The Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association season gets underway this Saturday. Tim Doutré takes a look at the local teams about to hit the turf.

Altona

2008-09: third

Captain: John Varchione

WITH a new coach, a new captain and some handy Premier Cricket pick-ups, the Altona side that surrendered to Melton in the 2008-09 will again be a force to be reckoned with.

With the departure of captain-coach David Wolfe to Werribee, Marc McAllion will take the (non-playing) coaching reins and longtime clubman and quality batsman John Varchione will captain the side.

“The side hasn’t changed that much so we would be expecting to be there (in the finals) again this year,” Varchione said.

Among the inclusions are batsmen Aaron Maynard (Geelong), Christian Hewitt from St Kilda North Melbourne and bowler Aaron Randall from Geelong.

Randall, a medium pace swing bowler is expected to bolster Altona’s already formidable bowling line-up.

The big news:

“We played a practice match the other day and Maynard hit a 55 and would have faced around 50 balls so he is pretty aggressive and it’s the same with Hewitt, they are both aggressive batsmen,” Varchione said.

Williamstown

2008-09: fifth

Captain: Craig Sheedy

IT WAS all about injuries for Williamstown last season. Captain Craig Sheedy’s boys were hampered at every turn by injuries to key players, including Rohan and Cam Smith and Daryl Clemson.

“We had half the side out injured and missed out on the finals, which was disappointing, but we weren’t overly worried,” Sheedy said.

“The positive to come out of it was - we got the younger guys a game.”

This season, the injured blokes are back on the park and the kids are pushing to play more than the handful of games in the First XI they got last season. Add this to some handy recruits and the Willy boys should be aiming for the top four.

The big news: Dan Davis. According to Sheedy, this youngster did not play last season because of a “crook back” but is set to make a return in 2009-10.

“He is only 18 and he played a few games the year before. He could be one that just goes crazy, so he might be one to watch out for. He played in the grand final side when we were runners-up and he showed quite a bit. He hits the ball hard,” Sheedy said.

Werribee

2008-09: eighth

Captain-coach: Paul Murray

LAST season Werribee managed to topple eventual premier Melton and runner-up Altona yet finished eighth on the ladder.

As a result, Werribee captain Paul Murray is focused on consistency.

“We seemed to lose against teams below us and seemed to go all right against the higher teams,” he said.

“Last year when we were bad, we were terrible, but when we were good, we could beat anybody.”

With a “reasonably mature” team and added depth in the seconds and firsts Murray expects competition for spots in the first XI to translate into some quality performances.

“If their form is good in the twos they will be pushing for spots straight away. I am looking forward to having to make some difficult selections this year,” he says.

The big news: Former Altona captain-coach David Wolfe is the main recruit for the Werribee side this season, with Murray hoping he can anchor the top order.

“Wolfey at the top, we think he’s going to add a bit to us,” he says. “He’s really fit in well, has worked really hard. He is reinvigorated; the new start gives you that.”

Sunshine

2008-09: 10th

New captain-coach: Warren Suares

SUNSHINE lost last year’s captain Ben O’Brien but has replaced him with all-rounder Warren Suares. Sunshine president Geoff King is happy with the appointment of Suares and feels he will fill the gap left by O’Brien.

“Warren, he is an all-rounder, he swings the ball well, which is good. Not too many people can swing it these days,” he said.

“We had a couple of outs with Ben O’Brien moving on and Stuart Hensley retiring. “Warren being a batsman-bowler, we see him being able to do what Ben did with the bat and what Stu did with the ball.”

The big news: According to Geoff King, new captain Suares, who has had a healthy career at a variety of clubs, including Richmond in the Premier Association and Doutta Stars, has proven himself as a natural leader with an ability to get sides in the right half of the ladder. “He has got the runs on the board when it comes to making finals,” King said.

Time will tell whether he can do the same for Sunshine.

Yarraville

2008-09: 12th

Captain-coach: Tim McRae

YARRAVILLE captain-coach Tim McRae will again lead his side in season 2009-10 and is champing at the bit to pull the pads on.

McRae suffered a broken thumb in the first game after Christmas last season and was forced to watch from the sidelines for the rest of the season.

“It’s (the thumb) come up really well, I’m fired up. It will probably rain or something for round one, no doubt, but I am looking forward to playing,” he said.

After a less than impressive 2008-09 season McRae is hoping some handy recruits, including former Footscray-Edgewater captain Matt Love, will help him lift his side towards the top half of the ladder.

“We just didn’t get enough wickets last year, it’s as easy as that we made some good runs,” he said.

“Hopefully with Paul Thomas as opening bowler along with Lovey who may open the bowling that will help.”

The big news: Love’s inclusion cannot be underestimated. The former Bulldogs’ leader had a modest year in the Premier Cricket season last year but still managed 367 runs at an average of 22.9, with a high score of 85 and a wealth of totals in between 20 and 50.

The Yarraville boys will be hoping Love can step up to lead the batting charge.