All the movements, comments and predictions ahead of the 2024-25 Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield campaign

The News has done the fine legwork and put together an in-depth season preview, so sit back, break for tea and read over all the ins, outs, comments and predictions ahead of Saturday’s opening round.

Central Park-St Brendan’s

2023-24 finish: Fifth (7-4)

Ins: Mitchell Brett (Northerners), Connor Hayes (Melbourne), Nate Earl (Old Students)

Outs: N/A

Club comment: Tyler Larkin (coach)

“We’ve had a pretty good off-season with our recruits and finals will be an absolute minimum.

“Last year we were a good team without being great and our red ball form let us down.

“We’ll be aiming for finals in all three formats and hopefully bringing back some silverware.

“We’ve strengthened our batting line-up, which was one of our aims, so hopefully it all adds up and we can be a bit more consistent with our performances.”

Prediction: First

Central Park is used to presenting an imposing challenge in the Haisman Shield, but the squad bolstering with every existing A-grade player committing once again should be a fearsome sight.

While the Tigers often came across as a bowling-first side and not necessarily to their own liking, the return of past player Connor Hayes from metro cricket is designed to address that concern, the squad overall presenting depth in every area on paper.

Expect Central Park to look more like its old self in season 2024-25 after falling agonisingly short in the two-day format finals last campaign.

Euroa

2023-24 finish: 12th (2-9)

Ins: N/A

Outs: N/A

Club comment: Carl Norton (president)

“We’ve retained all our players from last season, which is good.

“We’re excited about some of our young guys returning, even if we don’t have them every single game.

“The club’s strong financially and we want to work hard to translate our strong off-field position into more on-field success.

“Andrew (Squires) has coached for a few years at Euroa and it was great that he was able to step back in.

“This season, we’ll absolutely be looking to play in finals. That’s what a good objective looks like this year.”

Prediction: 13th

It’s an interesting and unique predicament for the Magpies this season, who have retained everyone on paper, but could lose several multi-talented youngsters by year’s end.

The likes of Cohen Paul, among others, will invariably have footballing ambitions on their mind heading into draft season and opportunities to potentially sign with VFL clubs.

The cricketing side of operations at Euroa will be hoping to keep hold of as much of its young core as possible while other doors open, but the chance arose for Squires to step back into the coaching sphere after the intended boss pulled out due to visa complications.

It’s looming as a ‘‘watch this space’’ season for Euroa.

Karramomus

2023-24 finish: 13th (1-11)

Ins: Zavier Davidson, Declan Newbound (Northerners), Billy Holmes (Katandra), Harry Walsh (Shepparton United), Duncan Lowis (Avenel)

Outs: Sam Green (Katandra)

Club comment: Steve Allen (coach)

“I think we were in quite a few games for periods of the game (last season), but just didn’t win the big moments or got close and let ourselves down a little bit.

“I just want us to play a brand of cricket that the club’s proud of and be very competitive and hard to beat. That’s the focus, that’s where we’re hoping to be.

“Experience is what allows you to recognise moments in games and I think we can get better at that.

“We’ve certainly recruited pretty well, so hopefully that’ll bring a bit of depth to the club as well.

“There’s a little bit of positivity about, but we’ve got a long way to go and a lot of improvement to make before we get too excited.”

Prediction: 11th

Karramomus is playing “Moneyball” this season.

Allen, who has vaulted into a lead coaching role, but will still be supported by Ashley Brown and Chris Keady, has opted to adopt the theory that loosely translates to shrewd recruiting of those with undervalued skill sets.

With Northerners’ drop to B-grade, the Bloods have picked up two of the Jets’ best young guns in Zavier Davidson and Declan Newbound, while securing Billy Holmes and Harry Walsh as other clubs beef up their lists with overseas talent.

Last season the club had zero recruits.

This year the Bloods have five with the drawcard of an overseas recruit still on the table.

Allen is going for pragmatism over blind optimism, but there’s an air of excitement bubbling away at Vibert Reserve nonetheless.

Katandra

2023-24 finish: Fourth (9-5)

Ins: Sam Green (Karramomus), Stephen Barrett (Bendigo United), Seth Westley (England), Graham Sharp

Outs: Billy Holmes (Karramomus), Scott Richardson, Kieran Collins

Club comment: Ryleigh Shannon (coach)

“It is probably the most rejuvenated our list has been in terms of different people in it.

“We have had a pretty successful six or seven-year period with a certain group of guys with one or so players going out each year.

