Victorian Premier Cricket 2020-21: Ultimate season preview for all 18 clubs
Ahead of the Victorian Premier Cricket season’s opening round, here are the ins, outs and key players for all 18 clubs — and who are the top contenders.
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It’s been a long wait, but Victoria’s pre-eminent cricket competition will finally get underway this weekend.
Melbourne, Carlton, Melbourne University, Footscray, St Kilda and Northcote will be among the contenders.
We analyse all the off-season news and squad changes ahead of a big summer.
CAMBERWELL MAGPIES
Coach: Ian Stanger
Captain: Andrew Fekete
Last season: 11th
In: None
Out: Isaac Conway (Port Adelaide), Matt Whittaker (Montrose)
Snapshot: Former Scottish international Ian Stanger will lead the Magpies this season, taking over from outgoing coach Brad Loveluck, who stood down after two years in the role. Stanger will work alongside former Victorian and Tasmanian first-class paceman Andrew Fekete, who will serve in the captaincy role. “You don’t often get a first-class player coming back to club cricket like that and committing to a major role like first-grade skipper,” Stanger said, noting it was a major drawcard to the coaching job. Wicketkeeper-batsman Isaac Conway has departed the club, initially returning to Essendon but subsequently joining Port Adelaide in the SA Premier cricket ranks. The expectations are high at the Magpies this season with Stanger declaring that a “line in the sand” needed to be drawn and top two or three would be on the radar, while he’s bullish about the emerging stocks and will be aiming to develop for the long-term.
CARLTON
Coach: Evan Gulbis
Captain: Evan Gulbis
Last season: Finals
In: Nathan Patrick (returning)
Out: Kyle Scheepers (Seddon)
Snapshot: Few changes at the Blues, and why would there be? The club claimed the 2018-19 flag and advanced to the second week of finals before last season’s campaign was abandoned amid the coronavirus crisis. Carlton boasts one of the leading bowling attacks in the competition, with Cameron Stevenson (34 wickets last season), Xavier Crone (30) and Gulbis (27) all having played state cricket, while Matthew Wilson, gun spinner Eddy O’Sullivan and all-rounder Tom Smyth round out what is a top-quality group. Nathan Patrick is also back and adds depth after collecting 26 Second XI wickets in 2018-19. Hard-hitting wicketkeeper-batsman Brayden Stepien will spearhead the batting after hitting 569 runs at 43.77 last season and earning selection in the Team of the Year, while the likes of Gulbis, Smyth and Nick Ross help form a potent line-up. Gulbis is hopeful young batsman Mackenzie Harvey, Crone and Stepien will get opportunity at higher levels in coming months. Carlton’s captain-coach and gun top-order batsman are well-prepared for the coming season after sharing an extraordinary 368-run partnership for Greater Northern in the Tasmanian grade competition earlier this month, with Gulbis cracking 226 not out and Stepien 223. Lock the Blues in for finals.
CASEY-SOUTH MELBOURNE
Coach: Brian Keogh
Captain: Michael Wallace
Last season: 15th
In: Cal Dodson (Aspendale), Harrish Kannan (Ringwood), Isaihah Jassal (Berwick), Kasun Suriaratchie (returning), Cam Brown (returning)
Out: Luke Wells (not returning from UK), Nathan Freitag (Centrals CC, Traralgon), Jordan Hammond (Hallam Kalora Park), Josh Dowling (Narre South), Aaron Fernando (Dandenong)
Snapshot: The Swans have lost their top-two run-scorers from last season, Luke Wells and Nathan Freitag. Between them they scored 1178 runs. But coach Brian Keogh takes a glass-half-full view of it. “We get another 1500 balls to face, so it creates huge opportunity for our other batters,’’ he said. “We think a few of those are ready to have real breakout seasons.’’ Clean-hitting Jordy Wyatt scored his maiden first grade century late last season and will enjoy a season of white ball cricket. Exciting young batsman Ash Chandrasinghe got a taste of it last season and will bat at the top of the order along with Lachie Sperling, who has been in crisp form in the pre-season. Paceman Nathan Lambden has never been fitter or bowled so fast and is tipped to make an explosive start to the season. With impressive depth throughout the club, the Swans can climb the ladder. “We’re a close-knit team and we will play to a single game plan and we think we can be really competitive,’’ Keogh said. “We think we underperformed a bit last season so we’re hoping to bounce somewhere up towards that top half of the ladder.’’
