OAKLEIGH has added class to its line-up ahead of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association season, signing several former Premier Cricket players.
New Oaks coach Brendan McGuiness said batsman Jarrod Dowling (Camberwell and St Kilda), batsman Tom O'Sullivan (Carlton) and leg-spinner Joe Roberts (Camberwell) had all joined the club, which finished second in the VSDCA firsts competition last season.
McGuiness said the trio would provide plenty of experience to the Oaks' playing ranks.
"They all have Premier Cricket experience and will create more competition at the club," he said.
McGuiness commended the work of players across all the Oaks senior teams during the winter and early spring.
He said the club's young players were getting a stern test from veterans such as captain Jarrod Travaglia, Brent Warren and Ben Pinwill. "Everything has been going really well," he said.
"We've been doing two sessions a week indoors at Clayton indoor centre and doing an optional running session for those players not playing footy.
"We have set a really high standard through August.
"The energy of our older players has all been impressive and we've had a lot of younger guys attend all the sessions."
The Oaks have also scheduled their first practice matches with a game against Kew at Shepparton on September 15 for the seniors and a similar clash for the seconds against Kew in Melbourne the same day.
The Oaks will then face Dandenong District Cricket Association side HSD on the weekend of September 22-23.
"Heading to the country for a game is always fun and it will be a good weekend away for the boys," McGuiness said.
"The HSD game will be a good one to get miles into the legs as we will be playing on turf."