Dandenong District Cricket Association
Turf 1
Berwick
Coach: Jarrod Goodes
Captain: Jarrod Goodes
Last year: Premier
Ins: Ryan Hercules (West Indies), Tanner Stanton (Frankston Heat)
Outs: James Davies (England), Andrew Perrin (Casey-South Melbourne), Gavan Wills (retired), Cam McDonald (retired)
Final Word: The Bears have lost some serious talent with long-time import James Davies not returning and strike bowler Andrew Perrin stepping up to the higher level again. But the retirements of veterans Gavan Wills and Cam McDonald could hit the hardest. Much is going to rest on import Ryan Hercules, with the West Indian coming with huge wraps.
Dandenong West
President: Jason Goodes
Coach: Justin Stanton
Captain: Justin Stanton
Last year: Eighth
Ins: David Weerden (Sydney), Alex Roberts (Bundoora), Zac Houghton (Casey-South Melbourne), Ryan Buckley (Durham, UK), Kieran Rodgers (Beaconsfield), Justin Stanton (Beaconsfield)
Outs: Nil
Final Word: Dandenong West desperately needed to address their batting over the off-season and new coach Justin Stanton has wasted little time. Former captain David Weerden has returned to the club while Roberts, Houghton and Englishman Ryan Buckley will all have an impact on the DDCA.
North Dandenong
President: Glenn Nicholls
Coach: Roshan De Silva
Captain: Craig Gunawardane
Last year: Seventh
Ins: Roshan De Silva (HSD), Dean Gunawardane (Hawthorn-Monash), Bobby Gray (Springvale South), Alex Kerr (North Melbourne)
Outs: James Byrnes (unavailable)
Final Word: North Dandenong has recruited heavily including Hawthorn-Monash all-rounder Dean Gunawardane, the brother of captain Craig. Roshan De Silva has taken the coach’s reins and will be a handy acquisition. After just missing the finals last season they will be desperate the push into the upper echelon of teams. The return of Gayan Sameera is also a huge boost.
Buckley Ridges
President: Keiran Watson
Coach: Marc Calkin
Captain: Marc Calkin
Last year: Fifth
Ins: Marc Calkin (Nightcliff), Greg Todd (New Zealand), Tom Rowe (Nottingham), Ben Watson (year off).
Outs: Te Ahu Davis (Cranbourne), Chris Batchelor (England), Shane D’Rosario (Lynbrook).
Final Word: Buckley Ridges is intent on making up for the disappointment of missing the finals last season. New coach Marc Calkin is fresh off a bumper season in Darwin while fellow Kiwi Greg Todd comes with huge wraps. English import Tom Rowe comes to the club on the recommendation of former imports Paul Frank and Luke Fletcher.
Coomoora
President: Steve Johnston
Coach: Paul Hill
Captain: Paul Hill
Last year: Premier (Turf 2)
Ins: Oliver Ashford (Durham), Jake D’Atri (Highett)
Outs: Liam Coates (England)
Final Word: Coomoora is aiming to be competitive in its first season in Turf 1 and maintain its position in the top flight. The newcomers have switched imports with Englishman Oliver Ashford replacing his countryman. Former Highett captain-coach Jake D’Atri is also a big inclusion for Coomoora. Much responsibility will fall onto captain Paul Hill at the top of the order.
Doveton
President: Troy Vugs
Coach: Shane White
Captain: Ryan Hendy
Last year: Third
Ins: Olly Brown (Officer), Dinesh Kumar (Sri Lanka), Blake Pearson (Endeavour Hills), Aaron Douglas (Berwick)
Outs: Matthew Hutchison (Endeavour Hills), Nicholas Fairbank (Bunyip)
Final Word: Any team boasting former Victorian player Jason Arnberger will be hard to dismiss. Dinesh Kumar is the big recruit, having been on the Kings XI Punjab team in the Indian Premier League in recent seasons. Officer recruit Olly Brown should bolster the batting while Shane White has stepped into the coach’s position. Blake Pearson is seriously talented, having represented his state at a junior level.
Narre Warren
President: Daintree Field
Coach: Shaun Grabert
Captain: Wendell Perumal
Last year: Fourth
Ins: Wendell Perumal (HSD), Shaun Grabert (Casey-South Melbourne)
Outs: Nil
Final Word: The inclusion of former star Wendell Perumal and Casey-South Melbourne wicket-keeper Shaun Grabert should significantly boost the Magpies. Nirmal Wickramarathna is one of the DDCA’s premier players and it’s hard to see his star waning. The Magpies can play finals.
Heinz Southern Districts
President: Brian Milne
Coach: Robert Davies, Justin Davis
Captain: Trevor Davies
Last year: 10th
Ins: Keith Perumal
Outs: Wendell Perumal (Narre Warren), Roshan De Silva
Final Word: HSD had a solid debut season in the Turf 1 competition last season and they would be expecting further improvement. Captain Wendell Perumal has left for Narre Warren after the club opted to go with star batsman Trevor Davies as skipper. Much responsibility will fall onto Davies and they will hope a number of their youngsters can step up.
Springvale South
President: Peter Lawler
Coach: Craig Slocombe
Captain: Craig Slocombe
Last year: Runners-up
Ins: Jeevantha Kalatunga (Sri Lanka), Natheesa Perera (Sri Lanka)
Outs: Suranjith De Silva (Sri Lanka)
Final Word: Springvale South has taken full advantage of being able to have two imports with highly regarded Jeevantha Kalatunga and Natheesa Perera coming on board. The loss of De Silva is a blow but Kalatunga has more than 9000 first-class runs in Sri Lanka and should be an able replacement. Tim Ford, Jackson Sketcher and Jarrod Armitage are all talented youngsters who will continue to improve while the evergreen Craig Slocombe will again be a force.
Hallam Kalora Park
President: Ian Baker
Coach: Johan Vorster
Captain: Johan Vorster
Last year: Sixth
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Final Word: Hallam-Kalora Park has been very quiet on the recruitment trail. South African Johan Vorster has taken over as coach from Rob Walton with other clubs showing interest in the highly rated import. Will be looking for the improvement to come from their talented youngsters with Mitchell Cox, the son of Nick, and Jordan Hammond both expected to be exposed to senior cricket this season.
Mordialloc
President: Lance Draper
Coach: Roger Young
Captain: Stuart Squires
Last year: 11th
Ins: Andrew Niblett (South Africa/New Zealand)
Outs: Nil
Final Word: Mordialloc is expecting to improve from last season. The acquisition of South African Andrew Niblett should bolster both their batting and bowling. The return of Sri Lankan import Chathura Athokorala is huge while Tim Whiton should step up and play regular senior cricket this year. Star all-rounder Tim Kennedy is not expected to be seen until after Christmas with a serious football injury keeping him out.
Parkfield
President: Darren Linton
Coach: Jarrod Williamson
Captain: Stephen Spoljaric
Last year: Ninth
Ins: Jarrod Williamson (Melbourne University), Rod Bird (Casey-South Melbourne)
Outs: Hemantha Alles (Sri Lanka),
Final Word: The acquisition of Casey-South Melbourne paceman Rod Bird is a huge pickup for Parkfield with the paceman set to be one of the premier bowlers in the DDCA. Former junior Jarrod Williamson has rejoined the club as coach after playing with Melbourne University. Any team that features Stephen Spoljaric will be hard to beat.
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