“With the new faces we have brought in and the change in captaincy as well, it will freshen things up nicely.

“We saw last year that you just have to make the six.

“We will definitely be pushing to go all the way in every competition that we enter.”

Prediction: Second

After a semi-final exit to eventual premier Kyabram in 2023-24, Katandra is keen to remain in the hunt for success this summer.

Last season’s co-captains Jedd Wright and Corey Hickford have stepped back from the role, leaving gun opener Ben Pedretti to take charge of the Eagles.

Shannon will once again coach Katandra, but won’t feature in the side due to injury, while the Eagles are hoping gun opening bowler Hickford will return to the A-grade side later in the competition as he rests his legs after an arduous football season.

A constant in the finals, Katandra believes with a fresh list it can once again contest for the flag.

The high-quality inclusions of talented wicketkeeper-batter Stephen Barrett and the international signing of seam bowler Seth Westley could give the Eagles the edge in an evenly poised season.

Kyabram

2023-24 finish: Premier (10-5)

Ins: Jack Donnell (Kyabram Fire Brigade), Shaf Maroofkhel (overseas)

Outs: Tom Holman (year off), Kyle Fitzgerald (Darwin), Angus McKenzie (Fitzroy Doncaster)

Club comment: Jackson McLay (coach)

“We haven’t set any goals, that’s usually how we go about it. It’ll be very similar structures to what we’ve had in the past.

“We’ve already put a bit of a focus on the first three weeks; we started poorly last year and we don’t want to be in that same boat where you’ve got to try and make up ground in the back half of the year.

“It’s just too hard and you need everything to go your way – we don’t want to be reliant on that.

“It’s not so much about winning or losing, it’s making sure we’re not going through the motions and making sure we’re hitting the ground in as much form as possible.

“A few boys have gone pretty deep with footy, so trying to cross over with footy and cricket training has been a little bit difficult, but it’s no new problem – it’s the same every year.”

Prediction: Fourth

Will Kyabram recreate greatness this season?

That is the question on everyone’s lips following the Redbacks’ Houdini act to slide into finals last season, only to go all the way and win the Haisman Shield.

The ingredients are there, now all that’s left is for reinstated coach McLay to ensure they don’t go in undercooked and instead whip them into a winning dish.

Returning all-rounder Jack Donnell is a like-for-like replacement for Tom Holman and, though Angus McKenzie’s X-factor won’t be on show, right arm skidder Shaf Maroofkhel will look to log a clump of wickets in his absence.

A fast start is imperative for McLay’s charges, though, and he knows it.

Mooroopna

2023-24 finish: Runner-up (8-2)

Ins: Ethan Baker (Southampton)

Outs: Jac Smith Williams (Seymour district), Nick Breslin, Luke Zanchetta (interstate), Sam O’Brien, Matt Price (overseas)

Club comment: Henry Barrow (coach)

“After everything Luke and Sam have done for the club, those two are a big loss on and off the field.

“We’ve had a fantastic and successful spell and it’s going to be a chance for a few of the younger boys who have been waiting for their chance to play A-grade.

“We’ve still got so many match-winners in the side and players who can score big runs and take a lot of wickets.

“I still think we’ll be in finals contention; my own expectation is for us to have a really good year playing hard cricket and making finals is the aim.”

Prediction: Sixth

The numbers don’t lie and there is a massive sum of experience and talent out the door at Mooroopna this season.

The losses of top-order bats and strike bowlers alike will take some replacing as the Cats look to youth plugging away in the minor divisions to keep them in the finals hunt.

It’s difficult to know precisely the XI Mooroopna is likely to field on a week-to-week basis, but with a wealth of key contributors not returning in season 2024-25, leg-spinner Ethan Baker will want to make a handy impression from the get-go if Mooroopna is to get anywhere near another grand final berth.

Nagambie

2023-24 finish: Sixth (7-6)

Ins: James Wilson (Burwood), Xavier Arandt (Tallarook)

Outs: N/A

Club comment: Zac Winter-Irving (coach)

“We have had a very consistent pre-season for the last five or six weeks and, coming into round one, we are feeling confident with the sides we are going to put out across the senior teams.

“We will certainly have a lot more youth in the side, with a few young ones coming through into our group.

“It will be our main core of eight blokes from last year and then a couple of extras.

“Get wins on the board early before Christmas and really get on top of that and really try to finish in the top three in both (A and B-grade).

“Couple of young O’Briens and Ezards are a few that are getting right into their cricket now and starting to show a bit at training.”

