Plenty Valley name Ryan Pearson captain, reveal new-look coaching set-up for 2019-20 VSDCA season

Star Plenty Valley allrounder Ryan Pearson says it was an honour to be named captain for the 2019-20 VSDCA season as the Bats reveal a new-look coaching set-up to replace James Dickinson.

Ryan Pearson in action for Plenty Valley.

Plenty Valley is thinking outside the box as it replaces captain-coach James Dickinson.

Star batsman Ryan Pearson will skipper the club in 2019-20 while Matthew Hewat returns to the club as director of coaching.

Instead of a single senior coach, Hewat will oversee a group of assistant coaches; Pearson, Simon Black, Daniel Heatley, Rory Collins and recruit Michael Rogneda.

After leading the Bats to VSDCA North-East premiership glory, Dickinson has departed for VTCA Senior premier Strathmore due to travel constraints.

Pearson enjoyed an outstanding season that saw him score 681 runs at an average of 42, claim 30 wickets at 11.3 and be named in the VSDCA Team of the Year.

New Plenty Valley captain Ryan Pearson. Picture: David Smith

The new captain was honoured by the role and was looking forward to the new-look coaching arrangement.

“It’s the first time I’ve captained a side, so I’m looking forward to it, there’s big shoes to fill with Dicko leaving,” he said.

“It’s good to have (Hewat) back at the club, he is sensational.

“Everyone is going to chip in — a few different voices — we’ve said it can get a bit stale hearing from the same bloke.

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“These guys are really experienced, so we’re better drawing on that than leaving it up to one guy.”

Dickinson isn’t the only departure from the premiership-winning squad with legend Sean Ayres moving to Preston Baseballers while young guns Jai Lemire and Ikroop Dhanoa will step up to Premier Cricket.

However, the Bats have moved quickly to bolster their line-up ahead of the annual division rotation.

Rogneda arrives from Premier club Northcote while Lee Brown has signed from Dandenong club HSD and Ryan Nankervis from Essendon.

Michael Rogneda in action for Northcote. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The new VSDCA North-South division will see Plenty Valley defend its premiership against some of the heavyweights of Subbies cricket.

“It’s a tough side of the draw this season with Caulfield, Oakleigh, Brighton, everyone has picked up players,” Pearson said.

“We’ve put together a squad that we think can be thereabouts at the end of the season.

“There’s probably 10 teams who could give the flag a shake.

“There’s not going to be any easy games, it’s going to be great cricket.”