SHDCA FAST FACTS
PRESIDENT – Leigh Matthews
A GRADE CAPTAIN – Kade Benfield
SENIOR COACH – Kade Benfield
LAST A GRADE PREMIERSHIP – 2006-07
2021-22 FINISH – Fifth
LEADING RUN SCORER – Mitchell Seton-Stewart – 197 runs @ 49.25
LEADING WICKET TAKER – Jordan King – 23 wickets @ 7.91
SEASON PREVIEW
After taking some giant strides forward last year, Ultima-TUF will be hoping to keep that momentum moving in an upwards trajectory when the new season eventually gets under way in the coming weeks.
While the Roodogs missed out on the finals, they were thereabouts for much of the season – and were a big improvement for a team that struggled in years gone by.
But those dark days now appear behind the men from the Alan Garden Reserve, with a settled line-up and high expectations.
Kade Benfield returns as captain for the second year running and is was hopeful his team would continue to put their best foot forward in 2022-23 when speaking with The Guardian this week.
“We’ve had a good build-up to this season and I think it’s a huge positive that we’ve been able to keep much the same list as last year,” Benfield said.
“To improve as much as we did last year but just miss out on finals, was disappointing at the time, especially when there were a couple of games that we probably should have won – but we’re still a young group that’s developing and I think the experience of last season will hold us in good stead.
“We beat every team in one form of the game or another last year so that alone gives us a lot of confidence – we should be making finals this year and we know we can match it with the best teams, we have a good enough list, but it’s about putting it all together out on the park now.”
The Roodogs showed that at their best they are more than capable of beating anybody, but the big challenge going forward from last season – as it is with many developing sides – is their consistency and getting a contribution out of all 11 players each week.
While Benfield is confident he has the team to match it with the competition leaders, his side’s all-round ability with both bat and ball had him believing the Roodogs were on the cusp of breaking a 12-season finals drought.
“I think we’re pretty solid all-round to be honest – we’re not super dominant with the bat and we’re not super dominant with the ball, but the key will be just being consistent each week and competing for as long as we can in every game we play,” Benfield said.
“The team hasn’t changed much and we’ll be relying on a lot of the same guys as last year, but particularly ‘Shep’ (Ben Shepherd).
“He’ll be one of our key players, along with Josh Waldron, Mitch Seton-Stewart, Kyle Symons and Jordan King.
“He (Shepherd) is keen and raring to get there again this year – he was sensational for us last season in coming across from RSL and just gave us a bit of experience and an older head at the top of the order.
“We’ve got a pretty young side really, but it’s still going to be those guys who are our older, more experienced players that we’ll be relying on to get the job done each week.”
WORD FROM THE CAPTAIN
KADE BENFIELD
“It’d be pretty disappointing to not make finals this year with the list we have. As long as we can have our best team together for the majority of the season and if we can do that then I think we should be playing finals.”
PLAYER TO WATCH
JORDAN KING
Last year’s league leading wicket taker will need to replicate his performances last season in order for the Roodogs to take the next step. Bowls full and with good pace and when he swings the ball can be a real handful – is also a handy lower order hitter of the ball who should come into his own with the bat in the shorter formats.
INS AND OUTS
INS – Nil
OUTS – Will Nelson
