Premier Cricket: Local players bolster Frankston Peninsula ranks for 2023-24

The Heat will give early opportunities to a batch of local players who are determined to make an impact in Victorian Premier Cricket.

There will be some new faces in Frankston Peninsula’s teams this season.

They’re locals and they’re exciting.

A bunch of players from the Mornington Peninsula Cricket Association have bolstered Frankston Peninsula’s ranks ahead of the Victorian Premier Cricket season.

Victorian Country XI all-rounder Aidan Lenehan (Heatherhill) headlines about half dozen players from the local competition keen to have a crack at a higher level.

Ben Walker (Delacombe Park), Sam Gove (Flinders), Mikis Vemis (Mt Martha) and state under-17 squad member Tom Murphy (Carrum) have crossed from the synthetic pitches on the peninsula.

Liam Cox is also back at Frankston from Seaford Tigers.

Tommy Turnock bowling for Pearcedale. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Former Pearcedale and Langwarrin left-armer Tommy Turnock has crossed to the Heat from Casey South-Melbourne.

Frankston Peninsula has worked hard to attract the best talent in the MPCA, and it’s likely many of the newcomers will start the season in the top two grades.

Meanwhile, Heat senior coach Paul Boraston said a fast-start to the season was vital in Frankston’s quest to snap a decade-long finals drought.

“We want to get off to a good start, that’s been a bit of a downfall for us the last few years, coming from too far back and having to get wins late,’’ he said.

“We want to get off to good start in the first month or two and then go from there. We’ll see how we go against the Blues on Saturday.”

Frankston Peninsula host Carlton at Jubilee Park in the season opener on Saturday.

FRANKSTON PENINSULA

Captain: James Nanopoulos

Coach: Paul Boraston

Last season: 12th

Ins: Ben Sexton (Prahran), Ned Hurley (Carlton), Tommy Turnock (Casey South Melbourne), Aidan Lenehan (Heatherhill), Ben Walker (Delacombe Park), Sam Gove (Flinders), Mikis Vemis (Mt Martha), Liam Cox (Seaford Tigers)

Outs: Praveen Dalanka (Greenvale Kangaroos), Brendan Morris (Mordialloc)

Prediction: Former Test man Jon Holland will play every game — a massive boost for the Heat. He, Brodie Symons and skipper James Nanopoulos will lead a strong bowling attack, but Frankston’s challenge will be to score more runs. Victorian country XI all-rounder Aidan Lenehan is a good addition, as are several up-and-comers from the local Mornington Peninsula competition. Look out for young gun Tom Murphy, who’s in the U17 Vic emerging squad, to make his way.