Mordialloc has switched cricket associations, joining Cricket Southern Bayside

After 11 years in the Dandenong District Cricket Association, Mordialloc has crossed to Cricket Southern Bayside to play in the Championship Division.

Mordialloc after winning the 2016-17 DDCA Turf 1 premiership.

Mordialloc Cricket Club is on the move, heading for Cricket Southern Bayside.

The Bloodhounds have been affiliated with the Dandenong District Cricket Association since 2007-08, winning three Turf 1 premierships, the most recent in 2017-18.

They also took the Turf 2 premiership in 2008-09.

BUCKLEY RIDGES WINS CLASSIC TURF 1 GRAND FINAL

NATHAN PILON CALLS IT A DAY

OAKS ROUT ELSTY IN SUBBIES GF

But a desire to create a stronger pathway between their juniors and seniors was one of the main reasons for them transferring to CSB, president Aaron Martello said today.

The Mordialloc juniors play in the South East Cricket Association.

“The alignment with the juniors is a big thing for us … at the moment the kids can play at Mentone in the morning and then have to travel to Beaconsfield or Narre Warren (to play senior cricket) in the afternoon,’’ Martello said.

“As it stands now 50 per cent of our playing membership is under 17 years of age.

“We have 12 junior teams and four of them played off in grand finals this season. But there’s no real cohesion or relationship-building with the kids. We have to bring it all together and now’s the right time to do it and reset again for hopefully another golden period.’’

Champion all-rounder Ian Daniel will be co-coach of Mordialloc next season.

Martello said the Cricket Victoria regional model held up Mordialloc as a Cricket Southern Bayside club alongside other City of Kingston clubs such as Parkdale, Aspendale and Mentone.

He said Mordi had longstanding rivalries with CSB clubs and they looked forward to “renewing old friendships and making new ones’’.

The Bloodhounds will start in the top grade, the Championship Division.

Martello said Mordi had been in discussions with CSB officials since the competition was formed, “just keeping abreast of all the developments’’.

“Probably last year we sought more information, and that was based on Cricket Victoria wanting to localise cricket more and more,’’ he said.

Martello said the club had enjoyed its time in the DDCA and was proud of its success in such a strong competition.

He said the DDCA was “an exemplary’’ association.

“It’s been fantastic, really strong cricket, challenging every week. You only have to look at last week’s grand final (between Buckley Ridges and Springvale South) … it will go down as one of the greatest grand finals in history, won’t it?

“We’ve appreciated the opportunity to play that level of cricket and wish everyone all the best for the coming seasons.’’

CSB operations manager Darren Anderson said Mordialloc had a strong connection with Cricket Southern Bayside clubs, having played senior cricket for many years in the old Federal District association and the VTCA before moving to the DDCA.

“Having won three of the past five DDCA Turf 1 premierships, Mordialloc will bring plenty of talent to the competition and a First XI which will move straight into and strengthen the Championship Division,’’ Anderson said.

“We look forward to working closely with their committee and players and welcome them to Cricket Southern Bayside.’’

President and former star batsman Aaron Martello and his committee are taking Mordialloc to Cricket Southern Bayside.

DDCA president Mick Hawking said this morning he understood Mordialloc’s reasons for leaving.

“We’ve really enjoyed their presence in our association because they’ve helped turn us into a very competitive association. They’ve attracted some brilliant cricketers,’’ Hawking said.

“But their juniors are local and Mordialloc is playing in a competition that takes them from one side of Kingston to the other side of Casey and their juniors aren’t prepared to make that sacrifice to travel. I can understand what they’re talking about. They want to play locally.

“Good luck to Mordialloc. People like Lance Draper and Aaron Martello have worked very hard to make them such a strong club.’’

Mordialloc last week parted ways with two-time premiership coach Adrian Jones.

But Martello confirmed former international Nuwan Kulasekara and champion all-rounder Ian Daniel would be co-coaches next season, assisted by Damith Mapa Ralage.

Meanwhile St Brigids St Louis, another City of Kingston club playing in the Dandenong association, is also weighing up a move to Cricket Southern Bayside.

Its juniors also play in the South East Cricket Association.