Leader cricket writers analyse every club ahead of the VSDCA North-West group season

The VSDCA North-West group season looms as a fascinating battle with a host of club vying for premiership success. Leader’s cricket writers have analysed every club ahead of Saturday’s season opener.

Leader's VSDCA North-West conference season preview.

This season the VSDCA brings together the North and West regions.

West powerhouses Williamstown and Werribee start as premiership favourites after reaching the East-West decider last season.

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Meanwhile, Kew and St Bernard’s were the best performed teams from the North – reaching the semi-finals – against the highly competitive South region.

See all the ins and outs for every team and analysis from Leader’s cricket writers.

Brunswick coach Karl Mayne in action. Picture: Andy Brownbill

ALTONA

Coach: James Grubb

Captain: Adam Yates

Last season: 4th (9-0-6, lost qualifying final, lost semi final)

In: Josh Young (Williamstown Imperials), Aaron Whear (Point Cook)

Out: Mitchell Grubb (work commitments)

Snapshot: The A’s were forced to make a coaching change last month, with Shane Jones relocating to Queensland with his family to take up a job opportunity. Gun all-rounder Grubb, who tallied 562 runs and 26 wickets last season and earned selection in the VSDCA Team of the Year, was swiftly named as his replacement. Whear, who played more than 200 games for Preston and coached Point Cook, has also joined as an assistant coach, while Young has also returned to the club. Altona was hammered by rival Williamstown in the South-East group semi-finals last season, but expectations remain high.

BRUNSWICK

Coach: Karl Mayne

Captain: Liam Murphy

Last season: 11th (5-1-7)

In: Louis Cameron (Essendon)

Out: James Pearson (injury), Ben Moss (UK)

Snapshot: The Wicks’ fall down the ladder was perhaps one of he biggest surprises of last season. Too much was left to too few as evidenced by only one batsman inside the top 35 run-scorers (Murphy, third overall) and the club’s top wicket-taker (Leigh Brennan) finishing equal 22nd. If Saturday’s practice match against Coburg is any indication, those lessons may have been well learnt as Brunswick made 300-plus without Murphy picking up his bat. When his work commitments allow, Cameron’s arrival will be a major boost and together with Clint McKay will provide some high-quality mentoring to the club’s pacemen.

Jack Sheppard in action for Coburg. Picture: Sarah Matray

COBURG

Coach: Aaron Shellie

Captain: Aaron Shellie

Last season: 14th (3-1-9)

In: Shariq Khan (Essendon), Fletcher Stewart (time off), Tom Mainfield (time off)

Out: Zac Thorne (South Barwon), Mitch Shellie (year off)

Snapshot: The only way is up for the Lions and captain-coach Aaron Shellie saw some positive signs in Saturday’s practice match against Brunswick. Despite a couple of years out of the game Fletcher Stewart showed he could be a major contributor this season, combining strongly with Liam Richardson in the middle order. Jack Sheppard was a top-10 wicket-taker last season and will be critical to the club’s hopes. For Coburg it will come down to the pivotal moments that so often went against them last season.

HOPPERS CROSSING

Coach: Jack Rhodes

Captain: Jack Rhodes

Last season: 7th (6-1-6)

In: Jeremy Swan (South Barwon)

Out: Khush Talati (Melbourne University), Luke Goegan (personal reasons)

Snapshot: The Cats just missed finals last season and have not finished in the top six since 2015-16. The return of Jeremy Swan is a big plus, with the paceman collecting 17 wickets at 21.65 in his last VSDCA season with Altona in 2018-19, including a haul of 6-41 against powerhouse Caulfield. He also grabbed 17 wickets at 13.65 for South Barwon last season.

All-rounders Sanka Abeyruwan and Brett Smith will again be key to their team’s fortunes.

Jack Rhodes keeps an eye on the ball for Hoppers Crossing.

