Premier Cricket: Wicketkeeper among new arrivals at Dandenong

The Panthers have suffered some key losses but it’s not all gloom and doom as they push ahead with recruiting.

Brodie Eccles behind the stumps at Frankston Peninsula.

There has been a lot going on at Dandenong and, in terms of player departures, a lot of goings.

One Premier club official described it this week as an “unprecedented exodus’’ as he took in the names of the departed: James Nanopoulos, Peter Cassidy, Lincoln Edwards, Suraj Randiv, Ed Newman, Jacques Augustin, Jack Fowler, Comrey Edgeworth, Zac Grundmann-Perera and Dasun Opanyake.

The Panthers may also lose their champion opener Tom Donnell to retirement.

But there has also been an influx of young players as Dandenong recasts its First XI under new captain Brett Forsyth and emerging types such as Jarryd Wills, Gehan Seneviratne, Andrew Taeuber, Aaron Fernando and Angus Newman.

The newcomers include:

* Frankston Peninsula wicketkeeper Brodie Eccles, who played 13 First XI matches in 2019-20.

* Northcote paceman Aryaman Bhardwaj, who was in the Cricket Victoria Under 19 emerging performance squad last season.

* Young Balwyn batsman Vihaan Narayana.

* Knox Gardens batsman Adam Wylder, a heavy run-scorer in the Ferntree Gully association last season.

* Springvale South bowler Sam Wetering.

* Mentone Grammar all-rounder Declan McComb.

Sam Wetering bending his back for Springy South.

Eccles will be in contention to replace Augustin behind the sticks.

“Really happy to bring in a 22-year-old enthusiast who is going to come to our club and be everything you want a wicketkeeper to be: energetic and keen and wanting to learn and be a good voice around the place,’’ Ayres said of Eccles.

“Everything I’ve seen in him is exciting and hopefully he can develop his cricket and become a very good player for the club. I don’t know how it’s going to end up but I know he’s got all the little bits and pieces every District player needs. He wants to learn, he wants to get better.’’

Eccles spent last season in the Frankston Peninsula Second XI, making 324 runs at 24.9.

Ayres said the Panthers would have a bunch of new hopefuls, as well as prospects in the seconds and thirds who were capable of moving up a grade.

He said the club remained upbeat despite losing most of the team that went from seventh after the home-and-away rounds all the way through to the grand final.

“We’re going to go with these kids and really try to develop them and turn them into good senior cricketers and maybe even one or two of them go higher than that,’’ Ayres said.

“I think that’s the positive of next season, that we’re going to see some young talented players getting an opportunity and trying to make the most of it.’’

The Panthers announced in April they had recruited Carlton bowling all-rounder Matt Wilson.

Meanwhile Cricket Victoria has confirmed Geelong and Greenvale Kangaroos will join the Women’s Premier Cricket competition over the next two years.

Geelong will link up next season with teams in the 2nd XI and 3rd XI competitions.

Greenvale will be eligible to compete from 2022-23 season, also starting in the 2nd XI and 3rd XIsa.

Progression to the First XI competition will be dependent on a range of criteria including performances in the seconds and thirds.