DANDENONG
Coach: Warren Ayres
Captain: Tommy Donnell
Last season: 9th
In: Adam McMaster (Melbourne), Jack Fowler (Kingston Hawthorn), Braden Taeuber (Monbulk), James Maxwell (Casey-South Melbourne), Aaron Fernando (Casey-South Melbourne)
Out: Josh Shaw (UK), Akshat Buch (Springvale South), Mick Sweeney (Cranbourne), Peter Sweeney (Cranbourne)
Snapshot: Two years after guiding Carlton to a flag, legendary Premier Cricket batsman Ayres returns to the club he guided to the 2006-07 premiership, taking over from Nick Speak. Only three players are still with the Panthers since his successful first stint, but they are formidable players: redoubtable opening pair Tom Donnell and Brett Forsyth and all-rounder James Nanopoulos, who is edging into the champion class with his canny medium-pace bowling. He, fellow medium pacer Peter Cassidy and former Sri Lankan offie Suraj Randiv will be the cornerstones of an attack given more options by the recruitment of four pacemen, including the returning Adam McMaster. Ed Newman and Lincoln “LJ” Edwards, both capable of scoring quickly, follow Donnell and Forsyth in the batting, and all Ayres-coached teams are sharp in the field. The Panthers have more than enough talent in the ranks to finish in the top rungs of the ladder.
ESSENDON
Coach: Ash Cavigan
Captain: Michael Hill
Last season: 8th
In: None
Out: Nish Perera (Plenty Valley), Stephen Mihelakos-James (Footscray), Hendro Dias (Greenvale)
Snapshot: The Bombers will go into 2020-21 with essentially the same squad that finished eighth last season and third in 2018-19. Reigning Ryder Medallist James Seymour, Aaron Ayre and Michael Hill have done much of the heavy lifting with the bat in that time. Last season Essendon scored the second fewest runs (2647) in Premier Cricket, ahead of St Kilda only, and 100 less than wooden-spooner Kingston-Hawthorn. However, if the likes of Connor Rutland, Isaac Willett and Donovan Toohey can take a step up the Bombers will be a premiership contender again. Positively, there’s more depth in the Bombers’ attack. Led by Matthew Doric and supported by Tom O’Donnell, Cam McClure, Liam Bowe and Seymour, Essendon claimed the second most wickets in the competition (149), just one fewer than Melbourne. If the Bombers can put it all together, they’re one of the most dangerous teams in it.
FITZROY DONCASTER
Coach: Michael O’Sullivan
Captain: Ejaaz Alavi
Last season: 12th
In: Jevon Kett, Luke Sandy (both Greenvale Kangaroos)
Out: Peter Dickson (East Doncaster), Nat Vardi (not playing), Bailen Clarke (Frankston Peninsula)
Snapshot: Captain Ejaaz Alavi has declared finals are on the agenda at the Lions this season after finishing nine points out of the top eight in 2019-20. They’ll need to do it without key batsmen in champion Peter Dickson (344 runs at 43 last season), who has crossed to ECA club East Doncaster, and Nat Vardi (143 at 14.3), who won’t be playing this year, while Zac Elliott (581 at 41.5) will be in Tasmania for the start of the season. Alavi says the club is excited about the opportunities it would afford to its youth in 2020-21, while he noted the inclusions of batsmen Kett and Sandy from Greenvale Kangaroos. The skipper said he was “champing at the bit” to take the field again in the Lions’ pursuit to return to finals and put last season’s finals miss down to a lack of experience, with defeats in close games proving costly.
FOOTSCRAY
Coach: Allan Wise
Captain: Dylan Kight
Last season: Finals
In: Jackson Coleman (Melbourne), Stephen Mihelakos-James (Essendon), Fraser Hay (Williamstown)
Out: Jake Reed (knee reconstruction)
Snapshot: Footscray finished the home-and-away rounds in second position last season after tumbling to 16th in 2018-19 and secured one of the biggest signings of the off-season. With Reed on the sidelines, Melbourne Stars Big Bash League paceman Coleman is a key addition after snaring 16 wickets at 19.4 from eight matches for Melbourne in 2019-20. He also played five games for Victoria in last year’s domestic one-day competition, collecting nine wickets, including a haul of 4.46 against Tasmania, while he returned 3-16 in his only outing for the Stars. Fellow recruits Mihelakos-James and Hay will also push for opportunities in the First XI. With a batting line-up featuring the likes of Travis Dean, Dan Sartori, Dean Russ and Dylan Kight along with young guns Dylan Brasher, Jordan Kight and Matt Underwood, the Dogs deserve to be rated a contender. The bowling stocks are also healthy with Jordan Buckingham, Hamish Winter-Irving, Jonah Koch, James Muirhead and Siddesh Dixit leading the way. Expect to see Footscray in the finals.
