How Craigieburn is shaping up ahead of VTCA Senior Division debut

Promotion-winner Craigieburn is looking to an old rival for inspiration as it prepares for a maiden VTCA Senior Division campaign.

Zac Orr celebrates a wicket. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Craigieburn will make its long-awaited VTCA Senior Division debut this season.

The Eagles step up to the competition’s top flight after beating Sunshine two-nil in last season’s Division 1 best-of-three grand finals series.

The club already has a heated rivalry with Westmeadows, which they face in Round 1, and have faced Haig Fawkner, Aberfeldie and St Albans in recent seasons.

Craigieburn coach Chris Laffan said his club was looking to replicate the Warriors’ introduction to Senior Division.

“We’re really excited, it’s a special moment for two stalwarts in Dan English and Mick Bury who were part of the team that came first came into the VTCA and have been part of it all the way to Senior Division,” he said.

Adam Davies in action for Craigieburn. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“It’s also exciting the guys that we’ve given a heap of opportunities to push us there in Sammy (Laffan), Josh Eaton and Adam Davies.”

“It’s been good for us to see Westmeadows transition through the grades.

“We like to think we’re pretty similar to them, pushing local talent on the field, so if we can mimic their transition last year that would be fantastic – if we can prove we belong in the grade.

“There’s only about three clubs we haven’t played before and although the personnel might have changed we feel pretty confident we know what we’re going to come up against.”

However, the Eagles will have to do it without talismanic allrounder Sunny Taggar, who has returned to Bundoora in the Diamond Valley association.

Taggar scored a premiership-winning century in Game 2, coming in at 3-7 and finishing unbeaten on 101 from just 98 balls.

The Team of the Year star finished as the club’s leading run-scorer and second best wicket-taker, finishing with 455 runs at 37.55 and 24 wickets at 11.04.

“Sunny was a massive part of our success, it’s sad to see him go back to his home club,” Laffan said.

Josh Eaton bowling for Craigieburn. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“It was fantastic to have him here as part of the journey and obviously he’ll always be welcome back.”

No other Craigieburn batsman scored more than 200 runs, meaning the likes of Nathan Pappin, Sam Laffan and English will need to significantly improve their output if the club is to survive and thrive.

It’s a different story with ball in hand, English topped Division 1 with 34 wickets at 7.18 last season.

The Eagles great will combine with Bury (23 scalps), Narinder Sharma (17), Zach Orr (16) and Josh Eaton (15) to form one of the most potent batteries in the competition.

Chris Laffan said Orr would be one to watch after his superb 5-27 in Game 2 of the grand final series last season.

“Zac ended up taking the new ball at the back end of last year and played a really important role coming into the finals and through the finals run,” he said.

“He had a terrific performance in the second grand final and we’re looking for him to build on that.

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“He’s added a lot of strength and size, so he should be ready to hit his straps, which is very exciting.

“We’re pretty stable, it’s been a strength of our club, being a consistent team and having all 11 players contribute.”

Craigieburn has been quiet on the recruiting front, bringing in Shehan Hirudika from Subbies club Melton.

The allrounder will help fill Taggar’s big shoes after compiling 219 runs at 19.91 in 14 First XI appearances in 2020-21.