The Ringwood District Cricket Association’s Lindsay Trollope Shield competition begins on Saturday without some familiar clubs and with more two-day games. Ainslie Park has won promotion from the second grade Bill Wilkins Cup competition while Wonga Park, East Ringwood and Croydon Ranges were all relegated to Wilkins following last season. ROY WARD previewed the teams for this season.
AINSLIE PARK
Captain-coach: Mark Arnot
Last season: Premiers, Wilkins Cup
New faces: Adam Bryant
Gone: Robbie Arbuckle Jason Foulis
Chances: With the loss of two consistent top-order bats, Ainslie Park will look for its youth (Josh Bettess, Brad Wadsworth, Josh White) to stand up and be counted. The club's bowling line-up has however been strengthened by the return of paceman Adam Bryant into an already strong and disciplined bowling attack. Ainslie Park shapes as a mid-table side but with some good results could push into the finals equation, especially if its young guns fire.
SOUTH WARRANDYTE HAWKS
Coach: Paul Foley
Last season: 6th
New faces: None supplied
Chances: South Warrandyte will look to rise higher than sixth place this season but the challenge will be ahead of it with other sides around the Hawks improving. The loss of captain-coach Steve Garrett will hurt.
MOOROOLBARK
Captain-coach: Lincoln Grigg
Last season: 3rd
New faces: Mark Ross, Adam Ewart
Chances: Mooroolbark once again shapes as a major player in the Trollope Shield premiership race. Despite the absence of batsman John O'Donnell for at least the first half of the season, the additions of all-rounder Mark Ross and young batsman Adam Ewart should make it stronger this term.
WANTIRNA SOUTH
Captain: Matt King
Coach: Ash Webb
Last season: 3rd
New faces: John Aumann
Chances: Matt King takes on the captaincy from Drew McKay, who will continue to play with the Devils and focus on "causing havoc" among opposition batting orders. Veteran Ash Webb will coach the side and has been working hard to develop the club's junior players. With the majority of the side staying on from last season expect the Devils to push for the premiership this season.
SOUTH CROYDON
Captain-coach: Josh Stewart
Last season: 2nd
New faces: Steve Saddon (Vermont South), Rob Hughes (Deepdene)
Chances: South Croydon wants to go one better this season after falling short in last season's grand final. Saddon and Hughes will bolster the side although the loss of Lee Stockdale will hurt the Bulldogs. With four senior sides this season, the Bulldogs should have plenty of depth. Now it's up to their leading players to take them to the premiership.
WARRANWOOD
Captain: Andrew Spittle
Coach: Andrew Wu
Last season: 1st
New faces: None supplied
Chances: Warranwood shocked the league to come from fourth and win the flag last season. Now the Sharks will look to do it again. Their home-grown players led from the front in the key wins last season so look for more developed talent in the side.
NORTH RINGWOOD
Captain: Leigh Jones
Coach: Rexhepi Jeton
Last season: 5th
New faces: Rexhepi Jeton (playing coach), Matthew Scott.
Chances: Former Coburg and Northcote player Jeton will add experience to the top order while taking over the coaching reins from long-time coach Darren Roe, who has moved to the junior program. Scott also looks impressive and with the rest of the Bulls returning for this season, they shape as one of the teams to beat.
NORWOOD
Coach: Bruce Sansom
Captain: Co-captains Andrew Downs and Ben Sansom
Last season: 8th
New faces: David Hester (import), Lloyd Jordan (Park Orchards), Stuart Davis (Hoddles Creek).
Chances: Norwood hopes to be around the top four once again this season and with Hester and Davis strengthening the top order and Jordan adding more variety as an all-rounder, it should do just that. Matt Fyfe has headed to Blackburn South while last season's imports Brad Kruger and Josh Holden won't be returning.
BAYSWATER PARK
Captain: Ben Beech
Coach: Leigh Callander
Last season: 9th
New faces: Troy Gstrein, Jarryd Gstrein (both Johnson Park), Matthew Parker, Stephen Craige.
Chances: Bayswater Park aims to make finals in all grades this season and plenty of interest will surround its first team with recruits like the Gstreins and returning pair Parker and Craige. Marcus Adams is coming off a very successful season in the United Kingdom so his all-round talents could help push the Sharks into finals contention.
CROYDON NORTH
Captain: TBA
Last season: 7th
New faces: None supplied
Chances: Croydon North faces an uphill battle to push into the finals this season but no one will take the Knights easily. Questions remain about the strength of their middle order and depth of their bowlers but a few good results early in the season could make all the difference.