MPCA District division ins, outs, key players for every club

Ahead of the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association season’s opening round, here are the ins, outs and key players for all District division clubs — and who are the top contenders.

Cricket season hits off on the Mornington Peninsula next week.

The District division looks like being hotly contested, with Carrum Downs, Crib Point, Balnarring and Carrum to be among the contenders.

We analyse all the off-season news and squad changes ahead of a big summer.

BALNARRING

Captain-coach: Luke Hewitt

Ins: Ben King (French Island), Josh Peet (Boneo), Tom Peet (Boneo)

Out: nil

Key players: Luke Hewitt, Ben King, Charlie Robinson-Cay, Mark Walles, Jake Hewitt, Jackson Hannah, Justin Brown

Snapshot: The Saints look set to be a leading contender, with Ben King (owner of the MPCA highest ever score, 321no), returning to boost the batting and bowling ranks. The Peet brothers from Boneo are also key arrivals. Luke Hewitt peeled off three centuries last season and will lead from the front.

Luke Hewitt will inspire Balnarring. Picture: Supplied

BAXTER

Coach: Simon Dignan

Captain: Todd Quinn

Ins: Priyantha Kumara (Blackburn South), Tom Carlyle (Officer), Mitch Rossborough (AYC Harlequins), Hayden Brittain (Langwarrin), Matthew Wright (UK recruit, played at Golden Square last season), Chamika Sattambi (returns from Darley)

Out: Cam Dinger (Carrum Downs), Josh Dinger (Carrum Downs)

Key players: Todd Quinn, Leigh Stewart, Priyantha Kumara, Chamika Sattambi, Simon Dignan

Snapshot: After successive wooden spoons, Baxter is looking to rebuild. MPCA champion Simon Dignan has taken over as coach and will look to instill a winning culture. Leading players Dana Fernando and Mandadige Fernando look unlikely to play.

Todd Quinn will skipper Baxter. Picture Valeriu Campan

BONEO

Head coach: Caolan O’Connor

Technical coach: David McClean

Captain: Jack Beale

Ins: Cam Peirce (Tootgarook), Jack Dowling (Tootgarook), Anthony Bos (Tootgarook), Saden Abeygunawardana

Outs: Josh Peet (Balnarring), Tom Peet (Boneo), Sean Garner (Rosebud)

Key players: Samson Storey, Dilasri Lokubandara, Jack Beale, Chris Jobling, Cam Williams, Caolan O’Connor, Jarvis Andersen, Ryan Jellie

Snapshot: After winning its second-ever First XI flag last season, Boneo steps into District division. Caolan O’Connor takes over as coach and the Pandas have retained key players, including leading batsmen Samson Storey and Dilasri Lokubandara.

Jack Beale bowling for Boneo. Picture: Valeriu Campan

CARRUM

Coach: Bart Hudgson

Captain: Shaun Foster

Ins: Corey Hand (returning), Max LeFevre, Sam Ridgway

Out: nil

Key players: Liam Hulett, Jake D’Atri, Shaun Foster, Josh Dent, Riley Johnston, Corey Foster, Gus Kennedy, Billy Thomson, Dylan Ridgway

Snapshot: After losing to eventual premiers Seaford in a semi-final last season, the Lions will be hungry for success. Shaun Foster takes ovr as captain, while former club junior Max LeFevre is back from Queensland to take the wicketkeeping gloves in the ones. More depth.

Billy Thomson of Carrum bowling. Picture: Hamish Blair

CARRUM DOWNS

Coach: Jum Quarmby

Assistant coach: Michael O’Driscoll

Captain: Gordon Waterfall

Ins: Cam Dinger (Baxter), Josh Dinger (Baxter), Anthony Salomon (Noble Park)

Out: nil

Key players: Gordon Waterfall, Rob Johnston, Cam Dinger, Josh Dinger, Brad Lockhart, James Quarmby, James Abbotts, Jordan Watters, Ryan Lynch

Snapshot: Leading batsman Gordon Waterfall takes over as captain and he will lead a strong side desperate to win an elusive flag after going close in recent seasons. Rob Johnston will look to replicate his superb ‘23-24 campaign (466 runs and 17 wickets), while Jum Quarmby showed his class with an unbeaten century in the semi-final last season.

Robert Johnston batting for Carrum Downs. Picture: Valeriu Campan

CRIB POINT

Captain-coach: Blake Hogan-Keogh

Ins: Jake Mialitsis (Tyabb), Jack Knight (Seaford)

Out: Neil Clark, Blaze Rosinski (WA)

Key players: Blake Hogan-Keogh, Matt Blake, Spencer Wilton, Angus Cripps, Brad Davidson, Andrew Sharp

Snapshot: The pain of grand final defeat will spur on the Magpies, who will again rely on two-time Betts medallist Matt Blake (494 runs and 41 wickets last season) and Blake Hogan-Keogh (668 runs).

Spencer Wilton bowling for Crib Point. Picture: Valeriu Campan

FLINDERS

Captain-coach: Liam Wolters

In: Dan Hille (Heatherhill), Josh Gawthrope (Southern Districts, NT)

Out: Mac Henderson (Dromana)

Key players: Liam Wolters, Jack Field, Tom Pengelly, Mason Mail, Sam Field, Luke Reynolds, Jarryd Lymer

Snapshot: Liam Wolters will lead a Sharks side capable of mixing it with the leading sides. Opening bat Jack Field will play the first four games and then go overseas, while Matt Gale is likely to play “half the games’’.

Josh Gawthrope has joined Flinders. Picture: Facebook

James Abbott bowling for Main Ridge. Picture: Valeriu Campan

MAIN RIDGE

Coach: Jason Albress

Captain: Scott Murray

In: Praveen Fernando (Footscray United)

Out: Ryan Harrison (Mt Martha), Charlie Nunn (staying in UK), Harry Nunn (staying in UK)

Key players: Praveen Fernando, Scott Murray, Sam McWilliams, Jacob McWilliams, James Abbott, Sam Lyons

Snapshot: Jason Albress, after guiding Boneo to a premiership, returns to the Cougars as coach. Sri Lankan first-class batsman Praveen Fernando is an exciting addition; at 29, he’s a hard-hitting left-hander who will relish the small boundaries at Ditterich Reserve. Tommy Finn is to undergo knee surgery and will be sidelined. Ex-St Kilda keeper Scott Murray will skipper the Cougars, with Jacob McWilliams vice-captain.

ROUND 1, Saturday, October 5: Carrum Downs v Carrum, Balnarring v Flinders, Boneo v Baxter, Main Ridge v Crib Point.