COOMEALLA WENTWORTH
President: Phil Baird
Coaches: Jay Turlan and Colby Wade
First Division captain: Luke Cullinan
Last year: Fifth
In: TBC
Out: Tauseef Kataria (UK), Jake Wright (Mildura East), Tom Stokes (Mildura Settlers)
JUST shy of a return to finals last year, Coomealla Wentworth are raring to find themselves inside the top four.
The New South Wales outfit are set to rely on a similar squad to that of previous seasons with a hope of developing more players from within to take them forward.
Spinner Jake Wright will be a loss while youngster Tom Stokes has shifted to Mildura Settlers, while no plans have been at this stage to bring in an import to replace the impressive Tauseef Kataria from last year.
There is no shortage of all-round talent for the Blues however with Justin and Liam Freeman, Bevan Wade and Jay Turlan all capable of big days with bat and ball, while a top order including captain Luke Cullinan, Mitch Kemp and Colby Wade can also be dangerous.
The bowling unit will again be their biggest weapon with the Freemans, Wade, Turlan and Andrew Porker all into double figures last campaign.
“We’re probably all at the age where we’ve been playing together for a long time, we were a bit disappointed with how last year went and we’re keen to step it up further,” Cullinan said.
“We were all a bit up and down last year but the group is really settled and getting stuck in with preparations.”
GOL GOL
President: Matt Adamson
Coaches: Adam Thomson and Simon Groves
First Division captain: Adam Thomson
Last year: Semi-final
In: Jeremy Aworth (Millewa)
Out: Nil.
PERENIAL contenders, Gol Gol were somewhat surprisingly knocked out of last year’s finals series after finishing top of the ladder, with fourth-placed Mildura East pulling out the victory.
It is a largely unchanged line-up from last season, however premiership player Simon Groves returns to the coaching ranks to support captain-coach Adam Thomson.
The main addition is all-rounder Jeremy Aworth, who was towards to top of both the runs and wicket tallys in the RCCA last season playing for Millewa.
While some regulars may miss the opening rounds, reigning Innes Medal winner Shac Thomas is primed for another big campaign, while Wade Hancock’s amazing form with the bat last campaign could easily be carried over.
Veteran seamer Matt Cameron is also anticipated to be available more often this season.
“We were pretty disappointed with the way last season finished but we were in pretty good form during the season so hopefully we can recapture that,” Thomson said.
“I’m definitely happy to have Simon back on board, it just gives us an extra set of hands during the week and extra eyes and different perspective on game day.”
IRYMPLE
President: Glen Crisera
Coach: Bryson Lush
First Division captain: Mark Thomson
Last year: Premiers
In: Scott Steel (UK)
Out: Nil.
THE reigning premiers again loom as the team to beat this season and could be even stronger at the dawn of the new campaign.
The return of English all-rounder Scott Steel, who played a role in the Swallows’ 2017/18 flag, has given some bounce to the boys from Henshilwood Oval as they look for back to back titles.
Captain Mark Thomson was in outstanding form last season, after finally converting his maiden first division hundred, he finished with four of them for the campaign, including 129 and 2/20 in a monster grand final victory.
The bowling unit has always been a strength of the Irymple line-up and it looks to be the same this year, likes of Thomson, Billy Phelan, Dom Price and Chase Stone to supported by spinners Steel and coach Bryson Lush.
Perhaps the main area of improvement on the cards this season would be greater consistency through the batting order.
“We want to give it a real crack. We had been there abouts for a few years so to actually break through last year was great,” Lush said.
“Our bowling depth ever since I came across has been brilliant, and these guys are first division quality too so it certainly helps that we know they can perform when they come up.”
MERBEIN
President: Carlo Longeri
Coach: N/A
First Division captain: Hamim Miah
Last year: Eighth
In: Josh Stanley (Cardross), Luke Stafford (Gol Gol), Chris Jordan, Alewyn Hugo
Out: Ben Green (UK), Cody Clifford (Mildura East)
DEVELOPING from within and building a strong culture for the future is at the forefront for Merbein this season.
Despite claiming the wooden spoon last season the Magpies are aiming to move further up the table, being led by new captain Hamim Miah.
The priority remains helping their young players build their game with emerging young guns like Angus Smith, who impressed with 24 wickets last season, Kurtis Fitzpatrick and Dillon Furze at the forefront.
While impressive English bowler Ben Green has remained in his home country, former Magpies vice captain Josh Stanley returns to the club, while Gol Gol’s Luke Stafford will add some all-round depth.
South African duo Chris Jordan and Alewyn Hugo, who have relocated to the region, could be handy additions to the bowling unit but it is unlikely they will play first division in the early rounds of the season.
“The squad is going to be pretty similar, as a group we’ve played together for a few seasons now and gelled quite well so hopefully that can help us improve,” Miah said.
“Everyone is quite excited about the season, being a fresh and young team again, with some really good support from some experienced players.”
MILDURA EAST
President: Matt Hunt
Coach: Josh Berry
First Division captain: Brad Thomas
Last year: Runner-up
In: Liam Naylor (Scotland), Jake Wright (Coomealla Wentworth), Darby McLean (Curlwaa), Cody Clifford (Merbein), Sam Mayes (Cardross)
Out: Josh Bowyer (UK)
MILDURA East have been one of the busiest teams this off-season as they aim to go one better than last year’s grand final appearance.
