Max Hatzoglou to be captain and coach of Tracy Village Cricket Club
With the departure of a batch of big names, a first-time senior coach is well aware of the challenge waiting for him this cricket season.
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With the departure of a batch of big names, first-time senior coach and Victorian first grade player Max Hatzoglou is well aware of the challenge waiting for him at Tracy Village Cricket Club this season.
Hatzoglou, a wicket keeper and brother of Perth Scorchers spinner Peter, returns to the Top End competition after a stint in 2021 with Tracy and in Desert Blaze colours for the first edition of the Strike League.
The 21-year-old said he was “thrilled” to progress his career, replacing the esteemed Tony Judd as coach.
“The experience I had in Darwin last time was amazing,” Hatzoglou said.
“It’s a really good opportunity being able to develop in the winter rather than being (down south) training indoors.
“The conditions are nowhere near as valuable as they are in the NT.
“I’m passionate about winning and trying to succeed and also having fun at the same time.”
However, his arrival on the weekend follows a number of exits from the club, including Australian Test off spinner Todd Murphy, Josh Hoffman (Waratah) and Josh Kann and Tom Jackson who are both heading to Southern Districts.
Murphy and Kann helped coach the club last season after Judd left due to work commitments, as Tracy finished second last in Premier Grade but made the T20 grand final.
Tracy has recruited opening bat Prajay Paramesh (Kingston Hawthorn), off spinning all-rounder Sanjay Anandarajah (Glenorchy) and pace bowler Vincent Huf (Geelong), who made the Victorian Country Under 19s emerging players squad last year.
Territorian Sam Elder will also play again with Tracy after switching from Waratah mid-season in 2022 and a productive summer with SA district club Adelaide University.
“They’re all talented cricketers who have shown great potential,” he said.
“A hungry cricketer is somebody you always want in your team and your club.
“Regardless if you’ve got superstars in your team, or you’ve got players who aren’t as well known ... there are opportunities there if players are performing.”
Personally, Hatzoglou is looking to make some big scores himself after a series of starts with Melbourne University in first grade during the summer, averaging just under 20.
* Max Hatzoglou is an employee of News Corp
Victorian star Ash Chandrasinghe could return to Waratah in 2023
One of the country’s brightest cricketing talents could return to Darwin this season, dependant on some technical changes to his batting.
Ash Chandrasinghe, who scored five consecutive hundreds in Premier Grade last season for Waratah before making an unbeaten 119 on Sheffield Shield debut in November, may return to Gardens Oval in 2023 for a handful of games.
Chandrasinghe, who is also nominated for a NT Sports Award for Local Performance of the Year, scored an uber patient 46 not out of 280 balls in a losing Shield final in Perth earlier this month.
Chandrasinghe will join first class opening batter Ryan Hackney (NSW), left arm leg spinner Jack Wood (Brisbane Heat, Queensland 2nd XI), and opening bowler Harry Massey (Geelong, Port Adelaide) at Gardens.
Chandrasinghe said his potential return up north would be dependant on making some technical improvements to his batting.
He said the bulk of his preseason would be done in Victoria but he could return around August for a few matches to trial some adjustments to his game.
“That would be the appeal of going back,” Chandrasinghe said.
“Obviously I really enjoy playing in Darwin, playing for the Tahs.
“But if I’m not happy with the changes, or I’m not ready to do it in a game, I might not go.”
Tahs president Sam Sellahewar hoped the left-handed opener could return later in the season but finals would be unlikely if Waratah qualified.
“It would only be a few games ... conversations are happening,” Sellahewar said.
Chandrasinghe attempted to equal Don Bradman’s record of six consecutive first grade hundreds in the final round of 2022 against Palmerston.
However, the young gun was only available for week one and was nine not out at stumps.
Tony Judd to coach Southern Districts
Maintaining success at Southern Districts will be a big challenge after winning the past two Premier Grade flags but losing a raft of key performers, new coach Tony Judd says.
The former Scotland national mentor has left Tracy Village to marshall the Crocs in 2023.
It comes amid a wave of change at Southern Districts, with premiership players and big name imports Xavier Crone, Sam Kerber and Corey Kelly not expected to return in the same capacity this season.
Meanwhile, premiership skipper Matt Hammond has joined Darwin, Dean Fry has moved to Queensland to be closer to family (“they go with everyone’s blessings”) and Victorian Sheffield Shield leg spinner Tom O’Connell is also unlikely to return.
