By Tara Murray
Greenvale Kangaroos have announced their first signing as the club sets about achieving its Victorian Premier Cricket Women’s dreams.
Despite having had female sides for just one season, the Kangaroos would love to make the step into premier cricket in the coming years.
Kangaroos’ women’s coach and pathway development co-ordinator Sonja Viehl said that if things fell into place, they could make the step to premier cricket later this year.
If not, she said they wanted to play in the top grade of the Cricket Victoria Women’s Community Cricket Competition.
“We want to establish the complete pathway from under-11s through to seniors,” she said.
“We have a lot of young girls who want to take their cricket further and develop their skills.
“We’re looking at recruiting some overseas players who are talented players and we’ve got a lot of new comers coming across.
“We can offer a lot of Greenvale. We’ve got female facilities, a turf wicket and a women’s oval.”
The Kangaroos are likely to know more by the end of July which competition their top side would play in.
Viehl said they were planning to field three sides this season, up from two last season.
She said men’s director of cricket Peter Di Venuto and men’s premier coach Trent Johnston would also help out with the female program.
The Kangaroos announced the first of their signings early this week, with Catherine Morrow announced as captain-coach of the first XI team.
Morrow comes to the Kangaroos, having most recently guided Sydenham-Hillside to back-to-back premierships in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association.
In the most recent season, she claimed the competition best and fairest award averaging 154 with the bat and took 14 wickets.
Viehl said the signing of Morrow was a massive one in the development of the playing group. She Morrow was also focused on helping the side reach the premier division.
“She comes to us with a lot of premier cricket experience as a player, captain and coach,” Viehl said.
“We want to utlise that and share that knowledge with the players
“We’ve worked together before and we will work hand in hand. She has the same passion as me.”
The Kangaroos started pre-season training this week as they looked to get a jump on the upcoming season.
Viehl said it was exciting to see so many players wanting to get back into early on.”
“We’re excited,” she said.
“A lot of our social side girls don’t play any winter spots and have been wanting to do some pre-season and want some one on one coaching.
“We’re already locked in practice matches against Ringwood and Craigieburn.”
Viehl said anyone interested in playing was welcome to come down and join the club.
She said the club was an inclusive club and said players with disabilities were also welcome to come down.
