Having been knocked out in the preliminary finals of the North Metro Cricket Association Jika Shield the past two years, Lalor Warriors are determined to go the final step this time around.
The Warriors finished third on the ladder last season, being knocked out of the finals by eventual runners-up North Brunswick-Rosebank.
Warriors captain-coach Todd Hughes believes the side can make the grand final this season and match it with two-time reigning premiers, Rivergum.
“We can beat anyone on our day and we have match-winners with the ball and bat,” Hughes said.
“We’ve made the preliminary final the past two years so we’re very much hoping to go further this time.”
Hughes said pre-season training had been good. “Numbers have been pretty good with 15 to 20 at each training session.
“Brad Turner, originally from the club, is returning after being at Brunswick [in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association] last year.
“He’s vice-captain this year and is helping out at training.’’
A further boost this season is the installation of proper synthetic wickets for training.
“The ones we had were concrete,” Hughes said. “It meant we had to train in the middle of the ground on the pitch and with 30-odd blokes you only got two to three minutes in the middle.’’
The Warriors will be looking for the next generation to fill gaps left by key players who have retired; they include wicketkeeper Lance Whitnall and former captain-coach Shane Hicks.
“It’s the guys who are 22, 23 and have been in and around the side that can fill the void – the likes of Dean Thomas, Mathew Robinson, Josh Gorski and Glenn Holmes,” Hughes said. “A lot have been vice-captains and captains in the lower grades and have the ability. They’ve all experienced first-grade cricket and are ready to step up.”
The Warriors start their season on Saturday with a one-dayer against Northcote United. Elsewhere, Darebin Chargers play Olympic Colts, Keon Park faces Rivergum, and North Brunswick-Rosebank plays Holy Trinity.
In Quick Shield, Preston YCW plays Preston Druids, Northern Socials face the Cobras, Bundoora Park plays Preston Baseballers, and Old Ivanhoe plays Heidelberg West.
