VSDCA 2018-19: Oakleigh reflects on its seventh Sub-District Cricket club championship
Oakleigh has made it back-to-back VSDCA Club Championships after winning a seventh title this Sub-District Cricket season.
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Another year, another club championship going to the mighty Oakleigh Cricket Club.
The Oaks’ record is the envy of the VSDCA, adding a seventh title to its bulging trophy cabinet this season.
The 2018-19 club championship made it back-to-back club wins, underlining Oakleigh’s status as a Sub-District Cricket powerhouse.
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Oakleigh captain Brendan McGuinness credited Oakleigh’s dominance to the work of its small army of volunteers.
VSDCA KEN FEWSTER CLUB CHAMPIONS 2018/19
— Oakleigh CC (@OakleighCC) March 6, 2019
It is with great pride that the @OakleighCC last weekend secured our seventh @SubbiesCricket Club Championship.
Full story below: #purpleandgold #clubchampionshttps://t.co/fxTXL4JzaO pic.twitter.com/aqEQXyaaqP
Fantastic weekend for @OakleighCC, winning back-to-back @SubbiesCricket Club Championships. Our 7th since its inception.
— BJ (@bjmcguinness14) March 3, 2019
Congratulations to all players & staff. Reward for our hard work.
Now for the fun stuff! #finals #bluetriangles #purpleandgold
“In the 80s and 90s the club really struggled for success and for players … a number of volunteers identified a massive gap and decided to re-establish our junior program and build the club from the ground up,” McGuinness said.
“There was a good dozen or so people that were involved and set the foundations a long time ago and I guess it’s great to see a number of those guys in our First XI at the moment.”
First XI players Alex Jones, Miles Fabris and John O’Keefe have all been products of the club’s junior program.
“I think the thing for us, the benefit of having older players that have stuck around to help nurture and develop the next wave of kids coming through the lower grades has really helped,” McGuinness said.
“Their output is a lot greater at an earlier age, which is fantastic for us. We keep trying to foster that talent as best we can and keep trying to push it on to Premier Cricket and help them realise their full potential.”
Some may have doubted if Oakleigh could remain near the top of the VSDCA standings after the retirement of champion fast bowler Ben ‘Spike’ Pinwill.
But Geoff Latham, Michael Splatt and Jones have each risen to lead the Oaks’ attack.
“Spike had been playing 20-odd seasons of First XI cricket and with his retirement we had to find 30 overs out of someone,” McGuinness said.
“‘Latho’ in particular has been biding his time in the twos and waiting for his opportunity, he’s finally got a full season of First XI cricket and has done an excellent job.”
It’s four sides also advanced to this weekend’s semi-finals.
“While the club championship is a fantastic reward, it’s one we’re very proud of and certainly something we strive to win every season but, for us, we’ve got four teams in finals and the only currency we care about is premierships,” he said.
“Hopefully we can at least get one because they are bloody hard to get but if all four teams can get the job done, wouldn’t that just be a fantastic way to finish off the season?”