By David Nagel
CCCA PREMIER DIVISION – SEASON PREVIEW
DEVON MEADOWS
2022/23: District Premiers – 11 wins (Promoted)
President: Michael Floyd
Coach: Chris Cleef
Captain: Lucas Ligt
Ins: Jamie Cape (Fast-medium bowler), Jakeb McVicar (Off-spin, bat).
Outs: None.
Leading run scorers: Lucas Ligt (916), William Halton (470), Chris Cleef (320), Trent Delaney (261), Kyle Salerno (233).
Leading wicket-takers: Chris Cleef (38), Lucas Ligt (22), Lucas Carroll (20), Riley Worsteling (19), Arthur Churchill (9).
We Say:
Will they or won’t they stack up? We say it every season about freshly-promoted teams from District Division, but this time there appears to be genuine optimism that Devon Meadows can make a huge push for a top-four position. In President Mick Floyd, coach Chris Cleef, and skipper Lucas Ligt, the Panthers have a leadership group with plenty of experience to guide them all the way through. Those leaders have considered the list that claimed the District title last season good enough to contend, with minimal changes being made to that line up. Ligt was spectacular last season, scoring 916 runs and complementing that with 22 wickets, while Cleef’s 320 and 38 were equally important to claiming silverware. The likes of Lucas Carroll, Will Halton, Trent Delaney and Riley Worsteling will enjoy testing themselves against the best, while the return of Jakeb McVicar could be one of the key talking points of the season. The former Casey South-Melbourne all-rounder has got himself in good knick, and he could be a player to watch as the season starts to unfold. The Panthers first game of the season against Merinda Park – at the Cobras new home ground at Tony Way Reserve – looms as a potential cracker this weekend.
Prediction: 4th – Tooradin, Pakenham, Kooweerup, DEVON MEADOWS, Cardinia, Merinda Park, Clyde, Carlisle Park
