Werribee Cricket Club wants to bring elite district cricket to its own backyard.
The Tigers will make a submission to Cricket Victoria when expressions of interest are sought for an 18th Victorian Premier Cricket licence.
The Premier competition currently has 18 teams, but a merger between Dandenong and Hawthorn-Monash University is set to create an opening that needs to be filled.
Tigers captain Shaun Dean told Star Weekly of his club’s desire to be part of the state’s No.1 club cricket competition.
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“If a position becomes available, Werribee will definitely be putting our hand up,” he said.
“If they’re looking for a team in the west – which seems to be the case because you’ve only got Footscray, who are 10 minutes from the city, and then you’ve got Geelong, and that’s country – I don’t see why we’d get knocked back, to be honest.
“Wyndham is the biggest growth capital in Australia.”
Werribee also has the infrastructure in place to make a strong case for inclusion.
The Tigers’ home ground, Chirnside Park, is about to undergo a multimillion-dollar revamp and has long been a home to VFL football.
The Tigers also have a second venue, Soldiers Reserve, that has quality player facilities and social rooms.
The Tigers’ thriving junior section is the ace up their sleeve, with young players regularly fed into the senior system.
Dean, a former district cricketer with Footscray Edgewater and Geelong, says the club’s Watton Street home ground would rate highly against other Premier Cricket facilities even before it’s redeveloped.
“I’ve played on every ground in district cricket and Chirnside Park would be right up there in the Premier Cricket ratings,” he said.
“Our training facilities are not an issue, and neither is our off-field at the moment – and it’s only going to get better when this redevelopment goes in. Our thirds’ and fourths’ ground will be up there with the other thirds’ and fourths’ grounds in Premier Cricket.
“I’d be very surprised if we miss out. Our location is very good; we tick every box. We’re more than capable of accommodating a Premier Cricket side.”
