VSDCA: North-West group season preview
From the key players to all the ins and outs of every club. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Subbies North-West group ahead of the new season.
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The intrigue surrounding the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association North-West group has continued to grow throughout the off-season.
Spotswood are the reigning premiers of their respective division and look to be a contender from the west once again, meanwhile, Werribee will be right in the mix.
St Bernard’s loom as one of the biggest threats from the north but with so much change in many sides it’s hard to predict how it will play out.
Here’s a look at how every club is shaping up ahead of the first game.
ALTONA
Captain: James Grubb
Coach: Aaron Whear
Last season: 8th
In: Faraaz Sathaar (Yarraville), Ben Davies (St Kilda), Jake Duff (returning), Mitch Grubb (returning)
Out: Archie Scott (returning home), Shannon Clarke
Snapshot: After missing finals last season, coach Aaron Whear is confident of more improvement from his side this campaign. The return of English import Charlie Ward is a massive boost after he won the bowling average award last season. Whear said “pre-season had been strong” with the club hoping to be “very competitive” across the top grades. Ben Davies will add significant depth to the batting line-up.
Brunswick
Captain: Simon Hill
Coach: Geoff Pretty
Last season: Seventh
In: Ben Rowles (Camberwell), Daniel Rawson (Camberwell), Daniel Houghton (UK), Marcus Jackman (time off)
Out: Karl Mayne (Northern Territory), Henry Robinson (Essendon), Michael Porter (UK)
Prediction: The Wicks are looking to bounce back into finals after narrowly missing out last season. While the loss of Karl Mayne is a blow, the club has secured top-tier talents Rowles and Houghton, while Jackman has plenty of potential. With the likes of Simon Hill and Matt Doric leading the batting and bowling, with Louis Cameron when available, Brunswick should be among the top contenders.
Coburg
Captain: Aaron Shellie
Coach: Pranish Singh
Last season: 11th
In: Will Dundon (Greenvale Kangaroos), Jacob Carruthers (Richmond)
Out:
Prediction: A down year for the Lions. The club’s big guns Aaron Shellie and Aaron Ayre were again prolific but need more support. The arrival of Dundon and Carruthers will certainly help on the bowling side of things. It the batting that will need to fire for Coburg to return to the top-six in 2023-24. The Aarons were both top-10 run-scorers but didn’t have a teammate in the top 70.
HOPPERS CROSSING
Captain/coach: Simon Lambert
Last season: 7th (East-West group)
In: Abbas Faiyaz (Footscray), Fawad Ahmed (Melbourne University), Fazal Nawab (Longford, Tasmania), Kaushik Jagannathan (Greenvale), Saaransh Mahay (Yarraville),
Out: Jeremy Swan
Snapshot: The Cats look prime to push into the top-six this season after a busy off-season where they’ve added plenty of quality. “Our depth looks a lot stronger than this time last year,” coach Simon Lambert said. Faiyaz will play a key role as an opening bowler while Ahmed’s inclusion can’t be undersold. With the bat, Nawab will add valuable runs. If they’re able to fire, Hoppers Crossing could find itself right in the mix for a premiership this season.
Ivanhoe
Captain: Henry Tyler
Coach: Henry Tyler
Last season: 16th
In: Henry Tyler (Northcote), Arjun Dhull (Ringwood), Mark Donegan (Ireland), Ray Mitchell (Lower Eltham), Ed Withington (time off)
Out: Scott McNaughton (Plenty Valley), Troy Haines (Plenty Valley), Alex Pannell (Carlton), Ananya Goswami (Northcote)
Prediction: It’s only up for the Saints after a winless 2022-23 campaign. The club has a new captain-coach with international experience and it’s recruited Dhull, who brings plenty of Premier Cricket experience. Tyler’s connections at Ivanhoe Grammar could also see the school’s best talent run out when not on AGSV duty. Tyler said this season was about rebuilding the club’s culture and it would define success differently to just wins and losses. However, he was keen to “ruffle a few feathers along the way”.
Kew
Captain: David Wildsmith
Coach: Seb Contos
Last season: 3rd
In: Sam Pearce (UK), George Lloyd (UK)
Out: Matt Brown (time off), Chris Weeks (Red Hill), Andrew Chalkley (Koonung Heights), Will Sist (Brighton), Joe Cooke (UK), Ollie Birts (UK)
Prediction: It’s no secret Kew probably won’t be the dominant power it has been for the past three seasons. However, there’s still plenty of talent at Victoria Park to keep the club in finals contention. The likes of James Clarke, Jack Stewart, Liam Powell, the two Jack Carrolls and Jacob de Paiva are all quality young players. The return of UK import Sam Pearce is certainly a timely addition.
MELTON
Captain: Ben MacRae
Coach: Mitch Stephens
Last season: 9th
In: Brenton Cook (St Albans), Josh Taylor (Greenvale), Max Dicker (UK), Rhys Beer (Diggers Rest), Stephen Shields (St Bernard’s)
Out: Shehan Hirudika
Snapshot: After making major improvements last season, the Lions are now looking to take the next step and back into the top-six. The arrival of Brenton Cook will add significant depth to Melton’s batting line-up. Coach Mitch Stephens said with a young group “the more cricket we play together, the more we’re going to improve.”
