Sport
30 December, 2025
MDCA name junior representative squads
With fixtures recently set in stone, the Maryborough District Cricket Association (MDCA) has announced its squads for the upcoming Central Highlands junior representative level competitions.
The MDCA will once again compete in the under 13 A.J. Martin Shield and the under 17 Kirton Shield this January after an encouraging campaign in 2025.
Led by a hard-fought 30 from Izayah Maffescioni, one of four players returning for the A.J. Martin Shield this season, the MDCA scored a landmark nine-run victory over Grenville.
Another familiar face, Jimmy Hurse, will lead the team as captain, one of four Carisbrook players to be selected for the squad.
Maryborough also has four players selected in the named team, with Colts Phelans (three players), Talbot (two), and Laanecoore Dunolly (one) also represented.
The MDCA’s A.J. Martin Shield campaign starts on Monday, January 5, at the Macedon Ranges Sports Precinct against Gisborne Green.
Two home games at Jubilee Oval will complete the MDCA’s round-robin fixtures, with the team playing Castlemaine Gold on Tuesday, January 6, before taking on Ballarat Blue on Thursday, January 8.
MDCA A.J. Martin Shield Squad
- Jimmy Hurse (C) — Carisbrook
- Will Smith (VC) — Colts Phelans
- Charlie Jardine (WK) — Carisbrook
- Jonty Koop — Carisbrook
- James Skilton — Carisbrook
- Izayah Maffescioni (WK) — Colts Phelans
- Manny Shepard — Colts Phelans
- Elliot Hallsworth — Laanecoorie Dunolly
- Tristan Davies — Maryborough
- Reef McFayden — Maryborough
- Archie Tatchell — Maryborough
- Noah Thomson — Maryborough
- Riley Dixon — Talbot
- Kane Zeuschner — Talbot
In the Kirton Shield, the MDCA are looking to go one step further after finishing in third and just missing out on the Grand Final with a 1-2 record.
Eight players from last season’s squad will have another shot at Kirton Shield glory, including captain Oliver Cassidy and vice-captains Elliot Cullinan and Lachie Condie.
The leadership trio have all been key contributors for their clubs in A grade this season.
Captain Cassidy is currently Maryborough’s leading wicket-taker with 12 from seven matches, Cullinan tops Carisbrook’s run-scoring charts with 307 runs, three fifties and an average of 43.86, and Condie was Laanecoorie Dunolly’s resident wicketkeeper during their fifth consecutive one-day premiership.
Alongside Cullinan, a further five Carisbrook players have been selected, including Cullinan’s A grade teammate Axel Purcell, who, alongside his talented leg-spin, is currently the fifth-highest scorer in the Castlemaine District Cricket Association’s under 16 competition.
Fresh off playing for the Central Highlands at the under 16 boys Cricket Victoria Country Cup, Brett Coon continues to impress with Clunes in A grade, while Beaufort’s Ben Grant, Carisbrook’s Angus Morrison and Laane’s Thang Nguyen all have A grade experience.
Starting with an away trip to Gisborne on Monday, January 19, the MDCA will continue its Kirton Shield quest on Tuesday, January 20, at Central Park versus the Grampians before hosting Grenville at Carisbrook Recreation Reserve on Thursday, January 22.
MDCA Kirton Shield Squad
- Oliver Cassidy (C) — Maryborough
- Elliot Cullinan (VC) — Carisbrook
- Lachie Condie (VC & WK) — Laanecoorie Dunolly
- Ben Grant — Beaufort
- Tom Grant — Beaufort
- Nick Stares — Beaufort
- Axel Purcell — Carisbrook
- Angus Morrison — Carisbrook
- Josh Nalder — Carisbrook
- Will Lendon — Carisbrook
- Brett Coon — Clunes and Colts Phelans
- Tate Williams — Colts Phelans and Carisbrook
- Hunter Kurzke — Colts Phelans
- Jaxon Carmody — Maryborough
- Thang Nguyen— Laanecoorie Dunolly