By Marcus Uhe
NARRE SOUTH
LAST SEASON: 3rd
COMING: Morteza Ali (Cardinia), Zach Wilson (England), Liam Sheehan (Dandenong), Joel Zietsman
GOING: Jawed Hussaini (HSD), Alex Cruickshank (Bentleigh), Callum Nicholls (England), Harsha de Silva
STAYING: Kyle Hardy, Jeevan Mendis, Callan Tout, Riley McDonald, Vineth Jayasuriya
Players to watch: Jeevan Mendis, Callan Tout, Morteza Ali
The Lions rocketed up the Turf 1 ladder last season with a stunning return to form in the back half of last summer.
The Lions only lost to Buckley Ridges after the Christmas break – twice – and conquered Hallam Kalora Park in a thrilling elimination final by two runs.
Their run of winning form included tense wins over Springvale South and Berwick, with belief building week-on-week that they could do something special come the finals.
Reaching the second week has set the benchmark, but a considerable amount of change has swept through the Lions’ den over winter.
Overseas pair Alex Cruickshank, who made the Turf 1 Team of the Year and was one of the competition’s leading quick bowlers, and talented young batter Callum Nicholls, have both chosen to not return to the club for another summer, and Jawed Hussaini has moved to HSD to play in Turf 2.
Jeevan Mendis will replace Matthew Brooks as senior coach and Kyle Hardy as captain, shouldering both roles in his attempts to work his way up the coaching ladder.
The 2022/23 Wookey Medal winner will be another handful this summer, and paired with Morteza Ali, the Lions will have two Wookey Medal winners in their midst.
Callan Tout was one of the recruits of the summer last season and led the attack beautifully with Cruickshank, taking 31 wickets at 19 and consistently giving opposition batters trouble.
The challenge for Mendis will be harnessing last season’s momentum into a new year when the middle of the table will be even more congested than last summer.
Berwick look likely to improve, Hallam Kalora Park remain strong and Buckley Ridges and Springvale South remain at the top of the pecking order.
Young talents Riley McDonald (wicketkeeper) and Vinnie Jayasuriya will need to step forward to strengthen the batting with Nicholls and Harsha de Silva both departing.
Falling just two wickets shy of continuing their magical run to the grand final, there’s no doubt that the heartbreak felt on that hot March evening at Park Oval will fuel the Lions in their quest to go one better.
They’ll be playing with a target on their back after last summer’s efforts, and demand to be taken seriously in 2024/25.
“We carried that on last year and went about our business as we usually do, then with the results we started getting, it gives the team even more confidence that we can be in those positions and we can push those top teams in those spots,” outgoing captain Kyle Hardy said.
“Really it’s just about carrying on from last year, carrying on with the confidence that we gained from what we had.”
