Victorian Premier Cricket: St Kilda stalwart Josh Manning joins Kingston Hawthorn as first XI captain
Premier club Kingston Hawthorn has moved quickly to replace Shorye Chopra. PAUL AMY and SIMON McEVOY report on how the club recruited its new captain, and some spin-bowling signing news at Dandenong.
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He had been on Kingston Hawthorn’s wanted list for four years.
Finally, the Hawks have got their man.
Not long after captain Shorye Chopra confirmed his departure from the club, heading to Camberwell Magpies, Kingston Hawthorn secured St Kilda batter Josh Manning as its new skipper.
He has joined his father, senior assistant coach Allan, at Walter Galt Reserve.
Kingston Hawthorn had been chasing Manning since former senior coach Peter Marshall was appointed, but he stayed loyal to the Saints, where he had played for 13 years.
But the Hawks’ latest approach came at a good time.
Some four months ago Manning became a father, he lives two minutes from the ground, he can presumably use a few bob to play cricket and he was ready for a new challenge.
The left-hander gave St Kilda admirable service, playing more than 200 games across the grades.
At first XI level the patient left-hander made his debut in 2011-12 and had 148 matches, hitting 3817 runs and four centuries.
He was in and out of the firsts last season, scoring 142 runs, but was prolific in the seconds.
Manning had a golden summer in 2018-19, stacking up 727 runs at 51.9, including centuries against Geelong (120no), Northcote (137) and Richmond (a career-high 146).
Hawks president Brett Sebire said the club was chuffed to finally land Manning, who plays amateur football for Parkdale Vultures.
“I’ve known Josh for years,’’ Sebire said.
“I’ve hung around the Parkdale footy club, down at the Vultures, and I’d talk to Josh and I reckon I’ve been talking to him for about four years about him coming across and playing cricket but he’s always wanted to stay very loyal to St Kilda.
“I think he’s just thought it’s time for a bit of a change and for us it gives us stability at the top end, experience and an old head.
“We’ve got a fairly young list and I think he’s going to be really good for the club.’’
And the captaincy?
He’s a good fit for it, Sebire believes.
“I reckon he was vice-captain for three or four years at St Kilda but I’m not sure.
“It’s very difficult to get experienced Premier cricketers, particularly when you haven’t won too many games.
“And Josh will just be fantastic in that regard. He’s got a level head, knows the game and knows most of our blokes anyway … we’re really looking forward to him taking on that leadership role.”
The Hawks also have a new head coach in Colin Siller, a Scotsman who played for Hawthorn in the late 1980s.
He later ventured on a coaching career that’s taken in experience around the world and at most levels, including school, youth, club, first-class and ICC Associate.
Siller was also an assistant coach of Canada and national coach for four countries (Fiji, Austria, Sweden and Rwanda).
Former skipper Josh Trembearth has joined the group of Greenvale players heading to new homes in Victorian Premier Cricket.@PaulAmy375 has the details on who else is part of St Kilda’s signing spree. https://t.co/yaPcMzlCRT
— CODE Cricket (@codecricketau) June 30, 2023
Meanwhile, Dandenong has gained two spinners as it tries to build its stocks for 2023-24.
Left-armer Ollie Jenkins from Camberwell Magpies and leggie Vishwa Ramkumar from Ringwood have linked with the Panthers.
Ramkumar came to notice when he made his debut for the Rams at the age of 15 in 2021-22. He’s played nine matches in the top team.
Jenkins is a little more experienced, having entered the Magpies’ firsts in 2020-21.
The Panthers have lost two of their top-six batters from last season, experienced left-hander Sahan Perera, who has joined Sub-District club Noble Park, and young Angus Newman, who has followed his brother Ed to St Kilda.
Eager to improve their batting, Dandy will explore the idea of bringing out an overseas player next season.
Originally published as Victorian Premier Cricket: St Kilda stalwart Josh Manning joins Kingston Hawthorn as first XI captain
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