**Let’s start with cricket first, and new OFFICER captain Cooper Pursell has already knocked his first middle-stump out of the ground this season. Pursell was attending the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) Season Launch at Elite Indoor Sportz in Pakenham last Wednesday, when he reversed over a water hydrant at the side of the building. Water spewed everywhere, with a shiny red Mustang copping most of the brunt of Pakenham’s newest waterfall.
**While on the season launch, what a wonderfully versatile facility Elite Indoor Sportz is. While the Season Launch was going on upstairs, cricket training was taking place below, while the venue was also used during the day as an Inflatable World…with plenty to do for the kids. And luckily the owners have good humour and are pretty relaxed customers, as Cooper Pursell found out on Wednesday night.
**It’s great to see three new clubs involved in the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) this season with AVENGERS, KERALA STRIKERS and MELBOURNE 6’s all making their CCCA debuts this Saturday. Avengers, based out of James Bathe Reserve, will field a team in the CCCA One-Day Competition, while Kerala Strikers will play D Grade from their home base at Donnelly Reserve in Cranbourne. And the Melbourne 6s has two teams entered for the summer, with both B and D grade being played at Barton Reserve in Cranbourne West. We wish all the best to the CCCA newcomers this season.
**Back to footy for a minute now, and Jordan Stewart has made it back-to-back wins in the senior best and fairest at PAKENHAM, winning a thrilling count from place-getters, skipper Jake Barclay and Jimmy Harrison. Stewart polled 112 votes, with Barclay (102) and Harrison (101) battling it out for second place. Jackson Hillard claimed the reserves best and fairest award from Rhiley Murphy and Daniel Peart, while centre-half-back Emily Devine won the women’s best and fairest from place-getters Chloe Nagel and Courtney Stephens. Exciting talent Tahj De La Rue won the ‘Cracker’ Jackson Award as the best young player at the club.
**BEACONSFIELD is welcoming back some past players with senior premiership player Kris Fletcher returning as a senior assistant coach and talented midfielder Kyle O’Sullivan also making his way home to Holm Park Reserve. O’Sullivan spent some time at NAR NAR GOON before playing under Clint Evans at BERWICK in Eastern Premier Division this year. Nathan Wright, Tim Shepherdson and Blake Sully are new names that will do a pre-season under senior coach Mick Fogarty this summer.
**CORA LYNN has welcomed back former Under-18 skipper Josh Arena to the Cobradome. JJ is expected to play off half back in 2024. Brothers Luke and Matt Ryan are among other key signings for the Cobras in recent times.
**No surprises in the best and fairest count at DALYSTON, with Team of the Year member Curtis Murfett winning the senior best and fairest from runner-up Brayden Duve. Will Clarke was Most Determined, Michael Harris Most Consistent and Hayden Wallis took home the Coaches Award. Scott Darts and Ben Lewis were Most Improved. In netball, coach Alana McRae took out the A Grade best and fairest from accomplished goaler Britt Thomas. Sophie Scott took out the Coaches Award.
**WGFNC league best and fairest winner Dale Gawley has taken a back seat to teammate Nathan Foote at KILCUNDA-BASS, with Foote claiming the club’s senior best and fairest, with Gawley in second place. Ben Eddy was Most Consistent, Anthony Daraio MVP, while centre half forward Dean McRae won the Coaches Award. Caity Stephens won the top award in netball, from runner up Kacey Maund, with Caitlin Egan winning the Coaches Award.
**At KORUMBURRA-BENA, young midfielder Jay Walker has taken out the top award, from runner up Tyson Findlay. Paul Fermanis gave his Coaches Award to Joel Cuman, while Tane Derrick was named Best Team Man. Matt Kennewell was Most Improved while Blake Webb won the award for Most Promising Under-21. League best and fairest winner Gemma Dixon won the netball award from Elisha Nicholas, with Georgia Hamilton Most Determined.
**Young WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS gun Cody Templeton continues to make an impact after winning the V/Line Cup Medal for a best on ground performance for GIPPSLAND against BARWON. Templeton is still just 15 years old but acquitted himself well at senior level this year, including a stunning display in the Dusties elimination final win over TOORADIN-DALMORE. This kid is a serious star on the rise!
**A shout-out to the local players who got a run in the under-17s game on AFL Grand Final day on the MCG. Noah Mraz played in defence and Harvey Langford got some contested footy, both from the DANDENONG STINGRAYS. GIPPSLAND POWER x-factor Ricky Mentha showed his skill with an excellent dribbling finish and Xavier Lindsay’s distribution was excellent.
**Congratulations to big man Dylan Chapman, who took out the DOVETON best-and-fairest, announced on the weekend. He finished one vote ahead of his skipper, Shannon Henwood, with Aaron Johns rounding out the top three.
**We won’t name names, but word on the street is that one Dandenong District Cricket Association (DDCA) player tossing up which club to choose ultimately committed to a club before actually knowing where that club was relative to their residence. Fair to say that’s a rookie error and hopefully for all involved it doesn’t cause any issues this season.
**Congratulations to Jarryd Barker who took out CRANBOURNE’s best and fairest ahead of fellow midfielder Zak Roscoe. The pair couldn’t be split after the home-and-away season, with Barker edging ahead thanks to his superior finals series in an enthralling count. Big man Jake Stephens took out the most improved player while Brandon Osborne was named most consistent.
**An excellent get for KEYSBOROUGH FC, securing former AFL player Dean Rice as a football consultant for 2024. Rice coached North Melbourne’s AFLW team as well as holding several assistant coaching gigs at Talent Pathway clubs including the Dandenong Stingrays. His role will be to sophisticate and professionalise the football program, utilising Rice’s experience in his various previous positions. In a region where juniors are scarce and following a difficult year on-field, it’s a fantastic early get as the Burra look to attract recruits to the club.
**One to keep an eye on at the cricket this weekend is Greaves Reserve, where Dandenong West will unfurl its flag before a selection of VIP guests before round one. After the success of last season, they enter Turf 2 as one of the frontrunners, but will start the season against arguably their biggest challenger in Heinz Southern Districts where we will get a gauge on both sides.
**While temperatures soared for AFL Grand Final day, there is expected to be some late week rain, which might give cricketers unsettling flashbacks to last season, when October was cricket-free thanks to the weather. Thankfully, though, the conditions appear to clear up just in time for Saturday so we should see action from the start…don’t hold us to it though!