FRANKSTON PENINSULA
Coach: Paul Boraston
Captain: Scott Boland
Last season: 17th
In: Bailen Clarke (Fitzroy-Doncaster), Tom Finn (Hastings), Vishesh Bansal (Taylors Lakes), Liam Cox (Seaford Tigers), Anurag Dhaliwal (Clayton Districts), James Long (Casey-South Melbourne), Luke Long (Casey-South Melbourne)
Out: Dale Elmi (Parkdale), Liam Tonkin (Parkdale), Nick Boland (Prahran), Ben Ashkenazi (not playing), Felix Organ (UK)
Snapshot: It’s young talent time at the Heat. Apart from three or four players in their late 20s, the first and second XIs will be 22 or younger. Quality all-rounder Brodie Symons, 22, will captain Frankston Peninsula for most of the season, with Scott Boland away on state and Big Bash duties. Frankston’s strength will be its batting, with Ryan Hammel, Symons, Jai Elcock and newcomer Vishesh Bansal, a tall left-handed opening bat who stroked a century in a practice game, among those to watch. Spin recruit Bailen Clarke is tipped to do well, as is seamer Jamin Barron-Toop. New club coach Paul Boraston says the Heat can learn and develop together. “That group can take the club forward over the next 10 years,’’ he says. “Basically for us we go into every game trying and wanting to win it. It’s as simple as that. We will prepare to win and whatever the situation we find ourselves in we need to try and find a way to win. Hopefully come March we are around the mark and in finals contention, that’s the aim.’’
GEELONG
Coach: Nick Speak
Captain: Eamonn Vines
Last season: 13th
In: Tom O’Connell (Richmond), Jack Wriggleworth (Sale) Nick McGuane (Newtown)
Out: Joel Blain (Woodville, SA), Mitch Reid (Northern Suburbs, Qld)
Snapshot: A tough season for Geelong resulted in it tumbling from grand finalist in 2018-19 to 13th with only five wins last season. But a proud club doesn’t wallow, and the Cats will be desperate to return to finals. O’Connell’s arrival could fast-track that goal. The star spinner missed much as last season with a stress fracture in his back but took 20 wickets in 12 matches the previous campaign. With no Victoria Second XI cricket expected this season Geelong will also benefit from skipper Vines and spearhead Brody Couch being in the fold full-time. Vines played two Sheffield Shield and two Second XI matches last season and Couch made seven appearances for the state Second XI. But Hayden Butterworth will arguably have the biggest impact at Geelong this season. The star all-rounder scored 432 runs and claimed 29 wickets in a brilliant 2019-20 campaign and was rewarded with selection in the Premier Cricket Team of the Year for the first time.
GREENVALE KANGAROOS
Coach: Damian Shanahan
Captain: Michael Stretton
Last season: 16th
In: Matthew Harrison (Newcomb and District), Casper Archer (Tatura), Nick Dixon (Camberwell), Hendro Dias (Essendon)
Out: Kaushal Silva (Sri Lanka)
Snapshot: New coach Damian Shanahan has been pleased with what he’s seen in two practice matches but consistency will be key. The Kangaroos showed flashes of quality last season but simply couldn’t sustain it for long enough periods. Kaushal Silva won’t return due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will be a big loss in the runs department but the arrival of Matthew Harrison is an equally big boost. The former Prahran and Geelong captain reunites with Shanahan and will be a much-needed guiding hand alongside skipper Michael Stretton. Sean McNicholl will be critical in Greenvale jumping up the ladder if he can back up his outstanding breakout season when he claimed the second most wickets (36) in Premier Cricket. Spinner Dias looms as an excellent addition after finishing last season with the second most scalps (30) at Second XI level. Another tough season could await but the club is building.
