TASMAN Fitzallen is taking the reins as captain of California Gully for the 2021-22 Emu Valley Cricket Association season.
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Fitzallen has been one of the gun batsmen of the Upper Loddon Cricket Association with Newbridge in recent years, which included back-to-back seasons in 2017-18 (52.8) and 2018-19 (66.3) where he averaged over 50.
He takes over the captaincy of the Cobras from Marcus McKern, who has joined Barkers Creek in the Castlemaine District Cricket Association.
Top-order batsman Fitzallen is among four players who have previously played with Newbridge who have made the move to play with California Gully, along with Tristan Fitzallen (bowling all-rounder), Thomas Staniforth (top-order batsman) and Eathan Collins (left-arm bowler).
"California Gully is a club that is going through a rebuild and was wanting to get some senior guys to come in and help the youth, so we saw it as a good opportunity," Fitzallen said.
From last season's team that finished seventh the Cobras have lost McKern, Geoff West, who is still coaching the women's side, Jesse O'Connell, Kansas Varker and Mick Galvin.
Of the Cobras' top five players in the Addy MVP rankings last season only Aidan White is still playing this year.
The Cobras have endured four seasons of struggle since winning the premiership in 2016-17 when they beat Mandurang.
Since then the Cobras have finished no higher than seventh and won just 10 of 48 games.
"We'll have a real focus on youth this season... we know we're going to have to work really hard, but we're optimistic about the year ahead and moving forward," Fitzallen said.
"Zac Knapman, Tommy Staniforth and Jaidyn Taylor are some good young players and Aidan White has looked really good at training, so we're looking forward to what they can do this season."
The Cobras' batting is likely to be headed at the top of the order by Justin Bice and Travis Nolan opening, with Fitzallen coming in at No.3.
Brodie McRae and Staniforth will also be key pillars with the willow for the Cobras, who open their season with an away game against Spring Gully - a team they haven't beaten since 2016-17.
"Having not played in the league before it's hard to get a gauge of how we'll compare with the other teams, but our aim is to be as competitive as we can be every week," Fitzallen said.
The Cobras are fielding teams in three grades as well as a side in the BDCA women's competition.
"We've been getting good numbers at training and all the boys are really keen to get into it," Fitzallen said.
"We know we'll have to work really hard, but we're certainly optimistic."
SEASON FIXTURE:
ROUND 1 - November 13
v Spring Gully (a)
............................................
ROUND 2 - November 20
v Marong (h)
............................................
ROUND 3 - November 27
v United (h)
............................................
ROUND 4 - December 4
v Emu Creek (a)
............................................
ROUND 5 - December 11
Bye
............................................
ROUND 6 - December 18
v West Bendigo (a)
............................................
ROUND 7 - January 8
v Mandurang (h)
............................................
ROUND 8 - January 15
v Axe Creek (a)
............................................
ROUND 9 - January 22
v Sedgwick (a)
............................................
ROUND 10 - January 29
v Spring Gully (h)
............................................
ROUND 11 - February 5
v Marong (a)
............................................
ROUND 12 - February 12
v United (a)
............................................
ROUND 13 - February 19
Bye
............................................
ROUND 14 - February 26
v West Bendigo (h)
............................................
ROUND 15 - March 5
v Mandurang (a)
............................................
ROUND 16 - March 12
v Axe Creek (h)
LAST SEASON FLASHBACK:
Finished - 7th
Record - 2-10-1, 0.82%
Batting rank - 8th
Bowling rank - 6th
............................................
Leading run-scorers:
500 - Marcus McKern
238 - Geoff West
193 - Jesse O'Connell
190 - Brodie McRae
174 - Kansas Varker
124 - Jordan Knight
............................................
Leading wicket-takers:
18 - Kansas Varker
15 - Aidan White
11 - Bradley Olson
10 - Brad Webster
7 - Jordan Knight
6 - Jesse O'Connell
............................................
Leading MVP points:
640 - Marcus McKern
629 - Kansas Varker
387 - Aidan White
378 - Jesse O'Connell
333 - Geoff West
325 - Brodie McRae
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS SINCE 2006:
v Axe Creek
Won: 9 Lost: 3
............................................
v Emu Creek
Won: 5 Lost: 13
............................................
v Marong
Won: 4 Lost: 11
............................................
v Mandurang
Won: 3 Lost: 10
............................................
v Sedgwick
Won: 5 Lost: 16
............................................
v Spring Gully
Won: 5 Lost: 10
............................................
v United
Won: 3 Lost: 12
............................................
v West Bendigo
Won: 9 Lost: 8
MORE 2021-22 TEAM PREVIEWS:
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