For Jarvis Delahey Crushers overcoming their finals hurdle will be the focus as they embark on a new Goulburn Valley Bush Bash League campaign.
Passage into the final stages has eluded the Crushers in the past two seasons, after they finished third in their inaugural year and bottom of the ladder in the 2020-21 season.
Crushers franchise owner Nathan Delahey said results aside, the club was thrilled to be part of the competition as it returns to the region once again.
“It’s great to be back seeing as we missed out last year,” Delahey said.
“All of our sponsors have stayed on board and we’re more than ready to kick off again.
“I’m sure it will be a good spectacle and the key is to get more people down watching it after some lean years across the board.”
Delahey said his skipper Dwain Vidler and team manager Paul Trevaskis had been tasked with assembling the Crushers’ first XI this year, while Karramomus legend Chris Keady completes his side’s talented brainstrust.
“They’ve taken the reins and from how it looks on paper, it’s looking like a pretty good squad,” Delahey said.
“From all reports they’re looking really good and hopefully we can knock off the Mud Dogs this weekend to get off to a good start.”
Brighton quick Peter Cassidy will return to the side this year, joining what is already a lethal bowling attack stacked with local talent.
Central Park-St Brendan’s stalwart Ramadan Yze, Waaia captain Mitch Cleeland, Karramomus’ Lachy Keady and Shepparton United’s Sam Nash round out the Crushers’ formidable bowling battery.
On the batting front, the Crushers have again acquired the services of hard-hitting opener Dylan Brasher, who plies his trade for Footscray in Victoria Premier League.
Northerners gun Mitch Brett slots into the side’s top order alongside Central Park-St Brendan’s’ Jarrod Wakeling, while Old Students’ batting prodigy Oscar Lambourn comes into the side this year on the back of some blistering displays.
Bendigo United and former Cooma wicketkeeper Stephen Barrett will pull on the gloves for the Crushers once again, while Jake and Dylan Klemm are welcomed from Kangaroo Flat.
Geelong captain and former marquee Josh McDonald could potentially return for the Crushers this season, according to Delahey, but there’s every chance his duties at Geelong could prove too great for Sunday fixtures.
Delahey said with the all-round talent his side possessed, how it lined up this weekend at Deakin Reserve may well surprise a few.
“When you’ve got someone of Rum’s (Yze) quality coming into a side like this one, he’s a fairly handy bat in the local area and there’s every chance he’ll come in at number eight or nine,” Delahey said.
“It’s not too often you see his quality coming in way down the order.”
Jarvis Delahey Crushers’ Bush Bash fixtures
Round 1 - v SRP Mud Dogs - 11am Sunday, December 11 at Deakin Reserve.
Round 2 - v Hurley’s Hotel Hounds - 2pm Sunday, January 15 at Cobram Showgrounds.
Round 3 - v CPW Panthers - 11am Sunday, January 29 at Kyabram Recreation Reserve.