VTCA: Altona North, Grand United, Pascoe Vale Hadfield all make big moves

Sunshine United has turned to a club legend in a bid to move back up the VTCA Senior Division ladder for next season. It’s one of the latest moves made across the competition.

Victorian Turf Cricket Association clubs have been busy since the end of the season making moves they hope will help them move up the ladder.

Here’s a look at the latest news from across the competition.

SUNSHINE UNITED TURN TO A CLUB LEGEND

Sunshine United has turned to a club stalwart as it aims to move back up the Senior Division ladder after just one win last season.

Henry Popinski, a club hall of famer and life member, has been appointed as the new head coach.

“It’s an honour and privilege to be coaching the club I have been involved in most of my life and who has such a rich history of success,” Popinski said in a social media post from the club.

Henry Popinski has been appointed as Sunshine United's new coach. Photo: Facebook.

“It‘s going to be a challenge replicating some of the success achieved by some of the great coaches and teams before me, but I am really looking forward to the task at hand and working with my assistants, players, and committee to make this club a force again in the VTCA.”

Popinski’s accolades at the club include 10 premierships across his senior and junior career.

He has also served as president and curator of the club.

NEW CAPTAIN-COACH DUO AT IMPERIALS

Division 3 club Williamstown Imperials will have a different look for the 2022-23 season after a new captain-coach duo were unveiled last week.

Ken Purves has been promoted into the head coaching role and has experience as a junior mentor in past seasons.

Meanwhile, Scott Phillips has been appointed as the new captain having joined the club before the start of last season.

His career includes six premierships and four seasons at Frankston Peninsula in Premier Cricket.

TWO BIG SIGNINGS FOR ALTONA NORTH

Altona North’s pursuit of a premiership has received a double boost with the return of two former guns.

Bowler Nathan Patrick, a former club junior, has returned after a stint with Carlton in Premier Cricket.

He played six First XI games last season where he took three wickets.

Former Carlton Premier Cricket bowler Nathan Patrick has returned to Altona North. Photo: Facebook.

Meanwhile, in the Second XI he took 12 wickets at an average of 25 throughout his nine matches.

Joining Patrick will be Haydn Wilkinson who returns after a three-year stint with Williamstown Imperials.

Wilkinson last played for the club during the 2018-19 season.

KEILOR WELCOMES BACK PREMIER CRICKETER

Keilor has announced the return of Jarryd Clements to the club ahead of the new season.

Clements made his First XI debut for Keilor back in 2013 when he was 16.

He went onto play for Footscray in Premier Cricket where he scored over 2200 runs in between the second, third and fourth XIs.

ABERFELDIE SNARES CLASS SIGNINGS

Senior Division grand finalists Aberfeldie have made big moves to go one step better next season.

In recent weeks, the club has confirmed the signings of top order batter Anthony Barton from Footscray and paceman Jack Sheppard from Coburg in a huge recruiting coup.

Sheppard is expected for form a dominant new-ball attack with Abers captain Tallan Wright and Zach Mevissen.

GRAND UNITED APPOINTS PREMIER CRICKETER AS COACH

Division 3 club Grand United has confirmed the appointment of Sam Crea as senior coach for the next two seasons.

Crea returns to the Gorillas after a stint with St Kilda in Premier Cricket where he featured in the club’s Second XI premiership last season.

Sam Crea has been named the captain-coach of Grand United. Picture: Valeriu Campan

He also played three games in St Kilda’s First XI taking two wickets.

Crea is a former Grand United junior and played 12 games for the club during the 2020-21 season where he took 16 wickets at an average of 10.69.

CAPTAIN-COACH AT ROYAL PARK BRUNSWICK

Division 2 club Royal Park Brunswick has confirmed club coach Beau Carey has been appointed as First XI coach for the upcoming season.

The decision comes after Nick Neagle stood down as skipper after two seasons in the role.

“We feel that it is critically important to maintain a level of stability in our positions of leadership this season,” the club said.

Andrew Hinkley and Rhys Contessa will continue as vice-captains under Carey.

FORMER AFL PLAYER NAMED PANTHERS COACH

Pascoe Vale Hadfield, which competes in the Roy Picone Shield Division 3 competition, appointed a former AFL player as its new coach last month.

Adam Contessa, who played 45 games for the Western Bulldogs between 1997 and 2001, will lead the Panthers in place of Cal Simpson who has stepped back from the role.

Adam Contessa previously played for Yarraville.

Simpson will remain a senior player.

Contessa had a fantastic role as a Panthers player having won the Roy Paxino Medal, the VTCA’s Senior Division Player of the Season, on two occasions.

He will be a non-playing coach.

TWO IMPORTS FOR SUNSHINE YCW

Sunshine YCW will have two internationals in its ranks next season.

Last month, the club first confirmed the signing of Englishman Sam Roberts who joins from Ludlow in the Shropshire Premier Division and is a middle order batsman.

A few days later, the club announced the arrival of Jean-Michael Fouche from South Africa.

The wicketkeeper-batter has averaged over 50 runs with the bat in recent seasons.

Fouche is currently playing in the UK.