St Bernard’s secures three big off-season recruits to off-set loss of Arosh Janoda

St Bernard’s is gearing up for the new VSDCA season with three big off-season acquisitions, confident of replicating its maiden finals appearance despite Arosh Janoda’s departure.

Upal Bandara in action for Keilor. Picture: David Smith

St Bernard’s hopes three big-name recruits can offset the loss of gun all-rounder Arosh Janoda.

Janoda departed for VTCA club St Albans at the end of last season after a decorated stint at Murphy Oval.

The Snowdogs have since welcomed Carlton Premier Cricket premiership paceman Aaron Smillie and Keilor all-rounder Upal Bandara, while Conor McGuire returns from Essendon.

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St Bernard’s coach Nigel Freebairn hopes the talented trio can inspire the club to back-to-back VSDCA finals appearances despite a tougher draw this season in the North-South group.

“That’s certainly the plan each year (to improve), but on paper we’re looking more consistent across all grades,” Freebairn said.

“We recognise we’re in a tough half of the draw this year, playing against some very successful and long-standing sub-district clubs.

Upal Bandara in action for Keilor. Picture: David Smith

“We’re into our fifth season of sub-district cricket, so we’re looking to raise our profile locally but also more broadly.

“We’ve got a tough draw to start with but that will really give us a sense of where we’re at and where we need to improve.”

Janoda was named in the VSDCA Team of the Year in 2017-18 but a stress fracture in his foot derailed his 2018-19 campaign.

The fast bowler snared 16 wickets, well down on the his league-leading 37 from the season before.

However, he remained a threat with the bat — scoring 474 runs, the seventh most in the competition — as St Bernard’s contested finals for the first time since moving from the VTCA.

Smillie was Carlton’s leading wicket-taker last season with 20 scalps as the Blues claimed the premiership.

Aaron Smillie in action for Carlton.

Bandara was a VTCA Senior Division Team of the Year member after grabbing 29 wickets, the third most in the competition, and adding 314 runs with the bat.

“(Arosh) has been a wonderful servant and a star of our club and we wish him well at St Albans,” Freebairn said.

“We knew at the end of last season and we’ve recruited strongly to cover the loss.

“Bandara has been a star at Keilor. He’s an opening bowler and aggressive middle-order bat, very much in the mould of Arosh.

“Returning from Essendon is Conor McGuire, a left-arm opening bowler and middle-order bat. He’ll play First XI cricket as well.”