announced as the club’s new coach.

NEWPORT-DIGMAN

Coaching announcement: Paul Baker has been named the new coach. He arrives from Bacchus Marsh where he was senior coach for a resounding 18 seasons.

KEILOR PARK

Dean Gila: The five-time club champion has returned after one season away.

Anthony Vervoort: The latest fresh face to be revealed.

Nathan Kramer: Joins the club after a string of signings so far.

Ben Smith: He was the third signing locked in by the Devils.

Brodie Beveridge: Confirmed as the second signing this off-season.

Ben Schwarze: Arrives as the new senior captain after a 10-year stint with Glenroy.

TULLAMARINE

Captain-coach: Club stalwart Peter Labbad has been appointed as the club coach and First XI captain.

Signings have continued to come in across the VTCA.
Signings have continued to come in across the VTCA.

WILLIAMSTOWN IMPERIALS

Jarrod Milczak: Crosses from former rivals Pascoe Vale Hadfield where he was the club’s captain.

Joshua Van Zyl: A regular in the VTCA Team of the Year, the top order batsman and wicketkeeper will test himself at a higher level.

DIVISION 3

CAROLINE SPRINGS

Farrukh Shahzad: Coming off a summer where he averaged over 50.

Rukshan Fernando: Joins from rivals Maribyrnong Park St Mary’s where he scored 449 runs and took 18 wickets last season.

Coaching announcement: Ian Shattock has been announced as the club’s new coach.

EAST KEILOR

Coaching change coming: In mid-April, the club announced it had parted ways with Tarique Jeffrey.

GELLIBRAND

Steve Sandy: The Vanuatu leg spinner has signed for the new season.

Suraj Weerasinghe: A leading keeper-batter with Moonee Valley in recent seasons, scoring over 650 runs, the gun is on the move.

Coaching announcement: Premiership player James Ryan has been appointed as the man to lead Gellibrand into a higher division.

GLENROY

Matthew Watts: The wicketkeeper has made the move from Tullamarine.

Nick Cerche: The opening bowler joins from Maribyrnong Park St Mary’s.

KINGSVILLE

Puneet Kapoor: A fresh face from Grand United.

Dana Arun: Joins the club from fellow VTCA club Werribee Centrals.

Coaching announcement: Nawab Khwaja has been appointed as the club’s new coach.

SUNBURY

Sampath Perera: The wicketkeeper has joined from PEGS in Division 1.

Craig Ballinger: The club’s former coach has rejoined after a stint in Geelong.

Jason McGann: Returns to the club after a year with St Mary’s Maribyrnong Park.

Brad Hunter: Set to bring plenty of experience having previously captained-coached another VTCA club.

Kyle Corcoran: Recently played with Rupertswood and was named in the GDCA Team of the Year.

DIVISION 4

FOOTSCRAY ANGLISS

Darren Wotu: A member of the Vanuatu national team who spent last season with Craigieburn.

Womejo Wotu: A member of the Vanuatu national team. The club said he is a “hard-hitting, medium pace all-rounder”.

Mali Pereira: A top order batsman who has played across Footscray and Yarraville cricket clubs.

MELTON SOUTH

Subhan Ali (Cheema): Joins from Truganina and is a tall right-arm fast bowler.

Saman Kumara Muthuwadige: The left-arm fast bowler joins from Camrea.

Keshara Lakshan: Joins after a couple of years away and will lead the spin attack.

Jesse Trewin: Joins the club after four seasons with Gellibrand.

Coaching announcement: Adam Miller has been appointed to the senior role. He has previously been involved at Sunshine Heights.

SUNSHINE YCW

Bailey Williamson: The dynamic middle order batsman joins from Cricket Albury-Wodonga.

Jarrem Jefferies-Hayes: Making a return to the club after a stint with Maribyrnong Park St Mary’s.

Connor Marum: The pace bowler arrives from Coburg in the Subbies competition.

Charlie Carter: Returns to the club after time with Coburg in the Subbies. Described as a “true all-rounder”.

DIVISION 5

BURNSIDE SPRINGS UNITED

Isira Silva: The top order batsman joins from Barkly Street.

Mathieson King: The promising all-rounder returns to his junior club, signing a two-year deal. A strong top order batter who can also move the ball.

SEABROOK

Syed Ali Hussain: Arrives from Footscray United where he played in two premierships.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north-west/sport/all-the-moves-from-every-vtca-club/news-story/9519cd7b46da8816f7e7234d94961255