VICTORIAN PREMIER CRICKET SEASON PREVIEW
DANDENONG:
Coach: Ciara Metcalfe
Last First XI premiership: 2020/21
Last season: It was a disappointing finish to the season for the Panthers, who many regarded as the third, if not the second, best side in the comp.
On a frantic last round of the season, the Panthers fell short of the finals.
Most runs: Kim Garth (295 runs at 36.88, one x half-centuries)
Most wickets: Emma Gallagher (19 wickets at 16.63, BB: 3/13)
What we say:
New coach Ciara Metcalfe will bring a high standard on what she wants her group to deliver and it will translate into the Panthers’ results.
The addition of English-import Linsey Smith will add some fire-power to an already strong outfit.
The Panthers will need to learn to win without champion all-rounder Kim Garth, but it’s believed that is in bold on Metcalfe’s whiteboard.
What they say (coach Ciara Metcalfe):
“There are a couple of girls that have really surprised me,” she said.
“When I first came in for my first session, I was like ‘what grade do you play?’ and they would say maybe threes or twos.
“I think that’s a good thing about me coming in this year, I don’t have any history with these players, I can judge them on what I see and we can build together on what we think works.
“There’s a lot of players I think will naturally move over the season (up the grades), they’ve gained experience… just on looking back on scorecards and stats, that’s really I can go off at the moment.
“But I can see there’s a lot of people taking the right step forward there.”
Round 1: (twenty-20 double-header) v Prahran at Jubilee Park Ringwood & v Ringwood at Russel Lucas Oval, October 2