Plenty Valley
Captain: Simon Black
Coach: Scott McNaughton
Last season: 10th
In: Troy Haines (Ivanhoe), Ali Dilawar (Pakistan), Luke Powell (UK), Stu Conway (Kingston Crows, Tas), Toby Raper (time off), Saifullah Malik (Malaysia)
Out: Michael Rogneda (Northcote), Leo Dench (Northcote), Naman Sharma (Fitzroy Doncaster), Aryan Sharma (Fitzroy Doncaster)
Prediction: The Bats have new leadership with gun paceman Simon Black stepping to the captaincy after Michael Rogneda‘s departure to Northcote. The club has lost some good young talent but brought in plenty of experience, which should stand it in good stead. Troy Haines is a quality bowler and captained Ivanhoe last season, while Dilawar and Conway bolster the top-order. UK import Powell is a wicketkeeper-batsman. Expect Plenty Valley to be around the mark in the battle for finals.
Preston
Captain: Kyle Walsh
Coach: Ben Ryan
Last season: 13th
In: Amit Chaudhary (Haig Fawkner), Vaib Deshpande (Haig Fawkner), Shakeel Ahmad (Haig Fawkner), Ameya Gharat (Northern Suburbs, Qld), Darcy Hunter (White Hills), Mahesh Kodamullage (Shepparton United)
Out: Michael Stretton (time off), Adam Jacklin (time off), Marcus Murphy (time off)
Prediction: What are the Bullants capable of? They've lost a couple of key contributors in Stretton and Murphy (who could still return this season) but have added some quality talent. Deshpande was one of the VTCA’s best bats, while Gharat has previous Subbies experience with St Bernard’s and is coming off some games at Queensland Premier level. Kodamullage returns having been Preston’s best player in 2018-19. Coach Ben Ryan is confident his list is stronger and deeper this season and is anticipating a finals run.
SPOTSWOOD
Captain: Jakson Knight
Coach: Dan Schuppan
Last season: Premiers
In: Lachlan McKenna (Carlton), Harry Lumsden (UK), Sandeep Mandalika (Williamstown Imperials), Nathan Stubbings
Out: Jackson Wadden (St Kilda), Matthew Sazenis (retired)
Snapshot: Coach Dan Schuppan has already spoken about the different pressure his side faces this season as the reigning premier this season. But if their off-season movements are anything to go by, you can expect Spotswood to be in the mix once again. Lachlan McKenna is an exciting addition but the loss of Wadden does hurt the club’s bowling stocks. Don’t be surprised if a few youngsters come in and make a difference too.
St Bernard’s
Captain: Kyle Adams
Coach: Kyle Adams
Last season: 4th
In: Jevon Kett (Fitzroy Doncaster), Peter Clarke (UK), James Davey (time off)
Out: Steve Shields (Melton)
Prediction: Not to put too much pressure on the Snowdogs but after back-to-back semis, the club is arguably the North group‘s top premiership contender. St Bernard’s has added Premier Cricket talent in Jevan Kett, Aaron Smillie is fully fit and Tom Winchester now fits in on points. UK import Peter Clarke is a top-order bat and left-arm spinner. Expect Kyle Adams men to be in there at the pointy end of the season.
Strathmore
Captain: Justin Bramble
Coach: Justin Bramble
Last season: 14th
In: Justin Bramble, Abdul Bari, Dilshan Delgama, Thisuna Mapa, Hasheem Nasir, Owen Thompson
Out: –
Prediction: The More tumbled down the ladder last season after reaching the grand final in their maiden Subbies campaign. VTCA premiership player Bramble returns to lead the club and critically star bat Omar Phillips is sticking around. Bramble said the expectations this season were to enjoy cricket and allow his players to grow and develop with an emphasis on skills.
TAYLORS LAKES
Coach: Aamir Raza
Last season: 16th
In: Adam Sylvester (Wales), Buddhima Wijesundara (Sri Lanka), Melisha Deshapriya (Grand United), Nilan Fernando (Grand United), Stefan Roberts (Wales)
Out: Nick Schneider, Sam Clark
Snapshot: After the disappointment of a last place finish last season, new Taylors Lakes coach Aamir Raza will be determined to see major improvement in his side. The inclusion of a handful of key recruits should help the club’s batting and bowling stocks. Buddhima Wijesundara is an exciting top order batsman from Sri Lanka who can roll the arm over with some handy off-spin. Expect to see some great improvement.
WERRIBEE
Captain: Tim O’Brien
Coach: Chris Hennessy
Last season: Runner-up
In: Nil.
Out: Nil.
Snapshot: The Tigers are sticking with the tried and test model at Chirnside Park this season and it’s understandable to see why. As one of the powerhouses of the competition, they again appear to be in a position to challenge for another premiership. Captain Tim O’Brien said “there will be spots up for grabs” on the back of success in the lower grades in previous years. Junior players continue to take big steps forward and could be difference makers.
WILLIAMSTOWN
Captain/coach: Sean Sturrock
Last season: Semi-finalists
In: Matt Twentyman (returning)
Out: Nil.
Snapshot: It’s clear the Seagulls will still be around the mark this season. The club believes it has more depth than previous seasons which should help provide positive results when key players are missing. Coach Sean Sturrock said he wants “more guys to step up and add runs where possible”. Sturrock is also excited about the prospects of some junior players from last season’s J.G Craig Shield squad.
YARRAVILLE
Captain: Josh Hahnel
Coach: Jonah Kock
Last season: 11th
In: Ashish Mathew (Box Hill), Josh Hahnel (Melbourne University), Harry McAleer (UK), Matthew Kenvyn (UK)
Out: Aiden Salvado (Essendon), Ash De Silva, Spencer Wray
Snapshot: There will be a very different looking Yarraville line-up in season 2023-24 after a number of key departures in the off-season. Hahnel’s return comes at the perfect time with Yarraville needing to add runs while Mathew will add plenty of all-round ability. It’s a question of whether the big gaps can be filled.
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