Yarraville has a core group locked in as it hopes to rise up the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association east-west ladder.
The Eagles finished two games outside of finals last season, but showed their best was good enough when they did it for long enough.
Eagles coach Michael Sheedy said it had been a bit of a challenging off season for the group.
It’s Sheedy’s second season in charge of the Eagles.
“We’ve had a number of kids choose to go through the pathways which is great for them,” he said.
“It’s a little bit of a challenge for us losing so many. We’ve had a decent turnover again, but that is the nature of cricket.”
While they’ve lost a number of players across the board, Sheedy said they had been able to keep most of their first XI group together which is a big bonus.
Josh Hahnel has retired “for now” and is a big out for the Eagles, having captained the side last season and led the running scoring the season before after returning the club from Victorian Premier Cricket.
Sheedy said they felt they were in a good position with the group that they’ve got in place.
“A lot of kids got opportunities last year,” he said. “We have been rock solid with the group for 12 months now.
“They are bigger and stronger, and hopefully will provide plenty of support for the main four.
“Getting games under their belts for 12 months helps with that.”
Sheedy said their three wins against sides in the top six showed that their best last season was good enough.
Just 12 points separated sixth placed Caulfield, which won the premiership, and Ormond that finished in 13th.
“We need to put it together across both formats this year,” Sheedy said.
“The group will not change much and we will have a set group of 13-14 players but there will be opportunities for others.
“I think we have a pretty good side.
“They understand Subbies a bit better and we’ve done some more work. There were games that we should have done and not got over the line.
“But we beat the top side and still finished two games out of finals.”
The Eagles were set to start their season on Saturday, but the opening day of play was called off due to not enough grounds being ready.
They now look set to start their season this Saturday in a one-dayer against Hoppers Crossing.
The Eagles then face Sheedy’s old side Mt Waverley in round two.
He said it was a tough start but a good challenge of where they are at against two sides that played finals last season.
Other games set for this Saturday include, Altona on the road against Donvale, Spotswood against Croydon, and Williamstown against Bayswater.