IVANHOE

Coach: Sunny Fernando

Captain: Sunny Fernando

Last season: 10th (5-0-8)

In: Raza Rizwan (time off), Brad Loveluck (Camberwell), Scott McNaughton (time off)

Out: Kasun Adikari (Sri Lanka), Yoshan Kumara (Deer Park)

Snapshot: Top run-scorer Adikari’s departure is a major blow to Ivanhoe’s hopes this season, with the two-time VSDCA Team of the Year star testing himself in Sri Lanka’s top competition. Leading wicket-taker Yoshan Kumara has also left. It makes the return of former club captain Raza Rizwan extremely timely and he will play an important part on both sides of the ball. Look for Sanahasa Fernando to have a big campaign after finishing second at the club in both runs and wickets to Adikari and Kumara respectively last season.

KEW

Coach: Chris Weeks

Captain: Chris Weeks

Last season: 3rd (7-1-5, won qualifying final, lost semi final)

In: John Hastings, Will Sheridan (Yarraville Club), Matt Brown (Melbourne)

Out: Ollie Birts (UK)

Snapshot: There was plenty to like about Kew last season and there was even more to like about the club’s off-season. Three big names have come on board to push the club among the premiership favourites. Combine the likes of Hastings, Brown and Sheridan with Andrew and Tom Chalkley, Alistair Burge, David Wildsmith and Weeks and facing Kew is a daunting task.

John Hastings during his time at Melbourne Stars.

Matt Brown in action for Premier Cricket club Melbourne. Picture: Valeriu Campan

MELTON

Coach: Brad Jones

Captain: Nathan Taylor

Last season: 8th (6-1-6)

In: None

Out: Ben MacRae (personal reasons), David Dickinson (Strathmore), Adrian Monitto (Essendon)

Snapshot: The Lions have appointed a new coach in the experienced Jones, while Taylor has taken over the captaincy to allow the star paceman to concentrate on his coaching duties. Melton will miss MacRae, who is out due to personal reasons after plundering 1956 runs in the VSDCA in the past four seasons. Jones is confident his team remains capable of giving finals a shake and is enthused by youngsters such as Dylan Jobson, Jason Hibbert and Joel Mitchener. The Lions advanced to a preliminary final in 2018-19 before finishing three points outside the top six last summer.

PLENTY VALLEY

Coach: Michael Rogneda

Captain: Michael Rogneda

Last season: 12th (4-1-8)

In: Nish Perera (Essendon), Daniel Taylor (Diamond Creek), Daniel Bramich (time off), Harry Chalal (Preston YCW)

Out: Ryan Pearson, Blake Pearson (both Oakleigh), Daniel Heatley (retired), Lee Brown (time off), Dayne Smith (Riverside)

Snapshot: After winning the premiership in 2018-19, last season turned into a nightmare for the Bats and now captain Ryan Pearson and brother Blake have departed as well as Heatley and Brown. However, Perera is a high-quality recruit from Essendon’s Premier ranks and immediately bolsters the middle order and spin attack while Taylor impressed with the ball in Saturday’s practice match against Preston. Despite the turnover in personnel, expectations are still high at Plenty Valley and if there’s one club that can bounce back quickly it’s the Bats.

Michael Rogneda takes the captain-coach reins at Plenty Valley. Picture: Andy Brownbill

PRESTON

Coach: Luke Bramich

Captain: Michael Hayes

Last season: 13th (3-2-8)

In: Upul Bandara (St Bernard’s), Marcus Murphy (Epping), Thimira Jayasinghe (Holy Trinity), Sajith Shani (Footscray), Akashdeep Cheema (Essendon)

Out: Mahesh Kodamullage (Albury), Daniel Franco (time off), Gayan de Silva (Olympic Dam, SA), Dalis Thomas (health), Musaddiq Ali, Swapnil Challa (both Greenvale Kangaroos), Taran Chana (UK)

Snapshot: The Bullants have certainly had a considerable turnover from last season and losing leading run-scorer Gayan de Silva and wicket-taker Mahesh Kodamullage is a major worry. Preston will be hoping Bandera can rediscover his best form after a quiet season at St Bernard’s and the likes of Murphy and Jayasinghe can bring their best to VSDCA level. The club is committed to its development plan so exposing their talented youngsters to the top grade will hold them in good stead for the future but could come with some short-term pain.

