Donvale Cricket Club (DCC) announces their 2017/18 Coaching team for the coming season and will be led by a newly-elected Premiership panel of coaches both in the Senior and Junior divisions. Simon Bateman has been appointed as Senior Coach, Deon Vos as Chairman of Selectors/Senior Assistant Coach and introducing a new initiative supporting rising stars in the Junior Development Program, to be coached by Matthew Grace.

DCC welcomes back Simon Bateman, who has returned to Donvale to take up the leadership role as Senior Coach for 2017/18. Simon has been a Donvale cricketer, both as Captain/Coach, during the mid-90’s and played as a Premiership player in the 1st XI back in 2007/08.

Simon is an experienced coach in the ECA competition. In addition to his time at Donvale, he was Senior Coach at East Doncaster for 2 seasons, and most recently as Senior Coach at North Balwyn for the last four seasons. His four seasons at North Balwyn saw the First Eleven compete in the finals every year, and culminated with them winning the Dunstan Shield Premiership in 2016/17, following an unbeaten performance during the home and away rounds.

Donvale are also fortunate to have Deon Vos as Chairman of Selectors/Senior Assistant Coach. Deon successfully led the Donvale’s Under 18 team to an ECA A Grade Premiership win last season and has run development programs for Melbourne premier clubs in the past. He was a first-class cricketer in South Africa and played cricket in the United Kingdom, and is a Level 2 Cricket Australia Accredited Coach.

Matthew Grace, as Junior Development Squad Coach, also returns to Donvale. He was a junior player for Donvale in late 2000’s, has played for Fitzroy Doncaster premier cricket, played and coached in England, coached at the Inner East Metro level as a Junior Representative Coach and currently plays premier cricket for Prahran.

Senior Coach Simon Bateman said Donvale has a strong Cricket community and the programs offered this coming season were perfect for existing Cricketers of all skill levels and those new to this great sport.

“It is a terrific club and there are still many familiar faces who were integral to the club when I first went there almost 25 years ago. Importantly, the club has also invested much time and energy into rebuilding the junior program and I see this as an extremely exciting time to be involved and help to continue bridging that step from the juniors to the senior ranks.”

“Taking part in team sports has fabulous benefits no matter what age you are, and with Donvale’s newly refurbished clubrooms, quality sportsgrounds, new turf and synthetic nets, and with a strong group of coaches supporting the players, this creates a great combination for positive results.”

“There is a real sense of enthusiasm and optimism present at Donvale, and if I can utilise my coaching experience to help continue that and ensure that Donvale is not only a competitive force, but a place where people can develop great character and a love of the game, then I look forward to making that contribution," Simon Bateman said.

DCC will be fielding 4 senior turf sides, coordinating a junior program in all age groups from Milo cricket to Under 18 competition, as well as veteran’s in the ECA this coming season.

For more information about Donvale Cricket Club and how to register, visit http://donvale.vic.cricket.com.au/