Roxburgh Park Broadmeadows is buoyantly confident of having a successful season in the Victorian Sub-district Cricket Association.
After making the north-west grand final last season, the Falcons are looking to go one further this time in north-east division.
Falcons’ president, Ben Wood, says it’s been a positive pre-season ahead of Friday’s opener.
“We’ve picked up half a dozen players from first or second elevens,” Wood said.
“One or two of them were most impressive in a practice match; they showed more than I’d expected. Those players are now pushing for first 11 spots when I thought they may have been seconds players.”
The loss of last season’s captain- coach, Mitch Johnstone, is the only major exclusion from last season’s team.
Vanuatu internationals Simpson Obed and Patrick Matautaava return to the club, while Englishman Lloyd Lambert has been recruited and will have a major role in junior development.
Despite talks with a former Australian Test player to come on board for some games, they have failed to come to fruition.
“We’re looking at building things at Lakeside for the longer term,” Wood said.
“A lot of people don’t get that, but you have to look at how you want things to look in five years’ time.
“We want to develop home-grown talent and put that investment in youth, which is why we’ve brought out Hannah Courtnell and Lloyd.
“We’ve teamed up with TNF cricket [run by Plenty Valley coach Michael Sheedy] to send two boys to India on fully funded scholarships.”
Wood said the transition from former coach Johnstone to Adam Yates had been an easy one.
“The relationship between the coach and the playing group has changed,” he said.
“There’s been a shift in how Adam operates from how Mitch operated.
“Mitch is an elite coach, who is the best coach in ‘subbies’, with strong career aspirations.
“Adam has a different slant on things. His view is about the whole club, and that some cricketers aren’t there to better themselves but just have fun.”
Roxburgh Park will field six senior sides on turf this season, including a second Sunday social side.
One of the Sunday teams will be coached by former Victorian Premier cricketer Jody Hutchison.
“It’s great for Jody to come back to the club,” Wood said. “We’re catering for everyone.
“Former Premier cricketer and subbies star Heath Pritchard, former Hatch medal winner Eric Ruuska and Falcons club life member David Lawson are all part of Jody’s team.
“This team, at its best, would rival any sub-district team.”
