Tara Murray
Tullamarine was itching to return to the cricket nets last week ahead of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association division 1 season.
Having been unable to train due to COVID-19 restrictions, coach Buddhika Mendis said they were thrilled that the restrictions had finally been lifted.
“It’s more than about training,” he said. “We just want to catch up. I’m looking forward to seeing the guys who I haven’t seen in months.
“Everyone is looking forward to it. I think we will have good numbers at training for once as everyone wants to catch up.
“A few months ago it was looking like we were going to have a cricket season at all.”
Mendis said they were looking to continue to build on the past couple of seasons they’ve had since he took over as coach.
Last season, they won just four games in division 1 west finishing seventh.
This season there is only one division 1, combining sides from division 1 west and north in a 12 team competition.
The Demons are one of those teams in the new look division.
“We’ve been rebuilding for a while and I think we’ll see all the progress we’ve made in a couple more years,” Mendis said.
“We want to remain competitive and stay in the top half of the table.
“That’s our aim for this season.”
The Demons are still finalising their line up for this season, with the limited pre-season making it hard to get a true read.
Their big recruit is Gihan Kankanamge who comes across from fellow VTCA side Airport West St Christophers.
The club has also kept Dean Peter-Budge, who was their big recruit last season, the big positive for the club.
Mendis said that it reflected that people believed in what the club was doing.
“The club doesn’t have a huge budget to spend on players,” he said.
“We’ve managed to hold onto our juniors and players that have been around for a while.”
The season will be all one-dayers due to COVID-19 with a best of three grand final series.
Mendis said he thought the competition format would suit the Demons.
“I believe we have been a much better one-day side the last two years,” he said.
“Based on the results it shows that, so we’re happy to play one-dayers.”
Mendis said they had some players from last season they were looking to retire, but were hoping some might change their minds.
David Zahorodni, who won the division 1 west competition medal, is the biggest one of those names. Mendis said if Zahorodni didn’t play it would be a big blow, but was hoping that he would continue on for at least another season.
The Demons kick off their season on November 21 against West Coburg.
