Bundoora United is trying to set the standards as it returns to the Diamond Valley Cricket Association Barclay Shield.
Having won the Money Shield last season, the Bulldogs are back in the top flight for the first time in a number of years.
Captain Joel Thompson said they were all excited to be back up there.
“It feels good,” he said. “It was our mission over the last couple of years to get back into the top grade.
“The hard work and sacrifice the last couple of years. It hasn’t happened in 12 months. There’s been so much progress over a three-four year period.”
Thompson said they had added some players to their squads with more people wanting to chat to them as they are back in the top flight.
Flynn Davis had crossed on Banyule, while Ryan Offer has come from Lower Plenty.
Mitch McCauley has returned to the club and Narada Ratnayake, who Thompson has played against a lot in the North Metro Cricket Association, was after a fresh start.
Steven Favrin is another inclusion coming from Rosebank.
The depth has flowed into their second and third XIs as well, putting pressure on for spots.
Thompson said they wanted to make sure that they were setting the right culture across the board.
“We had six players from last year’s premiership side play in the twos to start the season,” he said. “It’s about setting the culture and expectations when you go up a grade.
“It happens in the pre-season and training and it goes a long way to getting results throughout the years.”
The Bulldogs first round match against Bundoora was washed out without the Bulldogs getting a bat.
In round two, they will be defending 196 against Diamond Creek.on Saturday.
Thompson said going up a grade there’s a difference with the bowling and that bowling attacks are a bit deeper
“No one really made a big score, but everyone played their role,” Thompson said of their total.
“We got the cobwebs out and everyone got a bat. To score around 200 in the first bat of the year I would have taken that.”
