MPCA 2019-20: Mt Eliza, Peninsula Old Boys recruit well but Langwarrin still the one to beat

There have been plenty of player movements ahead of the MPCA season. See how Provincial and Peninsula clubs shape up.

Queensland's Matthew Gale bowling against Victoria at the MCG in 2013. Gale will captain Flinders in MPCA Provincial this season.

Centre to centre please, umpire!

It’s time to take block for a new cricket season.

We’ve rounded up all the ins and outs ahead of the 2019-20 MPCA season that starts on Saturday.

PROVINCIAL

MORNINGTON

Coach: Darren Berry.

Captain: Matt Foon.

Mornington batsman Charlie Parker.

In: Simon Goosey (Pines).

Out: Ben Clements (Queensland), Brad McDonald (Somerville), Sam Wiese.

Players to watch: Charlie Parker, Rueben Higgins, Cam Moon.

Comment: The Bulldogs will look to their crop of impressive youngsters to try to fill the void left by departing champion Ben Clements.

Sorrento’s Jedd Falck on the drive.

SORRENTO

Coach: Liam O’Connor.

Captain: Bobby Wilson.

In: Mitch Bench (Bendigo), Chathu Gunasignhe (Sri Lanka), Ravindra Palleguruge (Sri Lanka).

Out: Adeel Hussain (Tootgarook), Bob Parslow (Baxter).

Players to watch: Jedd Falck, Jake Wood, Corey Harris.

Comment: The Sharks have secured quality recruits but have also lost two key bowlers from their grand final side.

Baxter batsman Daniel Warwick plays an off drive as Mt Eliza keeper Tim Clarke looks on.

BAXTER

Coach: David Longhurst.

Captain: Daniel Warwick.

In: Bobby Parslow (Sorrento).

Out: Ben Brittain (Dromana).

Players to watch: Ben Matters, Bobby Parslow, Yohan Maddege.

Comment: Champion Chris Brittain has relinquished the captaincy to concentrate on playing and there is a steely determination among the established Baxter players to go all the way this season.

Mt Eliza captain Justin Grant hits out against Langwarrin. Taylor Smith is the keeper.

MT ELIZA

Coach: Tim Clarke.

Captain: Justin Grant.

In: Tom Baron (Rye), Matt Whelan (Rye), Bill Biggs (returning), Rashmika Opatha (Sri Lanka).

Out: Nil.

Players to watch: Nick Strickland, Liam Walsh (under 16s).

Comment: The Mounties dropped away last season but a bunch of quality recruits will see them climb the ladder.

Baden Powell players celebrate a wicket in last season’s MPCA Peninsula grand final.

BADEN POWELL

Captain-coach: Craig Entwistle.

In: Ryan Harrison (Brighton), Lachlan Ord (Dandenong).

Out: nil.

Players to watch: Rhys Elmi, Taylor Harrison, Luke Long, Tyson Jackson.

Comment: The Braves return to Provincial ranks after winning the Peninsula flag and can surprise.

Kane Hawkins, pictured bowling for Mt Martha, has joined Flinders.

FLINDERS

Coach: Shane Beggs.

Captain: Matt Gale.

In: Matt Gale (Bayswater) Kane Hawkins (Mt Martha), Michael Keating (Mt Martha), Jordan Nennstiel (Balnarring), Louis Gillies (returning), Liam Wolters (returning).

Out: Blake Hogan-Keogh (overseas).

Players to watch: Matt Gale, Jack Field, Mason Mail.

Comment: All eyes will be on former Queensland and Brisbane Heat paceman Matt Gale, who will skipper Flinders. But the loss of Blake Hogan-Keogh is significant.

Peninsula Old Boys captain Wade Pelzer whips through the leg side.

PENINSULA OLD BOYS

Coach: John Forrest.

Captain: Wade Pelzer.

In: Will Crowder (Frankston Peninsula), Callum Savio, Justin Parkes (returning), Oscar Craig (Kingston Hawthorn).

Out: Tom Shayler (Moorooduc), Cam Macauley (Boneo), Leon Newton.

Players to watch: Tom Labrooy, James Labrooy, Wade Pelzer (set to become the club’s first 200-game player in Round 7).

Comment: Chasing their sixth straight Provincial finals berth, the Pirates have recruited well.

Spinner Robbie Lancaster has joined reigning premiers Langwarrin. Picture: Chris Eastman

LANGWARRIN

Captain-coach: Jake Prosser.

In: Robbie Lancaster (Moorooduc), Matt Davie (Kingston Hawthorn), Ricky Campbell (Cardinia).

Out: Taylor Smith (Pines), Josh Edwards (Frankston Peninsula), Adam Campbell.

Players to watch: Tom Hussey, Matt Prosser, Andrew Smith.

Comment: The Kangaroos are chasing a premiership three-peat and they have the players to do it.

