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KANGAROO Flat will be fueled by the desire to go one better in the Bendigo District Cricket Association this season.
The Roos were beaten grand finalists against Strathdale-Maristians last season, losing the premiership battle by six wickets.
This season the Roos will return with a similar squad to last summer, albeit there has been one key departure with the loss of left-arm quick Lewis Stabler, while Wayne Stubbings has finished his coaching stint with the club.
While the loss of Stabler robs the Roos of one of their key bowlers - he took 23 wickets last season - the return of Dylan Klemm full-time into the attack will help to offset his departure.
A back injury restricted Klemm to just 47 overs last season, while a shoulder injury in the second half of the season impacted leg-spinner and captain Chris Barber.
With a front-line attack of Brent Hamblin, Klemm, veteran Adam Burns - who is heading the club's new-look coaching panel - Kenny Beith and the spin of Barber and Jake Klemm, the Roos' bowling remains strong as they chase their first premiership since 2005.
There's also solid depth in the batting headed by Barber, Jake Klemm, Josh Collinson, Burns, Hamblin, wicket-keeper Matt Dwyer, Dylan Klemm and the addition of recruit Dylan Achison from Ballarat.
Achison has been described during his time playing in Ballarat as a top-order batsman who also bowls off-spin.
"We'll be a very similar side to last season," Barber said.
"We were a team last season that had a lot of blokes chipping in with both bat and ball... we weren't reliant on just one or two players and that's what we'll be looking for again.
"We won a lot of close games last season and that experience will, hopefully, hold us in good stead again to try to go that one better."
Encouragingly for the Roos is their trajectory is on the right path, having improved from 9th in 2018-19 to 5th in 2019-20 to second last season.
"We've got a very experienced side and, importantly, it's a group that has played a lot of cricket together and we know what we all do well," Barber said.
"We've also got Darcy Poulter coming back from Maiden Gully. He has played some B grade at Kangaroo Flat in the past and is a player who could play a role for us in the A grade side.
"Kieren Burns is also back from Bendigo and he is a handy batsman, so we think we've got some good depth at the club... Riley Burns is another year older, Campbell Smith is coming on, so we've got some good talent coming through."
The Roos face Bendigo United in round one.
SEASON FIXTURE:
ROUND 1 - November 13
v Bendigo United (a)
............................................
ROUND 2 - November 20
v Eaglehawk (h)
............................................
ROUND 3 - November 27
v Golden Square (a)
............................................
ROUND 4 - December 4
v Sandhurst (h)
............................................
ROUND 5 - December 11
v White Hills (a)
............................................
ROUND 6 - December 18
v Strathdale (a)
............................................
ROUND 7 - January 8
v Huntly-North Epsom (h)
............................................
ROUND 8 - January 15
v Bendigo (a)
............................................
ROUND 9 - January 22
v Strathfieldsaye (h)
............................................
ROUND 10 - January 29
v Bendigo United (h)
............................................
ROUND 11 - February 5
v Eaglehawk (a)
............................................
ROUND 12 - February 6
v Golden Square (h)
............................................
ROUND 13 - February 12
v Sandhurst (a)
............................................
ROUND 14 - February 19
v White Hills (h)
............................................
ROUND 15 - February 26
v Strathdale (h)
............................................
ROUND 16 - March 5
v Huntly-North Epsom (a)
............................................
ROUND 17 - March 6
v Bendigo (h)
............................................
ROUND 18 - March 12
v Strathfieldsaye (a)
LAST SEASON FLASHBACK:
Finished - 2nd
Record - 13-4-4, 1.26%
Bat - 3rd Ball - 4th
............................................
Leading run-scorers:
418 - Chris Barber
392 - Jake Klemm
300 - Adam Burns
232 - Brent Hamblin
220 - Josh Collinson
............................................
Leading wicket-takers:
35 - Brent Hamblin
23 - Lewis Stabler
19 - Adam Burns
15 - Jake Klemm
14 - Kenny Beith
............................................
Leading MVP points:
972 - Brent Hamblin
777 - Jake Klemm
740 - Adam Burns
645 - Lewis Stabler
628 - Chris Barber
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS SINCE 2000:
v Bendigo
Won: 20 Lost: 8
............................................
v Bendigo United
Won: 13 Lost: 17
............................................
v Eaglehawk
Won: 12 Lost: 14
............................................
v Golden Square
Won: 13 Lost: 15 Tied: 1
............................................
v Huntly-North Epsom
Won: 18 Lost: 7
............................................
v Sandhurst
Won: 16 Lost: 13
............................................
v Strathdale-Maristians
Won: 11 Lost: 21
............................................
v Strathfieldsaye
Won: 14 Lost: 16
............................................
v White Hills
Won: 20 Lost: 4
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