Tara Murray
Seddon’s foray into the Melbourne All Abilities Cricket Association competition has been a successful one.
The Dockers initially planned to have a side in division 2 side this season, but that soon changed and they started in division 1 after putting their hand up to go up a grade.
It proved to be the right division for them, with the side making the grand final, which was played on the long weekend.
While the Dockers fell short against minor premiers, Williamstown, in the decider, president Leigh Davies said they were thrilled with how the season panned out.
The Dockers made 9-85 in the grand final, with the Seagulls chasing it down in the 15th over, finishing 3-86. Damien Clarke top scored for the Dockers with 28, while it was all single wicket takers.
“We played a really strong team in Williamstown,” he said. “They were too good on the day.
“It wasn’t a bad effort to be in division 1 and playing off in the grand final. We were happy to go up to division 1 and we made a grand final.”
Davies said he wasn’t surprised by the results of the team with the squad they had put together.
Jamie Smyth, who joined the club last season, coached the side played a big role in setting the team up.
“We recruited players from across the MACCA,” he said. “Several of them play at Parkside [Victorian Amateur Football Association club], which has a FIDA side,” Davies said.
“Our coach rounded a lot of players from that footy side.
“Jamie suggested that we should put a squad together and we had the volunteer capacity and the oval to do that, so we said yes.”
Davies said skipper Matthew Perry played a huge role this season in his first year in a leadership role, learning and growing throughout the season.
Davies said after the success of this season they were keen to build the program next season.
“We want to put a side in division 2 as well next season,” he said. “Division 3, they don’t play for finals, more the enjoyment of the game.
“Next season we’ll aim for division 1, 2 and 3 and it’d be a great effort.”
In the division 2 grand final, Maiden Gully Marist beat the Seaford Tigers.
