Ahead of the 2022-23 cricket season, there is one word on the lips of clubs across the Mitchell and Macedon Ranges shires – weather.
A wet spring has created havoc for clubs, putting this weekend’s scheduled season openers in the Seymour District and Gisborne and District cricket associations in doubt.
The Seymour District competition is facing an uphill battle to ready itself in time for Saturday, with president Ben Trezise admitting games were ‘unlikely’ to go ahead.
“I’ve spoken to five or six different clubs and all of them are doubtful they’ll be able to get their grounds ready for the first round,” he said.
“Some of them haven’t even been able to mow their grounds because it has been so wet, and then you’ve got to prepare a wicket.
“It’s just one of those things unfortunately. With more rain forecast this week I’d be surprised if they’re ready – that being said, I’d like to be surprised.”
The A Grade competition is due to start with a showdown between last season’s premier Eastern Hill and runner-up Broadford, two sides Trezise expected to contend for grand final berths again this season.
“I would think Eastern Hill would be favourites to repeat. As far as I know they haven’t lost many players, and they were a pretty young side so they could improve again this year,” he said.
“Broadford has a good mix as well, with some old heads and some young kids coming through.”
Marysville will join the association’s B Grade competition, with A Grade side Kilmore departing for the Gisborne and District association.
Kilmore president Brett Buttler admitted the club was heading into the unknown, but said there was plenty of excitement at joining the Johnstone Shield competition.
“A lot of our teams have only had two or three training sessions, but I think that would be the same for most clubs in most leagues at the minute – the weather has been pretty ordinary,” he said.
“The senior men are starting off this weekend, weather permitting, and we’ll be fielding a pretty similar side to what we have in the past few years.
“We’re waiting to get into it so that we can see where we’re going to sit for the season. If we come in and get a couple of early wins we might be looking good for the year, but if we get pantsed straight out of the gate we might be in for a long year.”
Buttler said the club would also field a women’s side for the first time, with players still welcome to join the team.
In addition to the club’s four senior sides there are two under 17 teams, as well as under 15, under 13 and under 11 sides.
“We’ve kept our numbers together and we’re still growing the club on the women’s side, which is one of the big reasons why we’ve gone across [to the Gisborne association],” Buttler said.
Wallan president Sam Mahony and Lancefield secretary Pauline Goodes also reported wet weather hampering preparations for the season.
“Similar to most cricket clubs, we haven’t been able to have a consistent run with training,” Mahony said.
“Senior numbers are quite good. We’re going to have four teams in the senior men’s ranks, and in the juniors we have under 17s, under 15s, under 13s and two under 11s in the boys, and the girls have got an under 15 and under 13 side.”
Mahony said Wallan was optimistic about its second year back in the McIntyre Cup – the association’s top level of competition.
“This year will be challenging, but we’re cautiously optimistic that we’ll be able to make finals and see how we go from there,” he said.
“We haven’t had many changes. The nucleus from last year has remained.”
Goodes said Lancefield’s Jensen Shield men’s team and two women’s teams were also ready to go after grand final appearances last season.
“We have a strong female participation rate at our club, which we’re very excited about. We also have junior girls, junior boys and a mixed under 11s side,” she said.
“Our focus this season is the Jensen Shield team and creating depth in our women’s program and building on our junior development.”
Romsey is expected to contend across the board, with teams in the McIntyre Cup, Johnstone Shield and division two senior competitions.
Matches scheduled for this weekend, subject to conditions, are:
Seymour District Cricket Association
A Grade: Broadford v Eastern Hill at Harley Hammond Reserve; Tallarook v Yea Tigers at Tallarook Recreation Reserve; Seymour bye.
Gisborne and District Cricket Association
McIntyre Cup: East Sunbury v Wallan at John McMahon Reserve; Sunbury United v Romsey at Langama Park.
Johnstone Shield: Kilmore v Macedon at Kilmore Cricket Ground; Romsey v Sunbury United at Romsey Recreation Reserve.
Jensen Shield: Wallan v Lancefield at Greenhill Recreation Reserve.
