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.
Claremont-Nedlands
Last Season: Premiers
Coach: James Allenby
Most Runs: Brad Hope (808 Runs at 73.45)
Most Wickets: Chris Simpson (37 Wickets at 17.92)
Player to Watch: Chris Simpson
Claremont-Nedlands remain the team to be hunted in season 2019-20. A balanced line-up, coached by Jim Allenby, will look to become the first club since Scarborough in the mid-2000s to win three First Grade Premierships in a row this season. Brad Hope, Tim David and Nick Hobson will form the backbone of the batting line-up yet again, while opportunity exists for Chris Simpson to really stand up in the predicted absence of representative bowlers Joel Paris and Matthew Kelly throughout the season.
Joondalup
Last Season: 14th
Coach: Mike Smith
Most Runs: Clint Hinchliffe (562 Runs at 51.09)
Most Wickets: Harry Larmett (26 Wickets at 26.65)
Player to Watch: Harry Larmett
This season will mark Mike Smith’s second year as Head Coach for Joondalup. Mike will look to help the Centurions move up the ladder with their vast depth of youthful talent. As has become the norm for a number of seasons now, the Morgan brothers will be key to a good start at the top of the innings each week, but they will need more support from the talented youngsters coming through, especially with the departure of gun all-rounder Clint HInchliffe to Mount Lawley. Harry Larmett has been the stand-out quick for Joondalup in the last two seasons, snaring 54 wickets. The club will again look to him to lead the bowling attack from the front.
South Perth
Last Season: 11th
Coach: Chris Greenwood
Most Runs: Darius D’Silva (532 Runs at 44.33)
Most Wickets: Alex Bevilaqua (32 Wickets at 17.81)
Player to Watch: Liam Dallimore
After a dominant finish to the 2017-18 Alcohol. Think Again Premier Cricket Season that resulted in a Semi Final appearance, South Perth fell to a disappointing 11th placed finish in 2018-19, a finish not reflective of the talent they possess. The Club has recruited strongly in the off-season in an attempt to rectify that, picking up Sean Stuart and Daniel Moore from University, pacer Akash Fotedar from Perth and Liam Dallimore from Fremantle. Dallimore looks to be the most exciting prospect of the lot and looks set to replace the workload that was taken with Alex Bevilaqua’s move to Tasmania. Darius D’Silva and David Cleary will again be the focal points at the top of the order should South Perth look to return to the Top 6 this season.
Wanneroo
Last Season: 10th
Coach: Joel Charles
Most Runs: Travis Birth (610 Runs at 46.92)
Most Wickets: Jack Cattrall (36 Wickets at 11.78)
Player to Watch: Kelvin Smith
Five seasons on from their remarkable 2013-14 Premiership triumph, Wanneroo have been slowly building towards another Finals tilt. Club Legend Joel Charles enters his second season as Head Coach, and will again rely on senior players to do the heavy lifting for the Roos. Robert Richards has been a mainstay at the top of the order while young allrounder Caiden Eaton will receive more chances to prove himself this season. Kelvin Smith has been a huge recruit from South Australia and is sure to solidify the batting line-up as well. If Jack Cattrall is fit then he looms as again the key bowler for Wanneroo, but the loss of Matthew Spoors to Scarborough will place pressure on others to step up and take wickets.