While it was a phenomenal grinding win over Gol Gol in their semi-final to make it to the big dance, Irymple proved far too strong and as a result East are looking to add more pieces.
The big recruiting news comes as one-time Scottish ODI player Liam Naylor joins the team to play at the top of the order, where he will open alongside returning English ‘keeper-batman Josh Andrews.
Spinner Jake Wright, batter Darby McLean, pace bowler Cody Clifford and Sam Mayes all join to add extra depth and competition for spots in a settled line-up, which includes gun veterans like captain Brad Thomas and seven-time Innes Medal winner Tom Vadlja.
“I think the boys feel like they have unfinished business and there’s a bit of excitement building at the precinct for the new season,” coach Josh Berry said.
“I think you can see from the guys we have brought in it’s really about a long-term vision for the club, they’re all players between 20 and 30.
“Not only will these guys give us greater depth but hopefully we can help improve their cricket further too.”
MILDURA SETTLERS
President: Greg Schultz
Coach: Coaching panel
First Division captain: Luke Stanbrook
Last year: Seventh
In: Damien Bouwer (South Africa), Tom Stokes (Coomealla Wentworth)
Out: Nil.
IT’S been a strange two seasons seeing Mildura Settlers towards the bottom of the SCA table, but the squad is hoping for a big improvement this campaign.
Seven-time first division premiership player Luke Stanbrook will take over the captaincy, and hopes some returning players can help develop the emerging talents at the club.
Former captain and premiership player Josh Coates is also back on deck to add extra strength to the batting order as does premiership bowler Brayden Wood for the bowling attack, alongside experienced heads Richie Wyld and Jason Morrison.
Classy South African top order batsman Damien Bouwer will add to the strength to the line as well as his work behind the stumps, of the batting order, while the addition of Tom Stokes from Coomealla Wentworth will add to the bowling depth
Young spinner Sam Farmer, who took 20 wickets last season, and batsman Beau Kiel will also hope to take their respective games to anther level.
“We’ve had some really good interest from the younger players and we’ve got a few returning players back into the mix to try and help develop these younger boys as well,” Stanbrook said.
“Being a young side for the last couple of years it’s all about bridging the gap between our best and worst, we need to be in games for longer. It’s also just about building that bit of confidence within the playing group.”
MILDURA WEST
President: Matt Roper
Coach: Chris Williams
First Division captain: Chris Williams
Last year: Sixth
In: Jasper Presswell (UK), Joseph Smallman (UK)
Out: Kian Burns
A RETURN to finals is hoped to be on the cards for Mildura West as they have had arguably their best turnout for years during pre-season training.
The side from John Hall Oval had some outstanding performances last season but also lacked some consistency at times, something they hope to address.
Explosive English batter Kian Burns has left after two season but another pair of recruits from Blighty have joined the ranks in bowling all-rounder in Jasper Presswell of Hatherleigh CC and middle order bat Joseph Smallman from Bridgnorth CC.
With Williams taking the captaincy it’s hoped Greg Lewis can free himself up more with his batting, while talented young gun Josh Driscoll will continue to get opportunities at the top of the order.
Bowling will likely continue to be a strength for West with Presswell, Williams, Locke Thornton and Ash Durie leading the attack.
“We’re pretty confident with our bowling line-up that we have the ability to hold teams up but it’s no secret our Achilles heel last year was that we just weren’t able to put enough runs on the board,” Williams said.
“We’ve got a block of four one-day games to start so we’ll see how everyone settles into the season.
“We’ve had the new facilities to train on as well which has been a great things for the club, it’s really helped the vibe of the place.”
NICHOLS POINT
President: Aaron Fry
Coach: Nick Blacker
First Division captain: Dean Fulco
Last year: Semi-final
In: Jarrod Forrester (Merbein), Brad Rosenzweig (Berri), Ben Whitton (UK), Theo Toddhunter (UK).
Out: Archie Walker (UK), Zeeshan Butt
TWO semi-final appearances in two years prove Nichols Point are on the right path to glory, but they will hope to go one better.
Now under the the youngest coach in the competition Nick Blacker and a new captain in Dean Fulco, the Pointers want to be back inside that top four come the end of the season.
English bowler Archie Walker won’t return but two new imports will bolster the batting order with all-rounder Ben Whitton joining from Astwood Bank CC and wicket-keeper batsman Theo Toddhunter from Corsham CC.
Experienced SCA spinner Jarrod Forrester joins from Merbein and will form a solid spin combo with gun Shaun Mathews, while nine-time Riverland Turf Association cricketer of the year Brad Rosenzweig also joins from Berri.
The Pointers put so much energy into their junior program and will be hoping more youngsters can make their mark, following the path aid by Lewis Dichiera and Riley Jobson.
“Looking around the competition everyone, including us, seems to have gotten better. I think it’s going to be really interesting and wide-open this year,” Blacker said.”We need to put in the hard work early in the year hopefully get some good results on the board, that can hopefully go a long way for us being in finals again.”
