Tara Murray
Altona Roosters believe they are ready for the challenge of Victorian Turf Cricket Association Isaacs Howarth Shield.
Last season’s McNamara Shield premiers, the Roosters have kept together most of their list from last season.
The big out is coach Jack Blythman has left the club in the off season.
Roosters vice-president Nathan Moon said they were excited for the season to get underway.
“It’s been a productive off season,” he said. “We’ve pretty much kept the whole list from last year.
“We’ve added a couple of players and we’re hoping to be quite competitive in division 1.”
Ramesh Lakshitha is the big signing for the Roosters. He crosses from fellow division 1 side Sunshine, looking for more opportunity.
The other inclusions are set to flow through the other grades making them all stronger.
Moon said the first XI squad were keen to test themselves at the higher grade.
Ash Peters will again captain the side but the club won’t have a coach. Senior players at the club will help run everything.
The club will aim to look for a club for next season.
“We were in this position a couple of years ago,” Moon said of being back in division 1. “We want to continue to work hard.
“We are excited and think we will be tough to play against, especially at home.
“I think we go back into the division better for the run, We’ll be giving ourselves a chance, we want to be in this division.”
Moon said while they were hoping to build on last season in the seniors they would also be focusing on developing their junior program.
He said they want to have younger players flowing into their senior program in years to come.
“We want to get all the grades,” he said. “We have under-11s and 13s, and have a good set up at the time.
“We’ve got a merged 15s side. We want to get 15s and juniors coming through as our next wave for our list.
“We’re not the youngest squad at this stage. We’ll hopefully blood some younger players and get our junior program up and going the next 12-24 months.”
The Roosters senior season started on Saturday against PEGS in a two-dayer.
After being sent in, the Roosters made 8-269 from their overs.
Nadeera Thuppahi made 115 and Tharanga Indika made 72.
In other matches, Seddon made 290 against Haig Fawkner, bowled out in the final over.
Tom Foulds made 124 for Seddon.
Footscray United will be hoping for wickets early on day two against Sunshine. The Bulldogs were bowled out for 204, with the Crows 1-51 at stumps.
Altona North is in a good position against the Druids.
Altona North was bowled out for 190 before having the Wizards in trouble at 4-28.
