BENDIGO
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Additions: Adam Ward (Huntly-North Epsom).
Departures: Mitch Blackman (Geelong).
Last year: Fifth - won six, lost six.
Leading runs 2014-15: Nathan Fitzpatrick 404, Alex Pearson 344, Kyle Chant 297.
Leading wickets 2014-15: Nathan Fitzpatrick 23, Alex Pearson 23, Brett Andrews 17.
“We’re banking on our junior players coming through to make an impact and Ward’s inclusion will make a difference. We need to win the games we’re expected to win. Last year we put ourselves into positions to win game but didn’t finish them off. Top four is our aim,’’ Bendigo director of coaching Tony Ryan.
Summary: Anything less than a semi-final berth would be a failure for the Goers. Australian Country XI team member Ward’s arrival is huge, while their plethora of young talent will be better for last year’s experience. Top two finish wouldn’t surprise.
BENDIGO UNITED
Additions: nil.
Departures: Nick Crawford (retired), Josh Cruse (Fitzroy-Doncaster), Rick Allan (work).
Last year: Third – won 10, lost three. Lost semi-final to Strathfieldsaye.
Leading runs 2014-15: Heath Behrens 519, Ben Gunn 424, Leigh McDermott 386.
Leading wickets 2014-15: Nick Crawford 34, Miggy Podosky 32, Leigh McDermott 20.
“Although we haven’t recruited anyone new, Marcus Smalley, Paul Fraser and Alex Culvenor all hardly played a game last year because of injuries, so they’re basically recruits. Even though the side looks a bit different we still expect to be a top four side. We’ve got some really good young guys coming through and they’ll get their chance,’’ captain Ben Gunn.
Summary: The Redbacks’ season will largely hinge on how much improvement their young players make. You know what you’re going to get from Gunn, Behrens, McDermott and Podosky. Crawford’s retirement leaves a big hole in the bowling department.
EAGLEHAWK
Additions: Josh Collinson (Huntly-North Epsom), Nick Farley (Kerang).
Departures: nil.
Last year: Fourth – won seven, lost six. Lost semi-final to Strathdale.
Leading runs 2014-15: Matt Fitt 364, Anthony West 330, Jason Abbott 307.
Leading wickets 2014-15: Shaun Knott 38, Richard Tibbett 25, Cory Jacobs 17.
“Batting has been an issue for a couple of seasons. We identified we needed more runs in middle-order and Collinson is an experienced batsman in the BDCA. This year looks like it will be pretty tight and we expect to finish in the top four. Every game is important for us,’’ Eaglehawk captain Jason Abbott.
Summary: Batting has let the Hawks down majorly in recent seasons. Collinson adds some much-needed firepower to the middle-order and Farley is a handy medium-pace bowler. Opening bowlers Richard Tibbett and Shaun Knott hold the key to the Hawks’ fortunes.
GOLDEN SQUARE
Additions: John Lalor (retirement).
Departures: nil.
Last year: Ninth. Won four, lost eight.
Leading runs 2014-15: Scott Johnson 388, Grant Connelly 211, Tim Wood 195.
Leading wickets 2014-15: Scott Woodman 22, Liam Smith 17, Jamie Bysouth 13.
“We still have a similar side to the team that made the grand final two years ago, but last season we were poor. There’s point talking about it, it’s all about actions this year – the batsmen have to make more runs and the bowlers have to take more wickets. We have some good kids coming through and some of the experienced players like myself, Grant Connelly and Liam Smith need to improve,’’ captain Tim Wood.
Summary: The Bulldogs were the big disappointment last summer. There’s more than enough talent there for them to make a charge up the ladder. Their experienced batsmen need to turn starts into big scores. Look for a big season from young opening bowler Scott Woodman.
HUNTLY-NORTH EPSOM
Additions: Ash Gray (Sunshine Coast), Linc McRae (retirement), Cam Moore (Golden Gully), Elliott Massina (Woodend).
Departures: Adam Ward (Bendigo), Josh Collinson (Eaglehawk), Quinton Bentley (Sandhurst), Harry Whittle, Mitch Whittle, Dylan Gibson (Kangaroo Flat).
Last year: Eighth. Won four, drew one, lost seven.
Leading runs 2014-15: Adam Ward 520, Josh Collinson 464, Mick Hanson 322.
Leading wickets 2014-15: Adam Ward 30, Dylan Gibson 18, Tom Wilson 17.
“The feeling around the club this year is so much better. The first XI team will be competitive and there’s another eight or nine players that have come to the club to play in the seconds and thirds. We’re a happy club again and that’s half the battle. We won’t be easybeats, there’s a fair bit of talent there,’’ captain-coach Mick Hanson.
Summary: The Power will be more than competitive, particularly with the bat. Gray is a potential star at the top of the order and he bowls some sharp seam up deliveries. Massina and McRae also bolster the batting depth. The big question is does the Power have a strong enough bowling attack to cause the top teams trouble?
