Druids are hoping to make the leap into finals ahead of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division season.
The club finished just outside of the finals last season, winning six games and drawing one from its 13 matches. Needing just one more point and percentage to play off in the finals.
However, this year under a new coaching set up with co-coaches Andrew Brennan and Jared Andrews at the helm, the club is ready to take the next step.
“We’re really looking forward to it, we’ve waited six months to have another go,” Brennan said.
“Hopefully we can get off to a good start and give ourselves a chance at making finals.
“This is the first time I’ve been involved as coaching a cricket club at a senior level and I’m thoroughly enjoying the experience”
“To be able to have someone like Jared who’s got a significant amount of experience supporting me in the role is very valuable, so I’m grateful for that.
“Pre season’s been going really well. It’s probably the highest standard of training that I’ve seen in the number of years that I’ve been involved with the club.
“We’ll definitely be aiming to make finals.
“In the last five years, I think we’ve won one league title, made finals twice and won two t-20 titles.
“So we’re definitely a club that’ll be aspiring to be a part of cricket in March.
“We’ve also got four new players who will be joining our playing list this year, which is really exciting.”
The players that have signed at the Druids over the off season include Charith Perera, Luke Shoesmith, Charith Mendis and Dhanushka Dharmasiri has returned to the club.
Dharmasiri returns to the club after having played for East Keilor last season where he scored 500 runs. In his most recent season with the Wizards, 2019-20, he took out the club champion player amassing 440 runs.
Mendis joined the club Haig Fawkner where he proved himself as a strong all rounder over his last two seasons. Some of Mendis’ standout performances include when he scored 135 not out in a one day fixture against Sunshine United in 2022 and his five wicket haul in last season’s semi- final.
However, young Shoesmith has really caught Brennan’s eye over the winter.
“He’s a young fast bowler who joined the club a few years ago and he’s one of the hardest workers and most disciplined athletes that I’ve played with,” he said.
“He started to show some fantastic glimpses last season, and we’re really confident that he will be able to step up for us and have a big season with the ball.”
