IT’S been a big off-season of change for the Diamond Valley Cricket Association, and now it is finally time for the season to get underway, with 32 teams ready to look to make an impact across the league’s four divisions.
The biggest change inbetween seasons was the introduction of a fourth division, now named the Dyson Shield.
To accommodate the changes, brutal relegation battles were had across all three competitions.
The bottom three from top division in the Barclay Shield were all relegated, with Bundoora United, Riverside and Rosebank all going down in an incredible fight which went to the last day. Eltham, as Money Shield premiers, were promoted.
In Money Shield, the bottom five teams also went down, with Greensborough, Plenty, Bundoora Park, Lalor Stars and Montmorency all relegated to Mash Shield. Premiers of Mash Shield last season, Rivergum, went up to Money Shield.
The most brutal cull belonged to Mash Shield, where every team that failed to make finals effectively relegated. It meant that Lower Eltham were relegated by a net run-rate of 0.22, despite having the same quotient as finalist Panton Hill, while Laurimar, Thomastown, Thomastown United, South Morang, Dennis, Mill Park and Old Ivanhoe Collegians also went down to the newly named Dyson Shield.
What it means as such, four divisions in 2026-27, B-grade to F-grade offering 80-over games, a G and H-grade 70-over competition, and five one-day divisions of 35 overs each.
In Money Shield, Mernda will open its season by travelling to the relegated Rosebank at LE Cotchin Reserve, with the Demons looking to back up its memorable finals appearance in its first season in the competition last year.
Laurimar should be expected to be one of the favourites in Dyson Shield as it looks to make a swift return to Mash Shield, and will also travel in the opening round to Dennis at McDonnell Park.
South Morang will host Old Ivanhoe Grammarians to open its season at Mill Park Lakes Reserve as the Lions look for a positive start to the season.
Whittlesea’s first XI will be looking to back up its premiership success from last year, and will open up its campaign against South Morang to start the F-grade campaign.
There will also be four divisions of the Summer Smash this season, which will start on November 24.
Mernda will start the competition against Rivergum at Waterview Recreation Reserve, while South Morang and Laurimar will take on one another on November 26 at Mill Park Lakes Reserve.