PENINSULA

MOOROODUC

Coach: Kenny Cremen.

Captain: Ben Williams.

Patty de Mel is back at Moorooduc.

In: Patty De Mel (Vermont South), Tommy Shayler (POB), Aaron Richards (Cornwood, UK), Tharaka Peiris (Moratuwa, Sri Lanka).

Out: Robbie Lancaster (Langwarrin), Madushanka Perera (Somerville), Thilina Rajakaruna.

Players to watch: Grady Vickers, Ben Williams, Reece Cordeux.

Comment: After making the semi-finals last season, the Ducs have strengthened their batting.

Main Ridge batsman Will Noall. Picture: Chris Eastman

MAIN RIDGE

Coach: Shared role between senior players.

Captain: Ed Aarons.

In: Nil.

Out: Shaun Foster (Carrum).

Players to watch: Will Noall, Ollie McEncroe, Jack Banks, Jason Banks.

Comment: New Cougars skipper Ed Aarons will call on his young players to step up while looking to champ Gareth Wyatt to lead the way.

Red Hill's Glenn Collett probes away.

RED HILL

Captain-coach: Simon Dart.

In: Mitch Darville (Mt Martha), Adam Slack (Templeton), Luke Jackson (Pakenham).

Out: Nil.

Players to watch: Tom Collett, Riley Shaw, Glenn Collett.

Comment: The Hillmen are putting a lot of emphasis on batting, and scoring heavily. Simon Dart is hungry for runs.

LONG ISLAND

Coach: Brett Hudgson.

Captain: Tom Boxell.

In: Nick Jewell (Main Ridge), Tom Boxell (Knoxfield), Rob Birnie (Upper Ferntree Gully). Out: Shayne Gillings (Pearcedale), Stuart Swift.

Tom Boxell batting for Knoxfield.

Players to watch: Cal Cavanagh, Tom Boxell, Andrew Tweddle.

Comment: Boom recruits Jewell and Boxell are sure to help the Islanders climb the ladder.

SOMERVILLE

Coach: Jason Nagel.

Captain: Brad McDonald.

In: Brad McDonald (Mornington), Madushanka Perera (Moorooduc), Jamie Tierney (UK), James McDonald (returning), Craig Kepell.

Out: Matthew Eager (Ballam Park), Mitchell Gibson (Baxter), Bradley Jones (Ballam Park), Zach Peddersen (Ballam Park), Luke Mulder (Ballam Park).

Players to watch: Niall Young, Charlie Dixon, Aiden Finn, Ben Tennant, Josh Young.

Comment: With Jayde Herrick, Leigh Lowry and Brad McDonald, look for the Eagles to be a contender.

Frankston Peninsula paceman Jackson Mockett is a big inclusion for Pines.

PINES

Coach: Paul Bradley.

Captain: Harley Peace-Stirling.

In: Jackson Mockett, Billy Kennedy (Frankston Peninsula), Taylor Smith (Langwarrin), Brad Trotter (Pearcedale), Sam Frawley (Pearcedale).

Out: Adrian Mack.

Players to watch: Patrick Jackson, Taylor Smith, Rhys Chalkley, Liam Jackson.

Comment: After narrowly missing finals last season, the Piners have added some serious talent, headed by Heat paceman Jackson Mockett.

HEATHERHILL

Coach: Kristian Miller.

Captain: Sam Mullavey.

Heatherhill bowler Jason Hinde.

In: Jobe Gardner (Baden Powell).

Out: Nil.

Players to watch: Jonathon Powell, Aidan Lenehan, Jobe Gardner, Liam Glennie.

Comment: Last season’s District premiers will play an aggressive brand of cricket.

Shayne Gillings is back at Pearcedale. Picture: Chris Eastman

PEARCEDALE

Captain-coach: Mitch Andrew.

In: Mitch Andrew (Tyabb), Patrick Beckham (Skye), Callum Bradford-Briggs (Frankston YCW), Calvin Bypost (Clyde), Tom Cottrell (Nyora), Paul Filippone (Skye), Kentaro Flint (Ballam Park), Shayne Gillings (Long Island), Drew Herbert (Wonthaggi Workmans), Daniel Kelly (Belper Meadows UK), Gerard Rabot (Long Island), Josh Rabot (Long Island).

Out: Sam Frawley, Brad Trotter (Pines).

Players to watch: Harry Capes, Beau Scoble, Jett Williams.

Comment: A new-look Dales will be hungry to bounce back after being relegated from Provincial.

Round 1, October 5:

Provincial: Mornington v Sorrento, Baxter v Mt Eliza, Baden Powell v Flinders, Peninsula Old Boys v Langwarrin.

Peninsula: Moorooduc v Main Ridge, Red Hill v Long Island, Somerville v Pines, Heatherhill v Pearcedale.