MPCA appointments, moves and whispers ahead of 2025-26 season

The Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association is abuzz with activity as clubs make significant changes ahead of the upcoming season. Plus the latest whispers.

Plenty of MPCA news around. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

The Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association is experiencing a flurry of activity with new appointments, player movement and revitalised team cultures.

And, of course, a few whispers.

Here’s the latest:

DOWLING TAKES CHARGE AT LANGY

Changes at Langwarrin, with the Kangaroos appointing former Long Island player Josh Dowling as head coach. It comes after star bat and captain Ricky Damiano informed the club he was moving on. Jake Prosser, Trav Campbell, Trevor Johnston and Leigh Paterson (who has landed at Merinda Park as captain-coach) are other departures at Lloyd Park. Dowling is a former wicketkeeper-batsman with Dandenong, who boasts plenty of coaching experience (he’s coached at four senior clubs, winning three senior premierships). He played a handful of First XI games alongside Warren Ayres and Peter Siddle at Dandy in 2002-03, and he also represented Vic Country. “Josh’s energy, knowledge, and vision for a strong, united club culture align perfectly with the values we uphold at Langwarrin,” Langwarrin wrote on social media.

Josh Dowling is Langwarrin's new coach. Picture: Facebook

NICKNAME NEEDED, PLEASE

He’s been coach for barely five minutes but already Mark Cooper has got things going at Baxter, strongly suggesting the club get itself a nickname and a song. Baxter is the only club in the MPCA without a nickname. “That’s the first thing on our committee agenda, to get a nickname and a song,’’ club president Steve Harvey said. Suggestions, please. How about...the Bulls? Barracudas? Bouncers?

Baxter is set to get a nickname for the 2025-26 season.

SIGNING SETS UP SHARKS ATTACK

Rosebud will boast one of the strongest bowling attacks in the MPCA after signing former St Kilda and Dandenong paceman Jak Jowett. “Jak has the ability to swing and cut the ball both ways and along with a sharp bouncer, he will be a delight to watch,’’ the Sharks said. Jowett played in South Caulfield’s CSB premiership last season. A former premiership captain-coach at Clayton District, he has a connection with Rosebud where his father Dave was a star in the late 1980s. He joins an already strong Roebud bowling line-up which includes the Nagel brothers, Patrick and Ash, Sam Jones and Jarrod Hicks.

MASTER SPINNER JOINS YC

As Frankston YCW said in its social media post, “when a player of Dwayne Doig’s stature approaches you and says he wants to play for your club, there is clearly no other answer but, ‘welcome aboard Doigy!’” And with that, former Vic Country off-spinner Doig has become a Stonecat, joining his former Cardinia teammates Dan Salvato and Dean Henwood at YC. Doig is a master spinner with over 900 wickets in senior cricket and has played in the MPCA before — at Langwarrin (for a premiership in 2012-13).

Dwayne Doig bowling for Cardinia. Picture: Brendan Francis

CONGRATS, ROGER

Two life memberships in a year? Yep, that’s the honour bestowed on Roger Brearley, whose contribution to local sport has been deservedly recognised. He was “given life” by Langwarrin Cricket Club (where he has been First XI scorer for almost two decades) last Saturday night. That followed Roger’s life membership at Tyabb footy club.

WHISPERS

*A leading MPCA Subbies batsman moving to a rival side.

*A change of captain on the cards at a Provincial club (nothing sinister, just stepping down).

*Some of the MPCA’s brightest young stars exploring a switch to Premier Cricket clubs.

*Provincial premier Pines’ hunt for a wicketkeeper set to deliver a surprise recruit.