Named: Every Melbourne Country Week squad and players to watch
Regional Victoria’s best cricketers will descend on the city for Melbourne Country Week. Here’s your ultimate guide, with squads and players to watch.
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Country cricket’s finest are hitting the big smoke.
Melbourne Country Week starts on Monday as cricket associations from across regional Victoria make the trip to the city.
Here’s a look at the selected squads, plus players to watch, for the 2024 carnival.
MELBOURNE COUNTRY WEEK SQUADS
PROVINCIAL
Pool A
Leongatha and District: Daniel Mock (Phillip Island), Ethan Lamers (OMK), Lachlan Cleeland (Phillip Island), Joel Brann (Wonthaggi Club), Shiran Rathnayake (Phillip Island), Mitchell Clark (c) (Nerrena), Jake Cochrane (OMK), Tim Wightman (Nerrena), Jack Ginnane (Imperials), Jack Butcher (Inverloch), Aaron Kaddatz (Nyora), Mudassar Riaz (OMK), Lewis Rankin (Inverloch), Simon Kirton (Phillip Island), Dylan Clark (Inverloch), Mark Lafferty (Imperials), Luke Rogers (Imperials), Geemal Rajapakshage (Leongatha Town), Amila Ratnaike (Leongatha Town), James Sheerin (Wonthaggi Club)
Warrnambool and District: Geoff Williams (Nestles), Cam Williams (Russells Creek, captain), Chris Bant (Allansford-Panmure), Bailey Jenkinson (North Warrnambool Eels), Theo Opperman (Merrivale), Jacob Hetherington (Nestles), Alex Jennings (Port Fairy), Joe Nyikos (West Warrnambool), Craig Britten (Russells Creek), Rommel Shahzad (Allansford-Panmure), Matt Petherick (Merrivale), Xavier Beks (Dennington), Shannon Beks (Dennington), Todd Lamont (Mortlake)
Ferntree Gully and District: TBC
Geelong: Sean O’Neil (C) (East Belmont), Rob Smith (Grovedale), Gregory Willows (Highton), Nick Butters (South Barwon), Josh Lacey (East Belmont), Phillip Visser (North Geelong) Tom Driver (Geelong City), S.Ellis (South Barwon), Bailey Sykes (Grovedale), Thomas Webster (North Geelong), Dale Kerr (North Geelong), Ronnie McKenna (Newtown & Chillwell), Daniel Blatherwick (Lara), Sam Coutts (Grovedale), Tom Smith (St Joseph’s)
Pool B
Bendigo District: Adam Burns (Kangaroo Flat), Luke Stagg (Kangaroo Flat), Brent Hamblin (Kangaroo Flat), Dylan Klemm (Kangaroo Flat), Grant Waldron (Strathdale Maristians), Daniel Clohesy (Strathdale Maristians), Sam Johnston (Strathdale Maristians), James Barri (Strathdale Maristians), Matthew Wilkinson (Strathdale Maristians), Jack Neylon (Strathdale Maristians), Liam Smith (Golden Square), Kyle Humphrys (Bendigo), Riley Treloar (Bendigo United)
Mornington Peninsula: Bobby Wilson (captain, Dromana), Justin Grant (vice-captain, Old Peninsula), Aiden McKenna (Long Island), Rhys Elmi (Baden Powell), Josh Edwards (Frankston YCW), Matt Prosser (Langwarrin), Thomas Finn (Main Ridge), Lahiru Opatha (Mt Eliza), Harley Peace-Stirling (Pines), Ash Nagel (Rosebud), Pat Nagel (Rosebud), Sam Holland-Burch (Tyabb), Lachlan Hose (Tyabb), Josh Peet (Boneo), Ben Williams (Frankston YCW), Kane Donald (Rosebud)
Sale-Maffra:
Dylan Bolton (C) (Boisdale Briagolong), Jack Tatterson (Stratford), Jack Rietschel (Stratford), Bohdi Walker (Stratford), Cormac Hassett (Stratford), Kevin Renecke (Boisdale Briagolong), Ben Jones (Sale), Garreth Wolmarans (Sale), Steven Spoljaric (Bundalaguah), Zac Hurley (Collegians), Nathan Whitford (Collegians), Isaac Love (Rosedale-Kilmany), Benjamin Durrant (Maffra)
Wangaratta and District: Paddy McNamara (United Bruck), Bailey Dale (Rovers United Bruck), Josh Nanson (City Colts), Dylan Bursill (Ovens Valley United), Gurjot Gosal (Ovens Valley United), Cooper Thomason (Ovens Valley United), Kent Braden (City Colts), Josh Ansell (Rovers United Bruck), Priyank Chohan (Benalla Bushrangers), Jacob Beattie (Rovers United Bruck), Tyler Nanson (City Colts), Mitch Giggins (City Colts), Isaac Willett (City Colts)
DIVISION 2
