Experienced campaigner: CPW Panthers are excited to welcome local cricket legend Shaun Downie to its squad for season 2022.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Mark Haberfield and the brains trust at Cobram Panel Works Panthers will be hoping an injection of exciting youth will spark a tilt at a maiden Goulburn Valley Bush Bash League title.
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Winning one of its three clashes in last year’s edition of the tournament, Panthers fans will be optimistic a new-look squad can bring about great improvement with a number of local talents signing on for the 2022 season.
Panthers owner Haberfield detailed his expectations heading into the new season.
“We just want to have a fair showing and give our squad a chance to play at that higher level,” Haberfield said.
“This is their best chance to play at a higher level and test themselves against those premier guys, so I’m really excited to see our guys prove just how good they are.
“We would like to make the final and wrestle the title out of the Mud Dogs’ hands, I feel we have the talent to do so and we will put on a great show for the local fans.”
The headline off-season addition comes in the form of local cricket legend Shaun Downie, who adds a wealth of experience to the batting line up.
Enjoying a number of successful stints in district leagues such as Cricket Shepparton (Numurkah) and Murray Valley Cricket Association (Cobram), while also plying his trade for Footscray in Melbourne Premier Cricket back in the day, there isn’t a lot the Greg Luscombe medallist hasn’t done on the cricket field.
Haberfield outlined how critical an experienced campaigner like Downie would be for his squad.
“He hasn’t played full-time for a few years, his last outing with Numurkah saw him win the Luscombe Medal on grand final day, so we were rapt when he said he was interested to come and play for us,” he said.
“Shaun is just class, he will complement some of our dashers with his pure technique and will slot in perfectly at number three.”
The local flavour continued into the draft, where Panthers used the second selection on exciting Cobram Cricket Club talent Izac Artavilla.
Claiming the man of the match honours in last year’s MVCA grand final, the young gun averaged a remarkable 66 with the bat last season and will without doubt add some much-needed firepower to the Panthers.
He was joined by the likes of Jake Burge, Brodie Ross, Charlie Hillier, Will Sharp and Drew Cameron, who have all shown themselves to be potential premier cricketers in the making.
Talented Melbourne Premier Cricket export Isaac Willett once again makes his way north to lead this inexperienced batting unit after scoring 77 runs at an average of 38.50 in three matches.
A welcome return: Isaac Willett makes his way back to CPW Panthers for another season.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
Cobram’s Adam De Cicco will also don the pink and black once again this summer and will be called upon to lead this talented bowling attack after a bright start to season 2021-22 for the Tigers.
Understandably disappointed in the delay to proceedings, the Panthers look to be primed and ready to go as they hope to become the team that knocks Mud Dogs off their throne.