KINGSTON HAWTHORN
Coach: Peter Marshall
Captain: Shorye Chopra
Last season: 18th
In: Matt Vorbach (Brighton Union), Romain Grenville (Moorabbin), Rahul Rajeshbabu (Moorabbin), Ashish Matthew (Box Hill), Abi Jain (Ashwood Willows), Bupa Munasinghe (Dandenong), Harry Singh (Point Cook)
Out: Jack Fowler (Dandenong)
Snapshot: Last season could not have been any worse for the Hawks – they held up the table in all four grades – but they’ve taken stock under new coach Peter Marshall, an all-energy and colourful character who knows the game. ‘Marshy’’ wants the First XI to be competitive and put itself in contention for points. “We just want to get into games. When teams come to Walter Galt this year they won’t be gifted the six points,’’ he said. He’ll be supported by former leading Sri Lankan batsman Asanka Gurusinha and bayside cricket identity Al Manning as assistant coaches. There are a lot of newcomers, improving depth in all sides. Stylish batsman Shorye Chopra will skipper the First XI and lead the batting with Ramneet Dhindsa, preferably with more support than in 2019-20. Former Sub-District all-rounder Romain Grenville is an interesting addition, and it won’t surprise if on occasion he gets Kingston Hawthorn away to a smart start at the top of the order. Practice match wins over Frankston Peninsula and Greenvale Kangaroos were encouraging for Kingston Hawthorn. It’s a season of one-dayers, but the Hawks and Marshall are playing the long game in terms of developing players and gaining gradual improvement and better results.
MELBOURNE
Coach: Ben Vague
Captain: Cameron White
Last season: Premier
In: Jack Prestwidge (Queensland), Jack Craig (Wodonga)
Out: Matthew Brown (Kew), Sean Sturrock (Williamstown), Chris Tremain (NSW), Jackson Coleman (Footscray)
Snapshot: There are some notable names in the list of departures for the Demons, but also two worthy inclusions, particularly former Queenslander Jack Prestwidge. He’ll shake up a few top-orders as he strives to force his way into the Victorian line-up. And expect him to bat in the top five; he’s impressed new Melbourne coach Ben Vague with his batting in the pre-season. Craig is a middle-order batsman and offie who played for the Vic Country team last season. A score of 80 retired in a practice match was a good sign for him. With their state players coming in and out, it’s always a juggling act for the Melbourne selectors. But the Demons’ depth sees them through, and it appears to be getting stronger with the emergence of the under-age representative players they regard so highly, including Campbell Kellaway, Marcus Jackman, Henry Brown (brother of former skipper Matt) and Darcy Munro. “They’ll all play for us this season at different times,’’ Vague said. The youngsters will blend with the likes of Meyrick Buchanan, Blake Thomson, Jackson Koop and Jack Harper. Skipper Cameron White will be away for the Big Bash, having been installed as the Strikers’ batting coach. Melbourne was awarded the premiership when COVID-19 cut last season short. Expect it to be figuring in flag calculations this season too.
MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY
Coach: Antony Keely
Captain: James McNeil
Last season: Finals
In: Simon Mackin (WA), Lachlan Pedley (ACT)
Out: Peter Hatzoglou (Prospect District, SA)
Snapshot: It’s been a fruitful off-season for the 2019-20 minor premier, with big paceman Mackin linking up with the club after relocating to Melbourne. The 28-year-old grabbed 101 wickets at 29.72 from 31 Sheffield Shield appearances for WA and is looking to reignite his state career. He has played one match for Victoria this season – against his former state – and will be looking to make a significant impact in Premier Cricket. Fast bowler Pedley has also arrived from the ACT, while star fast bowler Steven Reid is set to be available for most of the season after work commitments were expected to force him on to the sidelines. Melbourne University is unsure how much it will see of star all-rounder Alex Gregory (635 runs and 23 wickets in 2019-20), but its powerful batting line-up also includes Andrej Yaksender and Fergus McKenna, who both topped 600 runs last summer, while McNeil will be important after playing just nine games last season. The Students will be tough to beat.
NORTHCOTE
Coach: Steve Taylor
Captain: Blayde Baker
Last season: 2nd
In: Michael Topp (Ring), Solomon Mire (full-time)
Out: Sam Harbinson (University of Tasmania), Joe Medew-Ewen (Port Adelaide, SA), Max O’Sullivan (retired)
Snapshot: The Dragons were the big surprise of last season, finishing fourth, and upsetting minor premier Melbourne University in a qualifying final boilover. There was an argument the club should have been awarded the premiership as a result when the season was called off but it went to Melbourne. Northcote will have some holes to fill this season with Harbinson trying his hand in Tasmania and last season’s leading wicket-taker Medew-Ewen remaining in Adelaide until at least Christmas and possibly the entire season after garnering interest from SA state selectors. O’Sullivan has stepped away from the game after a breakout 600-run campaign. Topp will replace Harbinson and former Zimbabwe international Mire is back full-time after playing just two games last season. But it’s the youth that looks most promising. The Dragons boast five players in Victoria’s Under-19 squad and will be hoping they can push for First XI selection.