Bairnsdale: Ryan Halford (West Bairnsdale), Brodie Anderson (West Bairnsdale), Thomas Hudson (West Bairnsdale), Reagan Kyle (Meerlieu), Rohan Blandford (Meerlieu), Frank Mostert (Meerlieu), Nicholas Adendorff (Meerlieu), Max Welsh (Orbost), Luke Endley (Orbost), Curtley Farley (Orbost), Ricky Tatnell (St Mary’s Nagle), Brayden McCarrey (St Mary’s Nagle), Stephen Bertino (Wy Yung), Jack Kesteven (Lakes Entrance)
Ballarat: Matt Aikman (Ballarat-Redan), Ben Collins (Dunnstown), Sajith Dissanayaka (Napoleons Sebastopol), Jacob Eyers (East Ballarat), Ashley George (Mt Clear), Harli Givvens (East Ballarat), Jack Harwood (Ballarat-Redan), Jayden Hayes (Ballarat-Redan), Will Hodgins (East Ballarat), Tom LeLievre (Mt Clear), Ajay Mada (Mt Clear), Ash McCafferty (Wendouree), Mick Nolan (Wendouree), Hudson Palmer (Buninyong), Heath Pyke (Wendouree), Nick Strangio (Bacchus Marsh), Matt Ward (Mt Clear)
Bellarine Peninsula: Edward Morrison (Barrabool), Lachie Grigg (Barrabool), James Fisher (Barrabool), Keiran McNally (Inverleigh), Mason Dickson, (Inverleigh), Ed Cole (Jan Juc), Jordan Graham (Jan Juc), Luke Edwards (Jan Juc), Nick Smith (Jan Juc), Dan Roddis (Ocean Grove), Shaun Fankhauser (Ocean Grove), Fletcher Long (Ocean Grove), Suman Shrestha (Ocean Grove), Jackson Kent (Ocean Grove), Cameron Watson (Winchelsea), Dane Wise Graham (Wallington)
Casey Cardinia: Dale Tormey (captain, Pakenham), Chris Bright (captain, Koo Wee Rup), Luke McMaster (Koo Wee Rup), Steve Dillon (Koo Wee Rup), Brad Butler (Tooradin), Ben Parrott (Tooradin), Dylan Sutton (Tooradin), Jason Williams (Pakenham), Lucas Ligt (Devon Meadows), Will Halton (Devon Meadows), Cooper Pursell (Officer), Rumesh Ranasinghe (Merinda Park), Travis Whellar (Cardinia), Morteza Ali (Cardinia)
Cricket Latrobe Valley: Nathan Freitag (Glengarry), Lee Stockdale (Ex Students), James Pryde (Ex Students), Mitch Harris (Ex Students), Matt Dyke (Ex Students), Frank Marks (Glengarry), Alistair Jenkin (Glengarry), Hamish Busk (Glengarry), Michael Warne (Ex Students), Ewan Williams (Rovers), Keenan Hughes (Toongabbie), Jordan Campbell (Morwell), Riley Baldi (Moe), Ryan Morley (Imperials), Lachlan Patterson (Rovers), Liam Maynard (Raiders), Luke Thornton (Raiders)
Hamilton District: TBC
Kingston Hawthorn: Nic Tindall (captain), Hamish McKenzie (wicketkeeper), Charlie Aldridge, Ben Spencer, Prajay Paramesh, Luke Ajani, Sakshm Pathania, Rahul Surendran, Jahan Saidi, Prabhav Mishra, Brad Stow, Kurt Heigl, Max Ralph, Cory Cater.
Maryborough: Mitch McClure (captain, Maryborough), Sam Bartlett (vice-captain, Laanecoorie Dunolly), Lachlan Oddie (vice-captain, Beaufort), Jack Smith (Beaufort), Joe Kingsbury (Beaufort), Ritik Yadav (Carisbrook), Jude Maguire (Clunes), Lach Morganti (Clunes), Mitch Coppick (Clunes), David Robinson (Colts Phelan), Dan Romeo (Laanecoorie Dunolly), Luke Smith (Laanecoorie Dunolly), Sergio Rosier (Laanecoorie Dunolly)
South West: Johno Benallack (captain, Cobden), Paul Vogels (vice-captain, Heytesbury Princetown), Lachie Green (Bookaar), Steven Fisher (Camperdown), Eddie Lucas (Bookaar), Ryan Mottram (Heytesbury Princetown), Matthew Boyle (Cobden), John Reed (Camperdown), Angus Uwland (Cobden), Lachie Boyle (Boorcan), Louis Darcy (Bookaar), James O’Neill (Camperdown), Matt Kemp (Cobden), Tyson Royal (Ecklin), Matt Bignell (Pomborneit)
Sunraysia: Adam Thomson (Gol Gol), Bradley Thomas (Mildura East), Shaun Mathews (Gol Gol), Jayden Hunt (Mildura East), Locke Thornton (Mildura West), Archie Walker (Nichols Point), Nick Blacker (Nichols Point), Josh Berry (Mildura East), Josh Andrews (Mildura East), Ben Green (Merbein), Josh Bowyer (Mildura East), Kian Burns (Mildura West)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Josh Berry, Sunraysia
A middle order batsman who has been a valuable part of Mildura East’s team for the past few years.
