VTCA Division 1 club-by-club 2022-23 season preview

The VTCA Division 1 season looks set to be tightly contested when play finally gets underway. Check out our club-by-club preview with all the ins, outs and key players.

The 2022-23 Victorian Turf Cricket Association Division 1 season looks set to be one of the closest in recent memory.

After Deer Park completed a perfect season to earn promotion to the Senior Division last campaign, teams are now battling it out for prime position.

Will St Francis de Sales be among the teams to beat again and how will newcomers Sydenham Hillside fare? These are all questions that will be answered in the coming months.

Check out our club-by-club preview below.

Airport West St Christophers will again be pushing for a finals place. Picture: Hamish Blair

Airport West St Christophers

Last season: 5th (6-1-6)

In: Mohan Fonseka (Northern Lions)

Out: Matthew Sipala (Sunshine United)

Snapshot: After missing a finals place last year, the Eagles will be desperate to make inroads on the top four this season. Not too much has changed in terms of their line-up with limited comings and goings meaning stability could be the key. Daniel Salpietro, Dinesh Cooray and Jordon Kelly all played important roles with the bat last season and they’ll lean on them again. Steven Reid will spearhead the attack after taking 17 wickets at an average of 19.06 last season. Matthew Sipala’s departure means there’s an opportunity for someone to step up as an all-rounder.

Patrick McArdle will play a key role for Altona North. Picture: David Smith

Altona North

Last season: 3rd (8-2-3)

In: Haydn Wilkinson (Williamstown Imperials), Nathan Patrick (Carlton), Domenic Di Guglielmo (Williamstown Imperials)

Out: Babar Aziz (Westmeadows)

Snapshot: Under the eye of new coach Ian Denny, Altona North again looks primed to be towards the top of the ladder this season. They’ve made three key signings who all look set to make a difference in the First XI. Denny said there was “15 or 16 players” fighting for a spot in the 11 meaning there will be disappointed players at selection. Buddhi Samarawickrama and Nicholas Rainone loom as important figures with the bat while Patrick McArdle’s role with the ball looms as a key prospect in his side’s finals chances. George Dimitriou is also a player to keep an eye on.

Patrick Willach will be a key figure for Doutta Stars. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Doutta Stars

Last season: 10th – relegated from Senior Division

In: Luke Kilby (UK), Neil Priyantha, Lorenzo Ingram

Out:

Snapshot: It’s been a busy off-season at Doutta Stars with the appointment of Lorenzo Ingram as the club’s captain-coach the headline move. Fan favourite Neil Priyantha, who is a former club champion, is set to return while Luke Kilby will have a short stint in Division 1. Former skipper Patrick Willach will again play a key role with the bat as Douttas look to immediately bounce back following last season’s relegation from the competition’s top tier.

Carlos Maynard is PEGS headline recruit.

PEGS

Last season: 9th (3-1-9)

In:Carlos Maynard, Shakeem Clarke

Out:

Snapshot: After avoiding relegation last season, PEGS is hopeful its exciting crop of youngsters can take the next step in their development to help lead the club up the ladder. The arrivals of Carlos Maynard and Shakeem Clarke will provide PEGS with some much needed experience which should help them put bigger scores on the board. Pishan Hewage and Sam Ainsworth look set to play important roles with the bat in a new look team. Club legend Marty Pickering will again lead the side.

Seddon captain Liam Braithwaite. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Seddon

Last season: 4th (8-1-4)

In: Joe Walker (UK), Sam Young (UK)

Out: Avishka Chenuka (Sunshine)

Snapshot: Seddon says it is putting a greater emphasis on youth this season as it again aims for a finals appearance. English duo Joe Walker and Sam Young will add important depth to Seddon’s batting line-up which will be headlined by last season’s leading run scorer Talor Williams. Coach Liam Braithwaite said his side are “putting a focus into what we’ve got at the club”.

St Francis de Sales’ Aaron Maynard and Thomas Robertson. Picture: Andy Brownbill

St Francis de Sales

Last season: 2nd (7-2-4)

In: Andrew Della Posta (WA)

Out: Nil.

Snapshot: It’s likely St Francis de Sales will contend for the Division 1 premiership again. Importantly, the club has kept the majority of its First XI together while adding left-arm fast bowler Andrew Della Posta who has experience in WA’s Premier Cricket competition. He’s set to add plenty of firepower to an attack that features last season’s leading wicket taker Kane O’Halloran and captain Matthew Lewis. While with the bat, Aaron Maynard and Luke Smith are shaping up as two important players.

Kaushal Lokuarachchi will play a key role with bat and ball. Picture: Steve Tanner

Sunshine

Last season: 6th (6-1-6)

In: Andrew Tonge (Ireland), Mark Tonge (Ireland)

Out: Thilina Masmulla (Westmeadows)

Snapshot: After finding itself out of the finals race last season, Sunshine will be keen to move up the ladder having retained most of its playing list. Kaushal Lokuarachchi was the division’s leading run scorer last season with 691 runs at an average of 69.10 and looms as a key figure once again. He also featured heavily with the ball taking 24 wickets. The two Irish imports should bring a new level of excitement and add depth to the Crows playing list. Other players to keep an eye on include coach Troy Stone and Charith Fernando.

Sydenham Hillside

Last season:Division 2 premiers

In:Anthony Alleyne, Kadeem Alleyne, Jared Wilson

Out: Andrew Reid-Dick

Snapshot: Sydenham-Hillside hasn’t been mucking around in its bid to make an impact as the Division 1 newcomers. The Storm’s three new recruits all have experience at a high level with Anthony Alleyne having played for the West Indies under 19s while Jared Wilson is a former Ireland A skipper. They’re both expected to add plenty with bat and ball. Breen Green was the club’s top scorer in Division 2 run season while Ishan Peiris and Gayashan Weerasekara also punished opposition bowlers. Meanwhile, Shehan De Vila (31 wickets) and Tim Grech (30) will again lead the attack. Coach Geoff Pretty says a lot of exciting youngsters are rising through the club’s junior ranks which will only strengthen the First XI.

Tullamarine

Last season: 7th (4-1-8)

In: Thilina Fernando

Out: Asim Mehmood (Sanctuary Lakes)

Snapshot: There’s plenty of new faces at Tullamarine throughout all grades this season with more than 30 clearances lodged to the club in the off-season. But just how many of those feature in the First XI is something to watch closely. Batsman Thilina Fernando’s return to the club has provided Tulla with a major boost although they’ll have to deal with the loss of Asim Mehmood. Danny Law played a key role with the bat last season and it’s expected he will do so again. Thameera Adikarinayake was the leading wicket taker for Tullamarine.

Pas Triulcio of West Coburg. Photo: Julian Smith.

West Coburg

Last season: 8th (3-1-9)

In: Jack Potticary (Greenvale)

Out:

Snapshot: West Coburg will be desperate to move up the ladder this season after flirting with relegation during the 2021-22 campaign with just three wins to its name. The likes of Michael Rosendale, Pawan Edirisinghe and Pas Triulcio will play an important role with the batt. Jack Potticary is an impressive signing who will add Premier Cricket experience after spending last season with Greenvale. Evan Cole was his side’s most impressive bowler last season with 23 wickets at an average of 15.87.