ST BERNARD’S

Coach: Nigel Freebairn

Captain: Luke Davis

Last season: 4th (7-1-5, lost qualifying final, lost semi final)

In: Liam Jilla (time off), Luke Marinelli (time off), Steve Shields (Garfield-Tynong)

Out: Upul Bandera (Preston)

Snapshot: St Bernard’s got a wake up call in their final practice match on Saturday against Yarraville, failing to bat our their 40 overs. Batting was an issue last season with leading scorer Chris Spinella (367 at 30.58) ranked 18th in the competition. However, the Snowdogs’ bowling more than made up for it with spearheads Luke Davis and Aaron Smillie taking almost 50 wickets between them. After a sensational campaign saw it reach the semi-finals last season, St Bernard’s coach Nigel Freebairn won’t stand for complacency.

TAYLORS LAKES

Coach: Glenn Marr

Captain: Jarrod Wakeling

Last season: 6th (6-1-7, lost qualifying final)

In: Luke Jones (Ovens Valley United), Amit Padwal (Altona)

Out: Aidan Brasher (Footscray), Aamir Raza, Rachid O’Neale (both overseas players)

Snapshot: New coach Glenn Marr, who has been a batting coach at the club for the past three seasons, is putting no expectations on his group after last summer’s breakthrough finals appearance. Former Ovens Valley United skipper Jones is a key in for the Lions after logging 220 runs and 19 wickets in Wangaratta in 2019-20, while wicketkeeper-batsman Padwal has arrived from Altona as an assistant coach and will be looking to nail down a spot in the First XI. Star young bowler Brasher is a big out after grabbing 22 wickets at 15.7 last season but is testing himself at a higher level with the support of Taylors Lakes, while the coronavirus crisis has stopped Raza and O’Neale from coming back. Star spinner Wakeling will again be his team’s key player.

WERRIBEE

Coach: Tim O’Brien

Captain: Tim O’Brien

Last season: 2nd (9-2-4, won qualifying final, won semi-final, grand final cancelled)

In: None

Out: None

Snapshot: Werribee is desperate for success having been denied a shot at glory last season when the grand finals were cancelled amid the coronavirus pandemic. Captain-coach Tim O’Brien has a stable, experienced group at his disposal, with the Tigers qualifying for finals in six of the past eight seasons. With Shaun Dean, Matt Dean and O’Brien spearheading the batting and a well-balanced bowling attack, expect them to be competing at the pointy end of the campaign. All-rounder James Freeman looms as a key performer after an impressive 2019-20, during which he returned 349 runs and 25 wickets.

James Freeman in action for Werribee. Picture: Andy Brownbill

WILLIAMSTOWN

Coach: Brent McMinn

Captain: Brent McMinn

Last season: Premier (12-0-3, won qualifying final, won semi-final, grand final cancelled)

In: Sean Sturrock (Melbourne)

Out: Dale McDonald, Fraser Hay (both Footscray)

Snapshot: The Seagulls have waved goodbye to two key players, with Hay having a crack at Premier Cricket after collecting 21 wickets at 16.3 apiece last season, while experienced batsman and former coach McDonald has taken on an assistant coaching role at the Dogs. But McMinn has reason to be confident in the squad at his disposal, with spinner Sean Sturrock returning to Williamstown after a 15-year career with Melbourne that delivered 207 First XI wickets. He will also fill a role in the middle-order and is expected to have a major impact in the Subbies. The likes of Matt Dervan and Mitch Ferry will be looking to cement their spots in the top side. With McMinn (667 runs last season) leading a loaded batting line-up and multiple options with the ball, the Seagulls will be hard to beat.

YARRAVILLE

Coach: Matthew Grose

Captain: Matthew Grose

Last season: 3rd (10-1-4, won qualifying final, lost semi final)

In: Mohan D’Souza (returning)

Out: Arjun Sehrawat (Footscray), Tom Saunders (personal reasons)

Snapshot: The Eagles are confident their formula will hold up in a season of one-day matches. They performed impressively in 2019-20 to finish the regular rounds in second position before being outgunned by Werribee in the penultimate weekend of the campaign. Josh Hahnel (490 runs), Jamie Tapper (315) and Aidan Salvado (308) led the batting last season, while Ashane De Silva (26 wickets), Mitchell Cross (25) and Grose (18) did the damage with the ball. D’Souza, who contributed 235 runs at 33.6 in 2018-19, has returned while Yarraville is hopeful former skipper Nathan Allen will be available after the Christmas break in what would be a major boost.