TEAMS in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association are gearing up for another big season of cricket, starting on Saturday after a long wait.
With Rosanna, Rosebank and Mernda still coming to terms with its premierships, teams have been plotting ways to jump the pack in Barclay Shield, Money Shield and Mash Shield.
The Demons, for their part, will play their first game back in Money Shield by hosting a home one-dayer against Greensborough to start the season.
In an incredibly tight competition where four wins was not enough to prevent relegation last season, every result will matter, and the Demons will be hoping to get their campaign off on the right track against the Boro, who finished in ninth position last season out of 10 teams.
A revamped Mash Shield competition now has 12 teams competing, with Old Ivanhoe Grammarians and Keon Park entering the competition.
Laurimar, beaten semi-finalists last season, and South Morang, who just missed out on finals last year, will look to get the campaign under way with a good result when the two teams meet at Laurimar Town Park.
B, C, D and E grade will also start this week, with teams looking to get off to the best start possible.
Mernda will kick off its B grade season with a trip to Warringal Park, taking on Heidelberg.
In C grade, South Morang will host its season opener at Mill Park Lakes, with Eltham its opponent.
Laurimar will travel to Central Park in Greensborough in its D grade season opener.
In E grade, Mernda and South Morang will field its third Xis, with Mernda hosting Lower Eltham at Waterview Reserve’s second oval, as will South Morang at Mill Park Lakes against Dennis.
Whittlesea’s first XI will be playing in the F1 competition, stepping up from F2 in 2024/25. Its first game will see it travel to Meadowglen Reserve to take on Rivergum on October 11.
The second XI will host the opening game of the season as it takes on Riverside at AF Walker Reserve next Saturday.