PRAHRAN
Coach: Julien Wiener
Captain: Jake Hancock
Last season: Finals
In: Damon Egan (St Kilda), Oliver Gunning (Camberwell Magpies), Nick Boland (Frankston Peninsula)
Out: James Billington (East Torrens, SA)
Snapshot: He went with the club’s best wishes but it was a blow for the True Blues to lose class batsman James Billington so close to the season, with the right-hander deciding to stay in Adelaide, where he had started the season. It was just as well they had recruited Damon Egan and Oliver Gunning, two batsmen who have gone to Toorak Park for a fresh start and, in Egan’s case, more opportunity. Nick Boland is also a good pick-up, joining Andrew Perrin and Matt Wilcox to form a threatening fast-bowling trio. In his first season at Prahran Perrin took 29 wickets at 18.8 to help the team into the finals series, where in the only round completed before COVID-19 it fell to St Kilda. Watch for Lachie Bangs, an exciting cricketer suited to the one-day format of this season. Fellow all-rounder and club great Steve Seymour is playing on, as is long-serving opener Adam Bull. With players of the calibre of Perrin, skipper Jake Hancock and Wilcox, everything points to the True Blues hitting the top-eight mark again.
RICHMOND
Coach: Shannon Young
Captain: Dominic Matarazzo
Last season: 14th
In: None
Out: Jackson Waters (Upwey-Tecoma), Tom O’Connell (Geelong)
Snapshot: The Tigers will be young, but they are not short on enthusiasm and could benefit from a season of one-day fixtures. Despite missing finals last summer, they will have a competitive line-up when state squad members Mitch Perry, Wil Parker and Jake Fraser-McGurk are available, while Zac Sleeman (selected in the 2020 Victorian Emerging Performance Winter Squad), Yash Pednekar and Jonathan D’Rozario are among the emerging players at Richmond’s disposal. Paceman Marcus Berryman will again be crucial after a career-best campaign in 2019-20 as he took 34 wickets at 13.6 to go with 278 runs, while Scott Edwards strengthened the batting after the Christmas break and hit a century against Geelong. On the negative side, Waters has moved on after he was the club’s most prolific batsman last season with 356 runs at 25.4. Finals might be a tough ask for the Tigers, but they’re hopeful they can give them a crack.
RINGWOOD
Coach: Sean Flynn
Captain: Patrick Ashton
Last season: 10th
In: Josh Hudson (Bayswater)
Out: Michael Topp (Northcote), Matt Fotia (Glenorchy, Tasmania)
Snapshot: The Rams enter the season under new coach and club great Sean Flynn, who returns from Bayswater, replacing 2014-15 premiership mentor Gavin Kellar. They will be without two top pacemen this season following the departure of Michael Topp to rival club Northcote and Matt Fotia to Tasmanian top-tier outfit Glenorchy, but Flynn is confident the existing stocks can fill the void. Flynn pointed to the strength of the all-rounders, with the experience of Ryder Medal winner David King and leading wicket-taker Ian Holland, while he’s confident in the club’s emerging fast bowlers. Young gun Sam Beer had a taste of First XI cricket last season and is set for more opportunities, and Victoria paceman Zak Evans is one Ringwood will look to when the first-class schedule permits. Jackson Freeman and recruit Hudson will further strengthen the fast-bowling stocks. Just six points separated the Rams from a finals berth last season and despite their big omissions, they should have enough depth and experience to give the finals a shake.
ST KILDA
Coach: Glenn Lalor
Captain: Adam Crosthwaite
Last season: Finals
In: Henry Thornton (NSW)
Out: Damon Egan (Prahran), Michael Beer (Malvern)
Snapshot: In Will Lovell, Matt Hennig, Josh Bartlett and even old-stager Simon O’Brien, the Saints had one of the best pace-bowling brigades in the competition. It got an even sharper edge with the arrival of Henry Thornton, who started his season in the Sydney Grade competition. “He’s fit and fast and he’s raring to go,’’ skipper Adam Crosthwaite said. “It’s going to be exciting to see him let them go, because he’s pretty quick.’’ Lovell and Hennig burst into the wicket charts early last season and the Saints are perky what they can produce in 2020-21 (Hennig is recovering from hip surgery and may miss the early exchanges). “To be honest, this is probably the biggest and strongest fast bowling group I’ve played with outside of first-class cricket,’’ Crosthwaite bubbled. “We’ve got some firepower, that’s for sure.’’ Young Todd Murphy carries the slower side of the attack (and his batting is all the better for training with the Vics). Jonathon Merlo, Josh Manning and Crosthwaite will shoulder the run-scoring load in an order that from time to time flexes with the muscle of state batsmen Marcus Harris, Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson. Finals for the Saints.
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