VSDCA Cricket: Melton could lose star batsman for 2020-21
New Melton coach Brad Jones discusses his expectations for the coming VSDCA season, with the Lions set to be without one of the competition’s best batsmen.
North West
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Melton could be without one of the leading batsmen in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association this summer.
Ben MacRae, who has plundered 1956 runs for the Lions in the past four seasons, is weighing up his future because of personal reasons.
The former Essendon captain contributed 434 runs at 39.5 last season and enjoyed a standout 2018-19 as he hammered 593 runs at 49.4.
The classy left-handed opener returned to Melton in 2016-17 after a 12-year stint with the Bombers in Premier Cricket.
“It would leave a big hole,” new Melton coach Brad Jones said.
“Obviously we’ll be looking for some younger blokes to stand up and take that opening position and really make it their own.
“But people have years off, people have lives to deal with as well.
“It’s a massive loss for the club, but it provides opportunity.”
The Lions are likely to have to find a fresh opening pair, with David Dickinson crossing to VTCA club Strathmore to join his brother James.
On the plus side, Jake Thornton-Gielen has returned from a season off.
Jones is also enthused by Melton’s young stable, which is led by Adrian Monitto, Dylan Jobson, Jason Hibbert and Joel Mitchener.
“It’s going to be a very young side I think this year,” he said.
“We’re focusing on the youth and I’m really looking to build the youth coming through the club so that we’re in a strong position for the next five or 10 years.”
But expectations remain high, with Jones declaring Melton is “definitely pushing for finals”.
The Lions advanced to a preliminary final in 2018-19 before finishing three points outside the top six last summer.
Star paceman Jones has been a key performer at Melton for more than a decade, featuring in four flags during the club’s golden era.
The 37-year-old said he was “very excited” to take on the coaching role.
“I didn’t want a new bloke coming into the club to just really change the dynamic or the feel of the club,” Jones said.
“I’m really excited to take that step up to push young kids to be better, really find the best they can give.”
The VSDCA has pushed the start of its season back a month.
The Subbies are now aiming to get away on November 7 but president Phil O’Meara is worried it could be delayed further in the face of COVID-19.
The VSDCA had been planning to start on Saturday, October 10.
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