Tara Murray
The future is now for Yarraville Club in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division.
While the Clubbers still have their core group of stars, the club has looked to go younger throughout all the grades.
With the club also fielding under-15 and under-17 sides on turf this season, there’s plenty to be excited for.
Clubbers playing coach Mitch Johnstone said everyone was chomping at the bit to get back on the field.
“We’ve had a really good pre-season with a lot of fitness, fielding and net sessions,” he said.
“The team is building for this year and we’re focused on keeping the guys engaged while we wait for the season to get underway.”
Johnstone said they had a good starting point for this season with a number of the key guys returning.
He said they would be a bit younger, which he was excited about.
“We’ve lost Luke Destito to St Kilda, but he was ready to make the jump to premier cricket,” he said.
“We’ve lost Justin Bramble who isn’t playing and Andrew Cullen has retired. We’ve got Chinthaka Jayasinghe who is a good acquisition for us and Chris Martin is back after essentially a year off.
“The development of the kids coming through the ones and seconds as well. We’ll be younger in all four grades which is exciting.”
Jayasinghe is the club’s first player with international experience. He comes to the club from Westmeadows where he has dominated the competition. He’s expected to bat at three and also bowl.
Johnstone admits that at times it might be a bit of a rollercoaster with results with having young groups, but knows the development is vital going forward.
Jackson Martin, who Johnstone said was the youngest debutant in the VTCA at 13, was flying in the pre-season and would feature at certain times.
Aaron Robson, who played one game last season, and Mathieson King are another two that will likely feature in the first XI.
“And then there’s the group that are a bit older between 19 and 22 that still have their best cricket ahead of them,” Johnstone said.
Johnstone said the club’s focus on juniors was behind the decision to get under-15 and under-17 teams up and going.
He said they’d never had juniors playing on turf before.
“We’re looking to the future,” he said. “We’re relaunching juniors this year and for them to get a taste of turf at that age is invaluable.”
The Clubbers are hoping to take to the field this Saturday against Aberfeldie.
Their round one match against Westmeadows which was scheduled for Saturday was postponed until December 4 with not enough grounds ready in time.
Johnstone said he expected it would be a tight contest this year. The Clubbers finished fourth last season, knocked out in the first week of finals .
In other matches scheduled for this Saturday, Hiag Fawkner will host Sunshine United, St Albans plays the Druids, Craigieburn faces Deer Park and Keilor plays Westmeadows.