Dylan Bolton, Sale-Maffra
Experienced player who will captain the side, setting high standards. Good off-spin bowler and late-order batter who can hit the ball long. Just recently was made a “champion’’ of Gippsland cricket.
Nick Butters, Geelong
Butters has shone with bat and ball for South Barwon, scoring the third most runs in the Geelong Cricket Association and also taking 10 wickets, including a five-fer in the opening round.
Ed Cole, Bellarine Peninsula
Cole comes into the tournament in strong form, scoring 47, 69 and 108 in his last three digs. The Jan Juc gun, who is the third highest runscorer in the Bellarine Peninsula, can also play a role with the ball.
James Fisher, Bellarine Peninsula
Fisher has claimed 17 wickets at 14 in the BPCA competition, including three-wickets or more on four occasions.
Nathan Freitag, La Trobe Valley
The talented left-hander is a player to watch in any side he plays in, as he has the ability to change the game almost instantaneously. With a strong Premier Cricket career behind him – both in Victoria and Tasmania – Freitag is ready for anything Country Week throws at him.
Ryan Halford, Bairnsdale
The West Bairnsdale captain has taken 34 wickets at 10.12 this season and goes to Country Week full of confidence.
Ethan Lamers, Leongatha and District
A matchwinner with bat and ball, the Outtrim Moyarra Kongwak young gun showed his class with a knock of 144 opening the batting earlier this season.
Tom Le Lievre, Ballarat
Crucial to Ballarat’s success getting promoted at Country Week. Le Lievre has made plenty of runs for Mount Clear, helping them to be a finals contender in the first division in Ballarat.
Lucas Ligt, Casey Cardinia
Seven centuries in two seasons stamps the free-flowing left-hander as a genuine country cricket run machine and a player to watch at Country Week.
Ajay Mada, Ballarat
One of the leading bowlers for Ballarat heading into Country Week. Is the opening bowler for Mount Clear.
Aiden McKenna, Mornington Peninsula
The hard-hitting opener will look to blast off against the new ball and is hard to stop once in full flight. Also a reliable gloveman.
Paddy McNamara, Wangaratta
The left-arm quick made it to the final three of the Renegades Recruit. Look for him to bowl with fire and take early wickets next week.
Daniel Mock, Leongatha and District
The Phillip Island skipper crunched 149no off 108 balls in the opening round and has put together a sparkling season, racking up 470 runs at 78.3.
Lachlan Oddie, Maryborough
A leggie currently leading Maryborough District Cricket Association bowling aggregate this season.
Harley Peace-Stirling, Mornington Peninsula
The stylish batter will provide reliability in the middle order and is known for his ability to churn out big scores.
Sergio Rosier, Maryborough
A batsmen who is in good form after smashing an elegant unbeaten 69 in a recent game in the competition.
Luke Smith, Maryborough
The classy batter has been in mint form, currently averaging 99 in the competition.
Rommel Shahzad, Warrnambool and District
The 24-year-old Canadian is a star. He’s played one List A match where he took 4-8 on debut. He plays for Allansford-Panmure in the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association where he takes the new ball as an off-spinner.
Ricky Tatnell, Bairnsdale
The dynamic all-rounder is having a golden summer, with 397 runs at 44.1 and 26 wickets at 12.8 for St Mary’s Nagle. He will be the side’s barometer at the carnival.
Locke Thornton, Sunraysia
Been one of the leading fast bowlers in the Sunraysia competition. His form has warranted selection in the team.
Dale Tormey, Casey Cardinia
The former Premier Cricket left-hander can take a bowling attack apart with his power hitting. Goes to the carnival in good form after clobbering 449 runs, at 49, for Pakenham this season.
Paul Vogels, South West Cricket Association
The Heytesbury Princetown product is an experienced player in Country Week who will bowl through the middle overs of South West’s carnival.
Tom Webster, Geelong
Starting the season in North Geelong’s twos, Webster has burst onto the scene with a staggering 20 wickets at 12.1 in the GCA firsts competition, taking three wickets or more in four matches.
Gregory Willows, Geelong
A fitting surname for a man who is very handy with the bat. Willows has hit 126 more runs than any other batter in GCA first grade with 511 runs, including two centuries and a 99.
Nathan Whitford, Sale-Maffra
An exciting young fast bowler who is fresh off representing Vic Country in the national championships. Bowls at a good clip and will have opposition batters ducking and weaving.
Ritik Yadav, Maryborough
A deceptive off spinner who can bowl a mean carrom ball.
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