By RUSSELL BENNETT
PAKENHAM and Tooradin will open their West Gippsland Cricket Association Premier seasons in one-day games this Saturday in an intriguing early test of how the two sides measure up.
Both have lost leaders and star players Dom Paynter and Cal O’Hare to long-term knee injuries and will need to get an increased output from a range of other players.
Speaking to the News just prior to Round 1, new Lions skipper Jason Williams said young Zac Chaplin was a real player to watch in the new season.
“He’s had a big pre-season and is expecting a good year with bat and ball,” Williams said.
“James Vella is also back at the club after a stint at Frankston and will add class to our batting line-up,” he said.
Sean Gramc and Nathan Goodes have also signed on with Pakenham and will be valuable contributors.
Williams is optimistic about what the new season holds for his side, adding that improvement will come from “a full year of Premier cricket last year for our young guys to get a taste and see the required levels we need to be at week in, week out.
“Also adding a bit more experience to the team with our recruits should help improve things.”
Williams said anything less than a finals appearance for the Lions this season would be seen as disappointing, adding that Tooradin, and last year’s grand final combatants Cardinia and Kooweerup should be the teams to beat.
Tooradin will have to find a way of overcoming the loss of its own gun all-rounder, O’Hare, but will have its two other stars Tom Hussey and Aaron Avery fit and firing from the outset.
New skipper Hussey (thumb) and league medallist Avery (hamstring) missed crucial games at the business end of last season, which hampered the Gulls’ chances of making it through to the grand final, but they’ll be looking to make a splash right from Round 1 this week.
“We want to play finals cricket,” Hussey said.
“From there anything can happen but we want to be giving it a good nudge.
“I think the competition is very evenly placed this season – the likes of Koowee, Cardy and Pakenham will be strong once again, while Merinda Park has the ability to be a surprise packet.”
