Springvale South has lured Dandenong Panthers legend Warren Ayres to Dandenong District Cricket Association and is expected to be a big improver in Turf 1 but Buckley Ridges, Berwick and Doveton are all major threats. Brad McGrath takes a look at the teams' prospects
BUCKLEY RIDGES
Captain: TBA
Coach: Dennis Kruse
Last year: Premier
Gains: Luke Fletcher (UK), Te Ahu Davis (Northern Territory)
Losses: Paul Franks (UK), Ruwan Jayadeva (Narre Warren North)
Final word: Buckley Ridges won its first turf 1 title in 50 years last season and, with the likes of Daniel Watson, who is a star with bat and ball, it is hard to see the club falling too far. English import Luke Fletcher made a century recently and his bowling is regarded as his strength. The club is also going for its fourth 20-20 title in a row.
DOVETON
Captain: Ryan Hendy
Coach: Brad Downe
Last year: 3rd
Gains: Jason Arnberger (Lower Plenty)
Losses: Nil
Final word: Doveton has gained Jason Arnberger in one of the biggest recruiting coups in years and this should keep the club in contention. Ryan Pearson is an important player at the top of the order while Matt Hutchinson and Wookey Medal winner Ryan Hendy's all-round abilities will be crucial.
BERWICK
Captain: Paul Evans
Coach: Jarrod Goodes
Last year: 3rd
Gains: Jarrod Goodes (Officer), Colin Tucker (Officer), Jarrod Williamson (Melbourne)
Losses: Simon Cornell (retired)
Final word: Jarrod Goodes has rejoined the club in a player-coach capacity and has brought Colin Tucker with him from Officer. Brett Evans and Paul Evans are talented batsmen while leg-spinner Ash Henry will be crucial. Berwick will again be around the mark after making a semi-final last season.
PARKFIELD
Captain: Dale Harris
Coach: Steven Spoljaric
Last year: 6th
Gains: Steven Spoljaric (Canterbury), Greg Fox
Losses: Danny Ferguson (Fountain Gate), Brad Houghton (retired)
Final word: Parkfield is another team which will be challenging for a top-four position. It has bolstered its batting significantly with the addition of new coach and former Ryder medallist Steven Spoljaric while Greg Fox will play a role after coming out of retirement. Wicketkeeper-batsman John O'Hare will be important in the lower order and opening bowler Mark Butters looms as the key with the ball.
SPRINGVALE SOUTH
Captain: Craig Slocombe
Coach: Craig Slocombe
Last year: 5th
Gains: Warren Ayres (Dandenong Panthers), Tim Ford (Dandenong Panthers), Manoj Hettaraci ( Coomoora), Suranjit Silva (Sri Lankan)
Losses: Roy Ingham (Lyndale), Michael Davies (HSD), Glen Scales
Final word: Springvale South has been the big off-season mover with former state and Premier Cricket star Warren Ayres, Sri Lankan Suranjit Silva, who is coming off a bumper English season, and Tim Ford rejoining the club. South narrowly missed the finals last season but is expected to bounce back strongly.
ST MARY'S
Captain: Rhys Sertanchy
Coach: Charlie Daly
Last year: 9th
Gains: Chris Ball (UK )
Losses: Nil
Final word: Wookey Medal winner and Englishman Chris Ball returns to the St Mary's line-up in a huge boost but it is hard to see the club pushing for finals. There is plenty of talented youth in the line-up with big things expected from Michael Daly, Corey Eley, Nick McKay. Opener Brendan Rydquist is expected to miss the start of the season.
NARRE WARREN
Captain: Chris Jarrett
Coach: Chris Jarrett
Last year: 11th
Gains: Jamie Croon (Queensland).
Losses: James Giertz (Hawthorn-Monash)
Final word: Narre Warren's bowling stocks have been bosted by the recruitment of Jamie Croon, who will give young left-arm paceman Trent Anderson and Chris Edwards plenty of support. Chris Jarrett and Shayne Vanderwert are experienced campaigners who will need to contribute if Narre Warren are to play finals.
