Premier Cricket 2018-19: Meagan Ciavarella’s loyalty set to be rewarded with first final in eight years for Plenty Valley
Meagan Ciavarella’s loyalty to Plenty Valley will be rewarded this weekend when she features in her first Premier Women’s final since 2011.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Meagan Ciavarella’s loyalty to Plenty Valley will be rewarded this weekend when she features in her first Premier Women’s final since 2011.
Ciavarella, who made her 250th appearance for the Bats on Sunday, is the only player still with Plenty Valley who figured in the club’s semi-final loss to Box Hill eight years ago.
OFF-SEASON HQ: LATEST COACH, PLAYER MOVES IN LOCAL FOOTY
TARGET 1000 CAMPAIGN: HOW YOU CAN HELP COBURG VFL
TOP SHOTS: THE BEST LOCAL CRICKET PICTURES FROM FEBRUARY 23
THE 16-YEAR-OLD WHO TOOK FIVE WICKETS WITH A FRACTURED FINGER
WHY TOM BELL CHOSE GREENSBOROUGH OVER RIVAL SUITORS
She has had 70 different teammates since that fixture, but remained loyal to the club despite the significant turnover and its on-field struggles in recent years.
“It means so much. Especially for the new girls, and even the old girls,” Ciavarella said.
“Some people haven’t even played finals before and some have, but haven’t had that opportunity for ages.
“It means the world, for me anyway.”
Ciavarella’s experience has been pivotal to the Bats’ development under coach Adam Drinkwell in the past two seasons.
Only three years after finishing at the bottom of the First XI ladder with two wins from 20 matches, Plenty Valley qualified for one-day finals with a round to spare.
“I think there’s been a bit of (natural improvement) and a bit of consistency,” Ciavarella said.
“It’s Adam’s second year now so we all know what we like, know what we don’t like and we have all jelled, which is I think is a huge factor.”
Ciavarella is one of the leading wicket-takers in the competition with 17 scalps, combining with rising stars such as Sophie Day (15 wickets and 164 runs) and Sophie Reid (296 runs) to help their side clinch a breakthrough top-four finish.
“We have gone through so many coaches and every time we have looked like we are going on the up we have had people leave,” she said.
“It’s good to have the consistency and for it to be paying off with Adam as coach, to actually be in some finals now.”
Drinkwell said he was thrilled for Ciavarella to experience finals again.
“Meagan has had a really good year with the ball for us,” he said.
“She has taken on that role really well as the leader of our attack.
“She gets good players out and that’s the bonus for us.
“She’s a fierce competitor and that is what we love about her.”
Ciavarella, a seam-bowling all-rounder, has no intention of Plenty Valley’s season ending this weekend, targeting an upset in the club’s knockout semi-final against minor premier Prahran.
“We have proven we can beat every team, so there’s no reason why that has to stop now,” she said.
MORE LOCAL SPORT NEWS
STAR EDFL MIDFIELDER MAKES CALL ON PLAYING FUTURE
DONS STAR PUSHES CLAIMS FOR ANOTHER VICTORIAN CHANCE
LAURIMAR DUO PRODUCE RECORD STAND IN DVCA
‘More cracks than a plumber’: VTCA club slams horror pitch
A pitch described as the “worst in VTCA history” has overshadowed a weekend’s game as one club delivered a stinging assessment of the conditions. It’s all in our wrap of the day one action.
From hospital to double ton: Ex-state cricketer’s historic day
A former Victorian state batsman wrote himself into the local cricket history books with a massive double century which smashed all types of records. But it almost didn’t happen after a trip to hospital.