Thought it might be worth a quick summary on Senior Division clubs and how they are looking based on club websites and social media:
Yarraville Club - have picked up an opening bowler from Sub District, Hussain Hanif, and are said to have retained all players from last season. Said to have had a crack at Scott Sanders from Strathmore but he's staying put. Obviously the team to beat again.
South Caulfield - big movers in the off season, after several attempts have lured champion St Kilda player Glenn Lalor as Captain/Coach, he has been at Bentleigh Uniting in the SECA for the past few years scoring piles of runs and leading them to flags for fun. Also landed probably the best bat outside Senior Div in Port Melbourne's Matt Daykin. Daykin's 7 seasons in the VTCA have netted 5,200 runs @ 52. And he'll get to play on South Caulfield's batting paradise. To further bolster the batting, they've added Michael de Iacovo from Bentleigh Untiting, has played some Premier cricket at Frankston and a handy top order bat. Assuming due to points they have lost 1, 2 or all 3 of the Sri Lankans from last year.
Beaumaris - Chris Hall back as Captain/Coach. Lose Guthrie to Bentleigh. Not a lot publicised here but with Hewett and Hall, will be in amongst the top 4.
Strathmore - Sanders appointed Captain and sounds as though they have retained most of last year's pick ups, Peter-Budge, Ford and Patton. Will be strong again.
Bentleigh - appointed Ciccarella as captain with Todd still playing, their overseas Chris Williams is not returning but they again have a number of overseas players, Shawn Findlay, Tom Meredith and Vibhor Yadev along with Laren Guthrie who crosses from Beaumaris.
St Bernards - have retained Jack Sterland and picked up another Pom, Simon Lambert to bolster the top order batting. Last years captain has stepped down.
Hampton - have appointed former South Caulfield/Oakleigh/St Kilda player Jarrod Dowling as Captain/Coach, and picked up Worcester academy keeper Ben Tegg. Big Junior program and always strong in lower grades so will be looking for the lower grades to push players through.
McKinnon - very quiet here with no news I can find. Always huge depth at McKinnon so they may be looking to promote from within
Tullamarine - have picked up a couple of overseas players, and with Zaharodhni at the helm, will be competitive.
Greenvale - last minute reprieve due to Hoppers jumping ship - haven't heard or seen a lot apart from the mass exodus at Premier level.
BonBeach Tangy - promoted from South Division, have retained last year's gun bat Chris Williams, and picked up 2 more overseas in Ellis-Grewal, a spinner, and Tom Smith from the UK. Biggest get was St Kilda opening bowler Dan Mueller, not sure he'll get a lot of assistance on the Bonbeach home deck, but will take wickets elsewhere. Competitive but the last couple of clubs to come up, have struggled early games.
Doutta Stars - up from North Division, will go well with Parchment and their big signing Lorenzo Ingram, 2,000 runs @ 46 and 89 wickets @ 14 for Plenty Valley in the Subbies.
Shaping up as a great season
