By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE Casey assault on the West Gippsland Cricket Association’s Premier competition starts with a bang this weekend, with last season’s grand finalists Tooradin and Merinda Park hotly tipped to repeat their efforts this time around.
Reigning premiers Tooradin will enter this season as short-priced favourites. The Gulls have lost Lukas Hoogenboom from their 2012-’13 champion side but they’ve regained their star ‘big three’ in player-coach Cal O’Hare, skipper Aaron Avery and gun batsman Tom Hussey.
They’ve also added all-rounder Sean Wilson, an attacking batsman and pace bowler who has come back to his home club after a stint at Frankston Peninsula in the Victorian Premier Cricket competition.
The Cobras, meanwhile, will be desperate to atone for their disappointing display in the 2012-’13 decider. They’ve bolstered their stocks with former Cardinia seamer Craig Boswell and his Bulls team-mate Danny Diwell.
Another new face, Jarrod Armitage, has made the switch across from Springvale South and has reportedly slotted in perfectly.
According to Merinda Park skipper Jamie Smith, star all-rounder Jess Mathers has been “training the house down” over the pre-season in his comeback from injury.
This year’s WGCA Premier division promises to be as hotly contested as ever, with Kooweerup, Cardinia, Pakenham and newly-promoted Emerald bound to breathe down the necks of the reigning grand-finalists.
Turn to page 58 of this week’s Cranbourne News for a preview of the 2013-’14 season featuring local Dandenong District Cricket Association teams.