It’s part of the reason why Judd said keeping the Crocs at the top of Darwin Premier cricket would be a challenge.
“Maintaining success is not easy,” Judd said, taking over a club which also won the 50-over competition in 2022.
“If you sit back and say we’ve been there and done that, it’ll bite you.
“We’ve got to get that enthusiasm and energy about what we want to achieve ... you’ve got to work twice as hard.”
However, Districts are expected to lure Tracy players, the big-hitting Josh Kann and batter Tom Jackson to Districts, with whom Judd has built firm relationships with, plus the addition of all-rounder Jackson Isakka.
Kann and Isakka shared the Ralph Wiese Medal in 2021 for Darwin Premier cricket’s best player.
“(Josh and I) formed a really good friendship as well as a coaching relationship,” Judd said.
“It’s not like I’m dragging people away from Tracy, it’s their choices.
“There’s going to be a very strong contingent there at Southern Districts.”
Judd, who has been linked to Tracy for close to a decade, said he could not offer a full time commitment to coaching in 2022.
His tenure ended on something of a high though, working with Australian test off spinner Todd Murphy, who he declares as “special”.
“He’s clearly developing his trade even further,” he said.
“He’s such a level headed kid who works hard on his game.
“He’s very mature for his age, very responsible. He knows when to have fun, knows when to be serious.
“He was always willing to listen, always willing to learn, always working on something else on his game.”
However, with a new role at O’Loughlin Catholic College, Judd saw a fresh challenge for himself at Freds Pass.
“I think there’s just a use-by-date with most coaches if you’re lucky you can be a Kevin Sheedy and last 30 years,” he said.
“From their point of view and my point of view it was time for a fresh start.”
He said his passion for the craft had not dimmed.
“I’ve never stopped watching and I’ve never stopped loving teaching,” he said.
“The game creates so many friendships, there’s nothing like a dressing room environment even when you’re my age and you can no longer play.”
He said he had learned from his mentor and close friend of more than 25 years, Sheffield Shield and Big Bash League coach Greg Shipperd, that “you can only coach what you need to coach”.
“For some that may be technical work, for others getting the culture and the relationships right which brings the best out in players,” he said.
“He’s knowledgeable but he also creates an environment around a team that everyone feels like they belong.
“I love giving people a role and understanding where they fit, and I think he’s really good with that.”
Matt Hammond joins Darwin Eagles
Southern Districts premiership skipper Matt Hammond has joined rival Darwin in a stunning defection, just a few months after beating the Eagles in a Premier Grade grand final.
Hammond, who guided the Crocs to a 78-run win at DXC Arena in early September, will skipper the Eagles after failing to come to an agreement with Districts about his level of commitment in 2023.
He said club representatives – including former president Andrew Harvey and new boss Clint Hayward – had asked him to be more involved around the club, including the development of its juniors.
Hammond, who joined Districts as an Under 15s player from Palmerston, said with a young family and work commitments, he couldn’t commit to the level of time the club wanted.
“They wanted somebody there a bit more than I was prepared to do,” Hammond said.
“It was a bit of a change in the direction they wanted to go in.
“I was in a little bit of shock. I felt a lot of things ... disappointment. It was a bit of a surprise.
“I had to cop it on the chin and make a decision.
“It was the best for both parties involved to just move.
“I hope they’ve made the right decision and I wish them all the luck.”
It comes after the club announced on February 3 that Tony Judd, a former national coach of Scotland, would take charge of the club in 2023.
Districts didn’t have a senior coach last season.
Hammond said there was no bad blood with Districts and he was “very excited” about a new chapter with the Eagles, who have built a strong rivalry with the Crocs.
“There’s no friends lost, we’re all on the same page,” Hammond said, who played more than 200 games for the club.
“It was a bit unfortunate in the way things happened, but at the end of the day I need to continue my leadership dream.
“It’s all worked out pretty well.”
He maintained he would always love the club and it was full of “really good people”.
“Sometimes a few things need to change,” he said.
“It is what it is. Sometimes change is needed for the betterment of the club.
“They obviously know what they want.”
Meanwhile, fellow Crocs premiership player Dean Fry is moving to Queensland to be closer to family with the impending birth of his first child.
Hammond said key batter Anthony Adlam was returning to the Eagles while star Territorian Jacob Dickman could also be returning to the Eagles in 2023.
Replay: PINT v Tiwi Bombers, NTFL Men’s Round 2
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