– Justin Robertson
THE COACH: In his first year as Panthers coach, Steve Chapman has taken a young group to the top with the club’s second premiership in four years.
After losing a handful of experienced players, Chapman’s focus was on developing the younger players and he doubted if his charges could make the finals.
THE CAPTAIN: Mr. Reliable, Panthers skipper, Darren Dempsey won his first district cricket flag.
The 35-year-old led from the front all year, compiling 549 runs at 30.5, which included a back-to-the-wall 108 against Camberwell, in the do-or-die final round which catapulted Dandenong into the finals.
Chapman described Dempsey’s leadership on and off the field as being “outstanding”.
RIVALS: Grand finals have a tendency to create rivalries. Over the weekend, there were a series of individual rivalries. Test and Victorian quick Peter Siddle, along with speedster James Pattinson (Dandenong) teed off against Victorian squad spinner Jon Holland. Matthew Chasemore and Ricky Damiano (Frankston-Peninsula) played for the Panthers in 2008.
David Nankervis (Frankston–Peninsula) played against his former Haileybury College schoolmates, Panthers opening bat Nick Thomas and Paul Boraston.
YOUNGGUN: The youngest player to take the field was 17-year-old wicketkeeper Dylan Quirk.
While he only managed two in both digs, he claimed three catches, including dangerous bat Nick Jewell.
RAGS TO RICHES: Left-arm quick Justin Butterfield played the first four games of the season in the second XI and was elevated after an impressive 3/38.
Since then he hasn’t looked back and became a top 10 Premier Cricket bowler, taking 38 wickets at an average of 13.9.
It wasn’t until the quarter final when he produced his best spell for the year, ripping through Casey claiming 5/29.
Although he went wicketless in the first innings of the grand final, he play a pivotal role with the bat at number 11, making 13 (58 balls) in the first innings and surviving the final six overs with Darren Pattinson for the last wicket making 0 not out from 12 balls.
