Sharks Starving for Success

BCC wearing their trademark sash to raise awareness and funds for the Zaidee’s Foundation

Bonbeach enter season 2021/22 full of optimism and hunger, following a number of consecutive campaigns that has seen them fall short of the top four.

After not playing competitive cricket in March since they claimed the minor premiership in 2018/19, the sharks are hungry for success, and believe that they have the pieces in place to be a contender this summer.

Bonbeach Park is thriving, with the club arguably in the best off-field position it has seen in decades. A strong leadership structure has led the club to grow significantly, now featuring 7 Senior Men’s sides, 2 Senior Women’s teams and a Masters XI.

On-field, the Sharks will look to reap the rewards of prioritising their local assets, while supplementing the squad with handy inclusions and recruits. Coach Shane Hesline is well renowned for his ability to develop young talent, and has enjoyed his role at Bonbeach, seeing the likes of Jack Bailey, Tim Mulholland and Daniel Van Hees establish themselves as genuine First XI cricketers.

This year, Shane will not be on his lonesome, with the club signing Peter ‘Nifty” Neville as assistant Coach. Neville is an experienced coach with an impressive resume, highlighted by his selection as coach of Bonbeach’s ‘Team of the 50 Years’ in 2016.

Bonbeach’s line-up will again be stapled by experienced cricketers in Dan Mueller, Dave Fernandez, Tom Smith, and Akila Lakshan, who has resigned at Bonbeach for season 21/22.

If the sharks are looking for some X-factor with proven big game experience, then they have found it in prized recruit Harley Dale. Dale joins the sharks from the Aspendale Cricket Club, and brings with him a repertoire of strong finals campaigns and club accolades.

Tom Smith will again take the helm, and looks to lead the troops into a finals campaign.

“We’re a young squad who all get on really well, and that’s exciting for us” Smith says.

“We’ve underperformed as a squad the last few seasons, but we know we have what it takes to make the four and whatever happens from there is up to us” he adds.

It’s shaping up to be an exciting year at Shark Park in more facets than one.

The foundations are in place to build a competitive and inclusive women’s program at BCC.