Prediction: Seventh

In the first week of the 2023-24 finals, Nagambie demonstrated the even nature of the Haisman Shield.

Having finished in sixth place, the Lakers’ match against top side Waaia went down to the wire, with the Bombers escaping with a one-wicket victory.

This season, star all-rounder Mark Nolan has handed the coaching reins over to Winter-Irving, but will remain on as an integral senior A-grade player for the Lakers.

Winter-Irving said the side would look to blood a couple of younger players throughout the season and hoped its B-grade team could improve and help add depth to the A-grade roster.

However, the new coach doesn’t believe this is a rebuilding year for Nagambie.

Winter-Irving said he has top three aspirations for his side this 2024-25 season.

Numurkah

2023-24 finish: Seventh (7-4-1)

Ins: Connor McLeod (Kyabram), Ben Beaumont, Nathan Gossayn (Barooga), Dylan Grandell (Oakleigh), Bailey Smith (back from injury), Gino Saracino (Old Students)

Outs: Josh O’Dwyer (year off)

Club comment: Gino Saracino (coach)

“The players we’ve picked up, we’re looking forward to what they can bring.

“We’re aiming to play finals, no doubt, and what that looks like will be determined on how we start the season.

“And like anyone else, if you start the season well, you’re not playing catch up which is what we did last year and in the end we missed out because of that last hour.

“We want to make sure we hit the ground running and hopefully get early wins which then can set our season up and hopefully go deep into March.”

Prediction: Fifth

By all accounts, the Blues are ready to give it a red-hot shake this campaign.

The agony of missing out on finals by a single point – in the final hour, no less – would’ve burnt like acid on Numurkah’s brainstrust last season and, though a new man is at the helm, atonement is being sought.

Minimising outages means wicketkeeper Josh O’Dwyer is the only true omission and a swathe of signings points to a serious mark of intent from new coach Saracino.

Make no mistake, the decorated ex-Old Students leader wants finals. By the looks of it, he’s done everything in his power to get there.

Old Students

2023-24 finish: 11th (3-9)

Ins: Ed Pike, Otis Palmes (overseas), Bayden Hutchins (Northerners)

Outs: Mohammad Shahid (overseas), Dillon Hammer (retired)

Club comment: Vince Gagliardi (coach)

“Pound for pound, our young talent is as good as any in the comp. We’ve just got to develop it and let it blossom which is the key.

“Obviously we’re striving to play finals, but we haven’t put a number on it, we’re just really focusing on what we can control.

“Setting ourselves more realistic targets – I’m not going to tell you we’re going to finish top four because we’re probably going to struggle (to do that), but it’s more about rebuilding.

“We need a stepping stone and hopefully this year is the start of that; hopefully we can reflect in two or three years and say that’s when we started making each other accountable to one another.”

Prediction: 10th

Funnily enough, Old Students are the furthest thing from an ageing side.

New coach Gagliardi has elected to lean into the club’s young stocks and the injection of two young English imports — medium-fast bowler Otis Palmes (22) and spinning all-rounder Ed Pike (20) — will breathe life into the Students’ culture.

Bayden Hutchins is another green shoot adding to Gagliardi’s teen tearaways alongside Oscar Lambourn and Noah Muir, dragging the squad’s average age all the way down.

A solid leadership core will be there to support them, too.

Callan McCabe, Felix Odell and Liam Callegari will lead the crusade and, while it might not bear a premiership, expect Students to hand out a few lessons this season.

Pine Lodge

2023-24 finish: N/A (debut entry)

Ins: Emile Haratbar (Accrington), Cooper Adkins (Barooga)

Outs: N/A

Club comment: Travis Waters (president)

“We’re pretty reluctant to put a win-loss ratio on things.

“We really want to be competitive and we understand where we’re coming from.

“It’s a massive step up and we want to win as many games as we can, but we know it’s a different game in A-grade.

“We’re hoping to snag another late recruitment, but we know we’re the new kids on the block.

“We’re doing this for the future of our club.”

Prediction: 12th

It goes virtually without saying that nothing will come easily to the Haisman Shield’s newest entrant, but there appears to be no delusions within the side.

The Lodgers should inevitably come up against significant adversity dealing with the competition’s forerunners, but the arrival of wicketkeeper-batter Emile Haratbar from England should serve as indication that making up the numbers isn’t the only goal.

Growing pains feel inevitable, but the first victory in A-grade for the side under Waters’ watch will be one to savour, potentially laying the groundwork for more.