KANGAROO FLAT
Additions: Harry Whittle, Mitch Whittle, Dylan Gibson (Huntly-North Epsom).
Departures: nil.
Last year: Sixth. Won five, lost seven.
Leading runs: Adam Burns 443, Brent Hamblin 306, Jake Klemm 227.
Leading wickets: Adam burns 42, Brent Hamblin 31, Liam Jones 12.
“The young guys that we’ve played in the last couple of years will be better and the recruits will make us stronger. We had a great second half of the season last year, the aim this year is to make sure we don’t have a poor start so that we’re not chasing our tales,’’ Kangaroo Flat coach Adam Burns.
Summary: The Roos desperately needed batting depth and their acquisitions give them that depth. New ball bowling is as good as any in the competition. If the Roos find consistent form with the willow they can push into top four.
SANDHURST
Additions: Quinton Bentley (Sandhurst), Brendan Klein-Boonschate (Albury), Luke Rafferty (Albury), Brett Tory (Warrnambool).
Departures: nil.
Last year: 10th. Won 2, lost 10.
Leading runs 2014-15: Lucas Hutchinson 427, Craig Howard 392, Shane Robinson 248.
Leading wickets 2014-15: Liam Bowe 30, Craig Howard 28, Eli Bowe 16.
“From a bowling point of view I think we’ll be very competitive. Apart from me, there’s not many players in the team that aren’t on the way up. If we can get a better spread of contributors then we can climb our way up the ladder,’’ captain-coach Craig Howard.
Summary: The Dragons were arguably the most competitive team to win a wooden spoon in BDCA history last summer. They were in winning positions in several games, but couldn’t land the knockout blow. Klein-Boonschate is an opening bowler with big wraps, while Rafferty and Tory give the Dragons much-needed batting depth. Bentley’s return also bolsters the Dragons thin pace attack. The potential is there for the Dragons to shoot up the ladder.
STRATHDALE-MARISTIANS
Additions: Jayden Hicks (Geelong), George Baker (Strathfieldsaye).
Departures: Adrian Pappin (Rochester).
Last year: Premiers. Won 12, lost 2.
Leading runs 2014-15: Nick Baker 528, Ben DeAraugo 528, Cam Taylor 417.
Leading wickets 2014-15: Cam Taylor 36, Jacob DeAraugo 24, Sam Johnston 18.
“We start from scratch this year and the guys are experienced enough to know that. The expectations people from the outside put on us is not a concern. The players concentrate on their own performances and everything else looks after itself. There’s competition for spots which is healthy,’’ coach David Bakes.
Summary: Despite the departure of big-hitting Adrian Pappin, the defending champions look even stronger this summer with the acquisition of Geelong representative Jayden Hicks. On pure talent the Suns are streets ahead. If they don’t get ahead of themselves mentally another premiership beckons.
STRATHFIELDSAYE
Additions: Stephen Brown (retirement), Pat Felmingham (Moonee Valley), Andrew Gaul (United).
Departures: Xavier Crone (Carlton), Cory Devanny (overseas), Isaac Hogan (Kerang), Nick Scullie (work).
Last year: Runners-up. Won 8, 1 draw, lost 5.
Leading runs 2014-15: Ben Devanny 650, Luke Jones 537, Greg Lyon 433.
Leading wickets 2014-15: Ben Devanny 40, Cory Devanny 30, Xavier Crone 20.
“We want to finish in the finals again, but we need to get some more input from other players and the players that had good years last year have to back it up. Obviously, Strathdale looks the clear top team, but after that you can throw a blanket over the rest of the competition. We think we can push into that top four again,’’ captain Ben Devanny.
Summary: The Jets have lost some firepower with bat and ball, but are excited about the arrival of hard-hitting batsman Pat Felmingham. Veteran Stephen Brown gives the Jets a steady hand at the top of the order and an extra spinner. Heavy reliance on captain Ben Deavnny to have another super season if the Jets are to repeat their finals berth.
WHITE HILLS
Additions: Myles Wade (Wentworth).
Departures: Brayden Stepien (Carlton).
Last year: Seventh. Won four, lost eight.
Leading runs 2014-15: Brayden Stepien 463, Mitch Winter-Irving 402, Gavin Bowles 361.
Leading wickets 2014-15: Rhys Irwin 24, Mitch Winter-Irving 18, Will Schofield 11.
“We think we can improve on last year and push for the finals. We’ve had a strong pre-season and the feeling around the group is really positive. There’s enough talent here for us to be competitive with the top teams,’’ White Hills coach Rhys Irwin.
Summary: The Demons have strong top-end talent, but to take the next step they need their middle-rung players to step up, particularly with the bat. New opening bowler Wade has impressed in pre-season and the Demons look to have enough firepower with the ball to trouble most teams.