VTCA 2018-19: Westmeadows targets Division 1 North success
AFTER bidding for a spot in Senior Division, Westmeadows plans on earning promotion to the VTCA top grade by claiming back-to-back flags this summer.
North West
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MOST of the nominations were predictable.
After a player drain forced Greenvale Kangaroos to withdraw from VTCA Senior Division, North West Division finals contenders Aberfeldie and St Albans put their case forward for promotion.
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They were joined in the mix by Westmeadows, a club which played in the third tier of the VTCA last summer.
While St Albans was given the nod to join the top grade, the Warriors’ bid underlined their ambition.
“I initiated that because it’s where we strive to get to,” Westmeadows captain-coach Tarek Moughanie said.
“As it transpires, we’ll have to do that by winning a premiership, which is probably our preferred option.”
The Warriors claimed the North-West A1 premiership last season and have been elevated to Division 1 North.
Moughanie said Westmeadows would start the campaign targeting a tilt at back-to-back flags.
“If we play our best cricket, I think we can account for anyone on our day,” he said.
“On paper, I don’t think anyone is as strong as us.
“I don’t think there would be too many sides boasting two ex-internationals, another guy who has played 100 county games and three former districts ones players.
“(But) it means nothing if we can’t translate that into on-field performance.”
Seamer Darrel Brown has crossed to Willowbrook Reserve from Balnarring, filling the void left by Sathpath Kamburugamuwa’s move to Adelaide.
Moughanie predicted fellow recruit Shaun Guerra, an experienced batsman who played for Keilor and Taylors Lakes, would be a key addition.
“He will be fantastic to strengthen our batting,” he said.
“He’ll be the senior player we need in that middle order and play a key role for us.
“He could bat anywhere from opening to seven. We’ve got that luxury.”
He said the Warriors’ team would have “a little bit of a Dad’s Army feel about it.”
“There’s five guys that are 40-plus in the side,” he said.
“But we are all pretty comfortable with where we are at and we know how to prepare ourselves.”
Westmeadows hosts West Coburg in its opening game of the season on Saturday.
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