Victorian Premier Cricket: Frankston Peninsula adds key recruits

Frankston Peninsula has picked up a host of players from the local competition as well as a Vic Country player and a spinner currently playing first-class cricket overseas.

Sam Gove (left), Aidan Lenehan and Yohan Maddege are looking to play with Frankston Peninsula.

Frankston Peninsula coach Paul Boraston says the plan is “to be playing in late March”.

He’s alluding to a long overdue finals campaign for the Heat, who haven’t made the Victorian Premier Cricket top eight in a decade — their last finals appearance was in 2013.

“That’s the aim,” Boraston said.

“It’s been probably over 10 years now since Frankston have made the finals. Obviously the club played in the grand final in 2010-11.

“We missed out by a game last year. So that’s the idea, to try and improve again and be playing in late March.”

Frankston Peninsula will celebrate its 30th anniversary next season; a finals berth would be a fitting way to celebrate it.

Sam Gove, young Flinders batting ace.

Heatherhill’s Aidan Lenehan.

Boraston says the full-time availability of former Australian and Victorian spinner Jon Holland, who has retired from first-class duties, would be a great boost to Frankston’s hopes of climbing the ladder in 2023-24.

“Obviously having Jon Holland will be huge for us,” he said.

“We hope he will play every game.”

An influx of talented local players will also strengthen Frankston Peninsula’s list.

Heatherhill all-rounder Aidan Lenehan, Flinders teenage batting star Sam Gove and big-hitting Ben Walker from Delacombe Park will have a crack at Premier Cricket.

Lenehan, a genuine all-rounder who bats well and bowls at a good clip, played in Vic Country’s national title triumph in Canberra in January.

Gove hit 441 runs at 36.7, inclding two centuries, for Flinders last season. At 16 years and 10 months, he was the second youngest player in history to represent Mornington Peninsula at Country Week.

Walker – the nephew of club great Luke – hit 419 runs at 29.9 for Delacombe last season.

Mikis Vemis, an exciting all-rounder from Mt Martha who captained the Heat’s Dowling Shield side last season, has impressed at pre-season training.

“He looks like he’s a decent all-rounder, a big tall kid,” Boraston said.

Mornington paceman Cameron Moon. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Yohan Maddege bowling for Baxter. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Mornington’s tall paceman Cameron Moon has also been training with Frankston but is yet to commit to playing there.

“He’s been training quite regularly so we are hopeful that he will. He will be good if he does,” Boraston said.

Baxter leg-spinner Yohan Maddege, who is currently playing first-class cricket in Sri Lanka, is another possible recruit.

“We obviously need to get all the visas done but he’s committed to us and that’s what he wants to do, play Premier Cricket,” Boraston said.

“He’s in Sri Lanka at the moment playing some first-class cricket but we hope that he’ll be on board as well.

“We want to get the best talent from the MPCA.”

Frankston Peninsula has also secured two players from rival Premier Cricket clubs.

Prahran paceman Ben Sexton, 20, has joined the Heat in search of more first XI cricket.

“He will be good for us, will add to the depth and strength in the quick department,’’ Boraston said.

Ned Hurley, from Carlton, has played twos and threes and has moved down Frankston way.

Frankston Peninsula will have a weekend away playing games against Northcote in Numurkah in late September.

The Heat hosts Carlton first up in a one-dayer on October 7.

Frankston Peninsula turns 30, having hit-off in the elite Victorian competition in October, 1993, under captain-coach Shaun Graf, with the late Bill Foley as president and the great Dennis Prendergast vice-president.