Shepparton United

2023-24 finish: Eighth (5-6-1)

Ins: Seb Menzhausen (England), Ben Greenwood (England)

Outs: Hugh Conway, Angus Lake, Mitch Jarrett (Richmond City), Dan Jones (international)

Club comment: Sam Nash (coach)

“We have added a couple of imports, which is good.

“We have also had a couple of boys playing overseas — myself included — for the last six months, so we are feeling pretty good about round one this weekend.

“From where we were last year — I think we missed finals by (two wins) — we will definitely be looking to take that next step and hopefully snag ourselves a finals spot.

“One to look out for is obviously Rehan Bari.

“Winning the Lightfoot Medal last year, hopefully, he can have a really good season again.”

Prediction: Eighth

There has been movement at the Shepparton United station this off-season, with a few players switching to a metropolitan side.

However, United fans shouldn’t be too concerned, given the batting firepower that the team will possess this season.

Gun batter Jake Callow returns from England for another go at the top of the order.

United announced in August the signing of classy-left hand batter Seb Menzhausen, who played premier cricket with Nottinghamshire last summer in England.

Meanwhile, Fellow Englishman Ben Greenwood has also been added to United’s top-order roster.

These recruits, mixed with last year’s Lightfoot medallist Bari, emerging young gun Joe Hammond and star player-coach Nash, have United poised to make a serious crack this summer.

Tatura

2023-24 finish: Ninth (5-7)

Ins: Matthew West (England), Josh Catalano (Mooroopna), Josh Macansh

Outs: N/A

Club comment: Daniel Coombs (coach)

“I don’t think there will be much difference (in the Haisman Shield), whoever finishes bottom this year will be a good side.

“We have Matthew West, who is a Pom, he will be a very handy inclusion, he has played a good level of cricket in England.

“He hit 49, I think it was, in the practice game (against Karramomus) on Friday, he will boost us as we have probably struggled to nail down that opening spot over the years.

“We are a young side, so we will try to build on our experience and continue to get better.

“We have Baxter Plunkett who scored the most runs in under-16s last year, he will start in B-grade, but I would expect he will feature in A-grade at some point this season.”

Prediction: Ninth

Tatura may have missed finals last season, but it wasn’t by much.

Finishing the home and away season in ninth, only two wins separated Tatura and premier Kyabram in fifth place.

Injuries to A-grade players Will Russell and Xavier Hutchison will likely rule them out for the entirety of the season.

However, Tatura believes it will have the depth to cover those losses.

Coombs said star brothers Jayden and Blake Armstrong could take their games to another level.

Jayden has recently returned to the Goulburn Valley after a successful stint playing cricket in the United Kingdom.

The addition of experienced and aggressive batter West to the top of the order will help Tatura apply pressure on its opposition to start the innings.

Waaia

2023-24 finish: Third (12-2)

Ins: Liam Evans (Nathalia), Morgan Potgieter (overseas)

Outs: Quinton Venter, Reinhardt Engler (overseas), Sam Trower, Brayden Summerville (Darwin)

Club comment: Mitch Cleeland (captain)

“It’s probably taken until the last fortnight or so with footy finishing for us to really kick into gear, but I think now that the season is just around the corner the excitement is well and truly back in it.

“The disappointment of the last couple of seasons is well and truly spurring us on to hopefully bigger and better things.

“We’re hoping that we can go another step up further and ideally find ourselves in a grand final and then anything can happen from there.

“But we’ve got a lot of work to do prior to that and we’re under no illusions that we’ve got to work our backsides off to make it to that top six, let alone go any further.”

Prediction: Third

Waaia has lost a chunk of runs – 1501 for those counting – with the departure of Quinton Venter, Reinhardt Engler, Sam Trower and Brayden Summerville.

Can the Bombers be too fast and too furious for the competition without them?

They’ll have a supercharged ‘‘Evo’’ to help them.

The return of 2021-22 Lightfoot medallist Liam Evans is a stunning coup for Waaia, especially considering how ballistic he went for Nathalia last season.

Evans romped the Murray Valley Cricket Association, striking 775 runs and taking 62 wickets in all forms to claim the league’s Lightfoot equivalent – the Guthrie Medal – as the best-and-fairest for 2023-24.

While Engler and Venter won’t return, Waaia has filled its South African quota with Morgan Potgieter who arrives with a solid reputation in the Derbyshire and Cheshire Cricket League.

The Bombers will surely chase a return to Haisman Shield glory to add to their one-day trophy from last season.