Season preview: Grand final heartache driving Mt Barker to better their game and go one better in new season

Mt Barker are hungry for premiership success after last season’s disappointing grand final performance in the Albany and Districts Cricket Association. The Bulls finished fifth in 2019-20 but became the dominant team last season, losing just two of their one-day matches on their way to their grand final appearance. But they fell short in the decider, losing to a rising Royals outfit by 27 runs. The Bulls claimed last season’s T20 title but will be itching to secure their maiden A-grade premiership and atone for that bitter end to 2020-21. Star all-rounder Jeremy Wood will again captain the Bulls this season and his side contains a many talented players including Nathan Crudeli, Alex Fergie and Nathan Crosby. The Bulls however will have to fill the void left by a number of outgoing players from last season’s grand final team. Tim Shephard has moved to Perth and fast bowler Mitch Smith won’t play for the club while spinner Paul Osborne is likely to play in the lower grades. Senior batter Nathan Poole has joined the Bulls after a season with Manypeaks and will add more depth to a strong batting line-up. Jessiah Smith is another inclusion for the Bulls while Perth pair Brent Jarvis-Spinks and Ashley Chilcott are also expected to play. Wood said his side will work hard to be in premiership contention. “Obviously it was disappointing the way the season finished, we’d had a good year leading into the last two weeks,” he said. “There’s certainly a bit of hunger there but there’s a lot of work to do to get back there. “Its certainly not going to be an easy job. Our all-rounder performance with the bat, a more even contribution from the top seven is the biggest point we can improve on.” The Bulls start the new season against Railways on Saturday. Veteran Neil Ferreira led his team for runs last year with 560 at an average of 50 and Fergie will again play a crucial role at the top of the order. Wood claimed 28 wickets at an average of 14 last season and Crudeli snared 27 at 11 and that pair again loom as vital players in their bid to go one better. MT BARKER Captain: Jeremy Wood Last season: Runners-up Most runs: Neil Ferreira (560) Most wickets: Jeremy Wood (28)