We take a look at how each First Grade Men's club is shaping up ahead of the 2019-20 Alcohol. Think Again Premier Cricket season.
Fremantle
Last Season: Semi Finalists
Coach: Joe Piromalli
Most Runs: Jake Carder (624 Runs at 41.60)
Most Wickets: Josh Chojnowski (25 Wickets at 16.84)
Player to Watch: Zach Ferris
1990-91 was the season in which Fremantle last won the First Grade Premiership in the Alcohol. Think Again WA Premier Cricket Competition, and it is the drought that long-serving Fremantle Coach and club stalwart Joe Piromalli will look to break again this season. When all players are available, the Fremantle team is intimidating; Shaun and Mitch Marsh, Ashton Turner, Jhye Richardson Jake Carder and Somerset Captain Tom Abell – all genuine match winners in their own right. It’s however the next tier that Piromalli will rely on to get the port boys into the Top 6 first. These include Chris Davenport, Daniel Kennedy and if he can stay fit, young impressive bowler Zach Ferris. If they can shoulder the load in the absence of the representative players, it will be a promising season for the club.
Gosnells
Last Season: 15th
Coach: Ryan Duffield
Most Runs: Matthew Leipold (371 Runs at 21.82)
Most Wickets: Chris Prescott (35 Wickets at 14.63)
Player to Watch: Tom Lammonby
Optimism is abundant at Sutherlands Park for the 2019-20 Season as a new coach looks to lead the club back to finals for the first time since 2014-15. Ryan Duffield has made the move into senior coaching for the first time and has attracted Melville’s Fraser Hay as well as Fremantle’s Anthony Collova to bolster a previously brittle batting line-up. Overseas import Luis Reece and Tom Lammonby also return to add significant strength to the top order. However, Chris Prescott will need more support with the ball in order for the team to truly challenge for the Top 6.
Scarborough
Last Season: 7th
Coach: Wes Robinson
Most Runs: Lochie Hardy (539 Runs at 49.00)
Most Wickets: Liam Stevens (40 Wickets at 18.83)
Player to Watch: Matthew Spoors
Powerhouse club of the WA Premier Cricket Competition in the early 2000s, the Scarborough Gulls look close to building a strong outfit that will look to try and replicate that unprecedented success just over a decade ago. Matthew Spoors has moved across from neighbouring Wanneroo to further strengthen a batting order that contains Josh Philippe, Lochie Hardy, Nick Maiolo and Jacob Johnston, while Liam Stevens and Lance Morris will look for more support from the bowling attack given they were the only two bowlers to take more than 16 wickets in 2018-19. All in all, Scarborough are a dangerous outfit on their day and will look to continue to play strong cricket under Coach Wes Robinson.
Subiaco-Floreat
Last Season: 8th
Coach: Wayne Clark
Most Runs: Cameron Green (548 Runs at 60.89)
Most Wickets: Chris Hansberry (28 Wickets 20.96)
Player to Watch: Jayden Goodwin
Western Australian Sheffield Shield Coach Wayne Clark has taken over the reins at Subiaco-Floreat for the 2019-20 Alcohol.Think Again Premier Cricket Season as the Lions look to quickly return to the Top 6 after missing out in 2018-19. Young WA Gun Jayden Goodwin has moved up from Bunbury to Floreat Park and will be key at the top of the order. At full strength the Lions are as formidable as any other Premier Club in the country, with theor bowling line-up featuring Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-NIle, Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green. The question for Subiaco-Floreat however is how often are they going to be available and whether their replacements can step up in their absence.