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EAGLEHAWK has a solid foundation to launch from after exceeding expectations in the Bendigo District Cricket Association last season.
The Hawks were the big surprise packets of the BDCA last season in not only making the finals, but getting through to the preliminary final where they were beaten by Kangaroo Flat.
It was a major step forward for the Hawks, who had finished eighth the previous season as they jumped five positions.
Leading the Hawks this season will be new captain Nick Farley, who has taken over from Cory Jacobs following his move to Rochester.
With the departure of Jacobs the Hawks lose their leading wicket-taker from last season, while at this stage they are also expecting to be without paceman Richard Tibbett, with the pair having last summer combined for 45 wickets.
"It's a young group we've got and I still think we're well and truly on the way up," Farley said.
"We probably exceeded expectations last season and I'm really excited about where we're heading.
"We'll go out there each week and enjoy our cricket and see where we end up.
"We're looking forward to the continued development of guys like Angus Chisholm and Josh Williams and for Nash Viney and Ben Williams to be able to get some more opportunities."
No.3 batsman Chisholm is one of the BDCA's most exciting young products.
Chisholm grasped his opportunity at the top of the order last season to lead the Hawks' batting with 377 runs, which included a pair of half-centuries against grand finalist Kangaroo Flat - one of which was 51 in the preliminary final defeat.
Englishman Russell Stockdale proved to be a revelation when moved to open the batting last season, cracking two centuries and should be better for that experience against the new ball.
Stockdale will likely open with Josh Williams and Chisholm at three, while the batting line-up will also feature the experience of Anthony West, Aaron Monro, Farley and Matt Fitt, who will be back full-time.
Fitt - who holds the BDCA record for the most dismissals by a wicket-keeper - only played two first XI games last season.
"I'd like to think we'd be good enough to play finals again," Farley said.
"Don't get me wrong, Cory Jacobs and Richard Tibbett are two pretty big losses for us, but I'd be disappointed if we don't play finals again."
With Tibbett and Jacobs gone it's 18 overs a week the Hawks need to find, with one obvious starting point being Josh Williams, who bowled only 19 overs for all of last season
SEASON FIXTURE:
ROUND 1 - November 13
v Bendigo (h)
............................................
ROUND 2 - November 20
v Kangaroo Flat (a)
............................................
ROUND 3 - November 27
v Bendigo United (h)
............................................
ROUND 4 - December 4
v Strathfieldsaye (a)
............................................
ROUND 5 - December 11
v Golden Square (a)
............................................
ROUND 6 - December 18
v Sandhurst (h)
............................................
ROUND 7 - January 8
v White Hills (a)
............................................
ROUND 8 - January 15
v Strathdale (a)
............................................
ROUND 9 - January 22
v Huntly-North Epsom (h)
............................................
ROUND 10 - January 29
v Bendigo (a)
............................................
ROUND 11 - February 5
v Kangaroo Flat (h)
............................................
ROUND 12 - February 6
v Bendigo United (a)
............................................
ROUND 13 - February 12
v Strathfieldsaye (h)
............................................
ROUND 14 - February 19
v Golden Square (h)
............................................
ROUND 15 - February 26
v Sandhurst (a)
............................................
ROUND 16 - March 5
v White Hills (h)
............................................
ROUND 17 - March 6
v Strathdale (h)
............................................
ROUND 18 - March 12
v Huntly-North Epsom (a)
LAST SEASON FLASHBACK:
Finished - 3rd
Record - 8-8-4, 1.14%
Bat - 8th Ball - 1st
............................................
Leading run-scorers:
377 - Angus Chisholm
373 - Russell Stockdale
294 - Nick Farley
242 - Anthony West
228 - Josh Williams
............................................
Leading wicket-takers:
26 - Cory Jacobs
22 - Aaron Monro
19 - Richard Tibbett
17 - Nick Farley
16 - Russell Stockdale
............................................
Leading MVP points:
773 - Russell Stockdale
731 - Cory Jacobs
699 - Nick Farley
615 - Aaron Monro
517 - Angus Chisholm
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS SINCE 2000:
v Bendigo
Won: 18 Lost: 8 Tied: 1
............................................
v Bendigo United
Won: 15 Lost: 13
............................................
v Golden Square
Won: 18 Lost: 13
............................................
v Huntly-North Epsom
Won: 20 Lost: 8 Tied: 1
............................................
v Kangaroo Flat
Won: 14 Lost: 12
............................................
v Sandhurst
Won: 22 Lost: 7
............................................
v Strathdale-Maristians
Won: 9 Lost: 23 Tied: 1
............................................
v Strathfieldsaye
Won: 24 Lost: 5
............................................
v White Hills
Won: 21 Lost: 5
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