The opening weekend of Victorian Premier Cricket finals will have a strong Bendigo flavour.
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Xavier Crone and Brayden Stepien (Carlton), James Seymour, Liam Bowe and Isaac Conway (Essendon), Todd Murphy (St Kilda) and Sam Elliott (Fitzroy-Donaster) have links to BDCA clubs.
The top eight teams qualified for the finals, with the top four clubs - Carlton, Essendon, Geelong and Dandenong - earning the double chance.
Minor premier Carlton faces its nemesis from last season Dandenong at Princes Park.
Dandenong bowled Carlton out for 59 in last year's semi-finals on its way to winning the premiership.
The winner of this weekend's clash gets the week off and advances to the preliminary final.
Crone, from Strathfieldsaye, has enjoyed another consistent season with the Carlton Blues, taking 17 wickets with the ball at an average of 23.9.
His form with the bat at number eight has been crucial. Crone is averaging 25.6 with a higest score of 75.
White Hills' product Stepien has had a breakout season at the top of the order, scoring 614 runs at an average of 55.8.
He has a highest score of 128 not out and has made six half-centuries.
Essendon hosts Geelong at Windy Hill, with Seymour, Bowe and Conway to play key roles for the Bombers.
Seymour's made a career-best 777 runs, including three centuries, and taken 22 wickets with his off-spinners.
The former Bendigo all-rounder forced his way into the Victorian Futures League squad.
Bowe, from Sandhurst, has hit form at the right time of the season. The leg-spinner has two hauls of three wickets in his past three matches to take his season tally to 17.
Wicket-keeper/batsman Conway, also from Sandhurst, made his second half-century of the season in the final round against Monash Tigers.
His 53 gave him 209 runs at an average of 26.1. He also has 30 disimissals for the season.
Murphy, a premiership player with the Dragons last summer, will play for St Kilda in an elimination final against Monash Tigers.
In his first season in Premier Cricket, Murphy has taken 15 wickets and made 101 runs.
Elliott has taken 15 wickets in the past four matches for Fitzroy-Doncaster.
The teenager has also made 1894 runs at an average of 24.3.
Fitzroy-Doncaster plays Camberwell Magpies in an elimination final.
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