Premier Cricket 2018-19: Greenvale Kangaroos bolster off-field ranks by signing former Carlton and Prahran coach Peter Di Venuto as director of cricket

COACH Matthew Love says the addition of experienced Premier Cricket mentor Peter Di Venuto to Greenvale Kangaroos’ staff will help the club “establish ourselves as a competitive force”.

Anthony Barton for Greenvale. VTCA Cricket: Greenvale Kangaroos V Yarraville Club. Action shots of both teams. Picture: David Smith

COACH Matthew Love says the addition of experienced Premier Cricket mentor Peter Di Venuto to Greenvale Kangaroos’ staff will help the club “establish ourselves as a competitive force”.

Di Venuto, a former coach of Carlton and Prahran, has joined Love’s Greenvale revolution as director of cricket.

PREMIER CRICKET: JAKE HANCOCK REJOINS PRAHRAN

VSDCA 2018-19: PLENTY VALLEY BOOSTED BY SIGNINGS

PREMIER CRICKET: NIC MADDINSON CHOOSES HIS NEW CLUB

Love, who crossed to the Roos from Sub-District Cricket club Yarraville, said Di Venuto’s experience would be invaluable.

“Just to help with the professionalism of a club that is needing to improve in a lot of areas to establish ourselves as a competitive force,” he said.

Anthony Barton will return to Premier Cricket at Greenvale this summer. Picture: David Smith

“The more people like Peter that are going to get involved, the better.”

The club has lost pacemen Joe Lucas (Essendon) and Jordan Buckingham (Footscray), while emerging batsman Ryan Stingel has crossed to Windy Hill.

Love, who compiled 1709 runs during the past two summers for Yarraville, will add significant experience to the Roos’ batting line-up after previous stints with Footscray and North Melbourne.

Greenvale’s top-order will also feature former Footscray batsman Anthony Barton, who has made 1108 runs for the Roos’ VTCA side since 2016-17.

Greenvale Kangaroos coach Matthew Love has been working to bolster the club’s line-up.

“Our depth should be pretty good,” Love said.

“Just being able to clinch that top-line player will be the next and the main step.

“As I am getting to know the guys, the talent is there. It’s just a matter of piecing it together.”

The club has been in discussions about luring a county cricketer for 2018-19.

Love, who has succeeded Jarrod Leggett as coach, said he hoped Greenvale’s English signing would be sealed in coming weeks.

“The stage where we are at as a club, it will be beneficial for us to have someone like that come in and play and help go towards winning game and bring a level of professionalism to show what standards are expected at a professional level,” he said.

Former Taylors Lakes coach Paul Thomas will captain the Second XI, while Simon Cornelius has crossed from Yarraville to be Third XI skipper.