Next week we look at Dandenong West, Hallam Kalora Park, Keysborough, Mordialloc and North Dandenong.
The opening round of DDCA turf cricket has been postponed and rescheduled as one-day matches.
Just noticed that Cam has tipped Buckley to finish 3rd!!! Coming off a super year I would've thought a little higher may have been predicted. I wonder what the Dyke thinks about this.
Just noticed that Cam has tipped Buckley to finish 3rd!!! Coming off a super year I would've thought a little higher may have been predicted. I wonder what the Dyke thinks about this.
Dandenong West moves into the Turf 1 division of the Dandenong and District Cricket Association and Hallam-Kalora Park will be aiming to make up for last year's grand final loss. Brad McGrath takes a look at the teams' prospects.
DANDENONG WEST
Captain: David Weerden
Last year: Premier (Turf 2)
Gains: Peter Atkinson (Southern Pirates), Ben Logan (Washington Park)
Losses: Doug Loudon
Final word: The newly promoted club will be aiming to be competitive in the top flight and after going through last season's turf 2 competition undefeated should achieve this. David Weerden and Greg Siwes are the keys to the batting while Andrew Harry, who coached last year, will shoulder much responsibility with the ball.
HALLAM-KALORA PARK
Captain: Corey Booth
Coach: Greg Booth
Last year: Second
Gains: Nil
Losses: Not available
Final word: Hallam-Kalora Park has lost a few talented players but should remain around the upper rungs of the DDCA. Corey and Lee Booth will again be keys while the return of fast bowler Rob Walton is a big boost. Calvin Barlow is a handy top-order batsman.
KEYSBOROUGH
Captain: Andre Peters
Coach: Andre Peters
Last year: 10th
Gains: Clint Duplessis (South Africa)
Losses: Nil
Final word: Keysborough has kept the nucleus of its team together and added talented South African Clint Duplessis. With the continued improvement of bowling all-rounders Andrew Staude and Jacob Hennigan, Keysborough can push for an unlikely finals berth. Captain-coach Andre Peters is always dangerous.
NORTH DANDENONG
Captain: Craig Gunawardana
Coach: Carmen Mapatuna
Last year: Seventh
Gains: Nil
Losses: Chris Clarke (retired), Javid Khan (Premier Cricket)
Final word: North Dandy missed the finals last year but was not far off the pace. Has lost stalwart Chris Clarke to retirement and gun youngster Javid Khan, which significantly weakens the attack. Ex-coach David Bell looms as a key bowler. Carmen Mapatuna's double century last season was all class and he is a vital cog.
MORDIALLOC
C aptain: Leon Kennedy
Coach: TBA
Last year: Eighth
Gains: Tim Kennedy (Wodonga), Sean Weeraratna (UK)
Losses: Not available
Final word: Any team boasting Leon Kennedy and star all-rounder Tim Kennedy from Cricket Albury-Wodonga, will be competitive. Scot Sean Weeraratna comes with big raps.
In last week's Casey Weekly Cranbourne we looked at Buckley Ridges, Doveton, Berwick, Parkfield, Springvale South, St Mary's and Narre Warren.
Losses: 1) Leigh Booth (injured back,might miss few rounds at the start of the season and will struggle with bowling for the rest of the year), 2) G Pryde(retired), 3) S Chapman(dandenong), 4) GA Davidson(retired), 5) +LS Randhawa(moving overseas), 6) D Jordan(retired), 7) PA McDonald(captain/coach different club), 8) J Hawley (playing with chapman in dandenong), 9) N Hepponstall ( moving overseas).
Final word: Hallam-Kalora Park has lost a few talented players but should remain around the upper rungs of the DDCA. Corey and Lee Booth will again be keys while the return of fast bowler Rob Walton is a big boost. Calvin Barlow is a handy top-order batsman.
And ffs rob is no boost to that side,he was playing e-grade last year, he is 40+ now. hallam to finish at the bottom of the ladder in season 2010-2011.