By Nick Creely
Dandenong pair Sophie Molineux and Nicole Faltum are both set to wear the Victorian colours in season 2017/18 after Cricket Victoria announced the VicSpirit squad for the upcoming domestic season.
Molineux, 19, – who is Dandenong’s captain in the Women’s Premier Cricket competition – enjoyed a strong opening season for Victoria last year, hitting 75 runs and taking seven wickets from her four matches.
Her performances then translated into a stunning WBBL season with the Melbourne Renegades, where she went on to claim the Betty Wilson Young Cricketer of the Year award at the Allan Border medal night earlier in the year.
With an injury to star player Meg Lanning, more responsibility will be placed upon the shoulders of the Dandenong star who is one of the brightest talents in the country and a future leader both at state and potentially national level with the Southern Stars.
Fellow Panther Faltum has also earnt her first full Victorian contract after being highly impressive for the state through the pathway levels and showing immense progress at club level with Dandenong.
The impressive young wicketkeeper batsman earnt a rookie contract with the Melbourne Renegades last season as well as being named in the Cricket Australia Under-18 Female Talent Squad.
Her 2016/17 Premier campaign with Dandenong was solid, scoring 143 runs for the season across all grades while also taking seven catches and forcing two stumpings.
It continues great success for Dandenong in terms of players finding state contracts which only recently announced a merger with the Men’s team to form one club out of Shepley Oval set to strengthen its playing list even further.
Current Dandenong Men’s players James Pattinson and Peter Siddle both have Victorian contracts while a number of their younger players – including dual-sportsman Ed Newman – have been named in Victorian representative teams.
“We’ve had a few changes this season and we wanted to give some of our young players an opportunity to learn from experienced players,” VicSpirit coach David Hemp said.
“The new players have been performing consistently well through the pathway and we want to reward that.
“I believe this group has what it takes to compete strongly in the WNCL and I know they’re all itching to get back on the park and win the title for Victoria.”
Five players from last year’s squad didn’t make the list for 2017/18 with Dandenong legend Sarah Elliot retiring at the end of last season.
Commonwealth Bank VicSpirit 2017-18 playing list:
Kristen Beams (Captain)
Makinley Blows
Hayleigh Brennan
Nicole Faltum
Emma Inglis
Alana King
Meg Lanning
Anna Lanning
Sophie Molineux
Rhiann O’Donnell
Chloe Rafferty
Molly Strano (Vice-Captain)
Annabel Sutherland
Gemma Triscari
Tayla Vlaeminck
Georgia Wareham
