Footscray is hoping it has the right mix of youth and experience in Victorian Premier Cricket this season.
After missing out on finals, the Bulldogs have managed to keep most of their squad together while they’ve got another pre-season into the younger players.
Speaking before Saturday’s season opener, coach Dale McDonald said it had been a good pre-season.
“It’s been really positive,” he said. “There’s been some turnover of players but we’re fairly unchanged in the first XI.
“We’ve bought in a lot of younger players [through the grades] that have been in our academies the last couple of years.
“That is what you want and there’s lots of positives coming through and I can’t complain at the moment.”
McDonald said many of the players they lost were on the fringe of their first XI side and were keen to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Arjun Nair is the biggest loss as he made the move to Camberwell. West Indian Jermaine Levy who was with the side last season also hasn’t returned as things didn’t go to plan like they would have liked.
Coming into the side is Jack Prestwidge, who crosses from Melbourne, and is part of the Victorian state program.
McDonald said he would help the likes of Ben Roosenboom and Max Birthisel and the rest of the bowling group.
Bailey Toseland joins from Essendon and fits in with the young group of players they’ve got.
McDonald is excited what the young group
“Bailey’s ability is outstanding and in a couple of practice matches he dominated in both of them,” he said.
“Aiman Nadeem played most of the year in the first XI side. Josh Pace, Tosland have an extra 12 months under their belts and are playing in the under-19 practice matches at the moment.
“Dylan [Brasher] has been playing Victorian second XI matches and will hopefully play some state cricket.
“Mitchell Jamieson is playing which is a positive. He made 70 or 80 in an under-19 metro trial game.
“There’s lots of positives.”
McDonald said while all the youth was exciting, he was also excited to see a couple of the senior players out there.
He said Travis Dean was like a new recruit without his state cricket commitments, while Dylan Kight had performed well in the practice matches.
On Saturday, Footscray’s season opener with Fitzroy Doncaster ended in a draw after it was abandoned due to heavy rain.
The Lions made 6-237 from their overs with contributions throughout the order.
Max Birthisel took three wickets for the Bulldogs.
It was a disastrous start with the bat for the Bulldogs with Aiman Nadeem getting a golden duck and Mitchell Jamieson following him back to the sheds with a uck himself.
The Bulldogs were 2-0 when play was halted and it didn’t resume.
