Check every club’s ins and outs and analysis of the VTCA Senior Division season
All is in readiness for the new VTCA Senior Division season. Check out every club’s ins and outs and our analysis of their finals aspirations.
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The Victorian Turf Cricket Association season is upon us.
We welcome Sydenham-Hillside following the Storm’s Division 1 premiership last season.
Meanwhile, Westmeadows avoids relegation thanks to Haig Fawkner accepting demotion as part of its settlement in the ball tampering court case against the association.
Some big names have arrived and some big names have changed colours.
Check out all the ins and outs and our preview of every club below.
ABERFELDIE
Captain: Tallan Wright
Coach: Tallan Wright
Last season: Semi-final
In: Chathura Darshana (Greenvale Kangaroos, VTCA), Shaifi Moazzem (Footscray), Kieran Gray (Williamstown Congs)
Out: Sohan Boralessa (time off), Zach Mevissen (Alexander Thomson, GCA), Josh Docking
Snapshot: The return of Moazzem and Gray bolsters a batting order that which was ranked second overall last season. However, the loss of Boralessa, Mevissen and Docking weakens an attack that was ranked fifth. Abers made the grand final in 2021-22 and backed it up with a second-placed finish in the home-and-away season before falling to eventual premier Yarraville Club in the semi-final. Expect it to be around the mark again this season.
CRAIGIEBURN
Captain: Josh Eaton
Coach: Nathan Pappin
Last season: Ninth
In: Manpreet Singh, Kevin Spaull
Out: Dilum Weerarathna (Sunshine United), Waduwidanalage Rangika
Snapshot: Despite finishing second last in season 2022-23, Craigieburn weren’t actually too far away from playing finals. New coach Nathan Papin is confident his side will be able to improve this season with a need to deliver greater consistency. “We we had pretty poor second half of the season, if we can play near our best more often, we should win some more games,” he said.
DEER PARK
Captain: Dean Russ
Coach: Mick Andriadis
Last season: Runner-up
In: Dean Russ (Footscray), Daniel Sartori (Footscray), Allan Wise (St Brigid’s St Louis), Peter Herrick
Out: Lachlan Fitzgerald (Melbourne University)
Snapshot: After reaching the grand final from fourth last season, Deer Park went big in a major recruiting drive in the off-season. Russ and Sartori’s arrivals give last season’s runner-up arguably the best batting line-up in the division. Given what they already had at the club it’s hard not to imagine at least a top-two finish if everything goes right.
DRUIDS
Captain: Asela Aluthge
Coach: Andrew Brennan & Jared Andrews
Last season: Fifth
In: Milinda Sepala (Diggers Rest Bulla), Charith Perera (Diggers Rest Bulla), Charith Mendes (Haig Fawker), Sonara Karunathunga (Sunshine Heights)
Out: Mickey Hay (Footscray), Nathan Johnson (Yarraville Club), Leigh Wilson (retired), Brad McMaster (St Peter’s, GCA), Eamon Scott
Snapshot: Despite a final round win, Druids missed out on a top-four berth by a single point last season. What could have been as Deer Park went on to make the grand final from fourth. Co-coach and leading bowler Andrew Brennan said the club expected to be “around the mark again” despite the loss of key players Hay, Johnson and Scott. The addition of Charith Mendes from Haig is a quality acquisition.
KEILOR
Captain: Nathan Beever
Coach: Duncan Harrison
Last season: Eighth
In: Reeve Evitts (UK), Nick Taylor (Greenvale Kangaroos)
Out:
Snapshot: As the Keilor rebuild continues to gather momentum, coach Duncan Harrison said he is “optimistic” about his side’s chances this season. After four wins last year, Keilor simply has to start winning more games. “We need to start making finals and being a hard team to beat,” Harrison said. Nick Taylor will add plenty of excitement to the top of the order.
ST ALBANS
Captain: Shafraz Mohammed
Coach: Shafraz Mohammed
Last season: Seventh
In: Nils Priestley (UK), Ashen Abeykoon (Footscray United), Shafraz Mohammed (Footscray United), Akila Ishanka (St Andrew’s)
Out: Brenton Cook (Melton)
Snapshot: After the disappointment of missing the top-four last season, there is a new sense of optimism across the Saints under new captain-coach Shafraz Mohammed. With a handful of new inclusions, there will be greater pressure on spots which could heavily work in St Albans favour. Should be right in the mix for the top-four again.
SUNSHINE UNITED
Captain: Tom O’Brien
Coach: Michael Glowacki
Last season: Sixth
In: Dilum Weerarathna (Craigieburn), Lahiru Kumara (Footscray United), Wajhe Bangash (Shepparton United, CS), Buddhika Madhushanka (Mulgrave, ECA)
Out: Daniel Raniolo (Footscray), Nalin Amarathunga, Michael Glowacki (retired)
Snapshot: A final-round defeat to second-last Keilor saw the Tigers fall out of Senior Division finals, an agonising miss. However, United is keen to rebound this season and new coach Michael Glowacki is confident his team has the talent to push for a top-four finish. “I think the recruits we’ve brought in have filled some gaps from last season,” he said. Taking wickets will be key to those goals. United were ranked eighth last season, above only Westmeadows and St Albans. Kumara, Weerearathne, Bangash and Madhushanka will all help with that.
SYDENHAM-HILLSIDE
Captain: Anthony Alleyne
Coach: Warren Hackney
Last season: Division 1 premiers
In: Adrian Neill (Scotland), Ben Green (returning)
Out:
Snapshot: Moving into the Senior Division for the first time, the Storm are ready to expect the unexpected according to new coach Warren Hackney. Importantly for Hackney, he has been able to keep much of the core group from last season together. Scottish fast bowler Adrian Neill could easily be among the pick ups of the season while Ben Green’s return is only going to do wonders for the club. Based on their trajectory in recent seasons anything might be possible.
YARRAVILLE CLUB
Captain: Mitch Johnstone
Coach: Mitch Johnstone
Last season: Premier
In: Michael Hill (Essendon), Nathan Johnson (Druids)
Out: Heath Beveridge (Essendon), Lachie Campbell (Footscray)
Snapshot: Clubbers claimed their 10th Senior Division premiership last season and have seemingly only gotten stronger in the off-season. The addition of Premier Cricket great Hill and tearaway quick Johnson are sure to trouble rivals all season. While not putting any major expectations on the season, captain-coach Mitch Johnstone said his team had to make the top four first and then “what will be, will be.” “We only just snuck in (to the top four) last year but I think two-day cricket will suit style of play more and finals is the expectation,” he said.
WESTMEADOWS
Captain: Donovan Pell
Coach: Donovan Pell
Last season: 10th
In: Geeth Alwis (St Albans) Pawan Wickramasinghe (St Andrews Pascoe Vale), Michael Pell (St Francis de Sales), Kanav Sharma (Airport West)
Out: Ryan Blair (West Coburg), Luke Ranno (West Coburg)
Snapshot: The Warriors received a stay of execution and avoided relegation due to Haig Fawkner accepting demotion back to Division 1 this season. After a difficult 2022-23, Westmeadows has recruited strongly, adding one of the best players in local cricket in Alwis and are feeling confident about their chances. Captain-coach Pell said the club felt it belonged in Senior Division and was grateful for the opportunity. “Hopefully we can make that pay dividends and have a crack at not only staying up but at being around the mark at the pointy end of the season,” he said.
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