MORTLAKE'S quest to return to the top of the South West Cricket pecking order has received an added boost with five new faces added to last season's squad.
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Lachlan Wareham, the cousin of club's star export Georgia and batsman Isaac, returns to the Cattery for the 2019-20 summer alongside new recruits in former Port Fairy all-rounder Brad Parsons and Woodford's Jack Clifford.
Wareham, who has played eight games over the past two seasons, returns to play a full season for the first time since claiming the division one title in 2016-17.
Club president and division one player Todd Lamont said it was exciting to have the premiership Cat back in the side's ranks.
"He has played a handful of games over the last couple of years," he said. "He should strengthen up the bowling line up and as a middle-order batting option. He will be a great asset.
"I think he was overloaded form sport (a few years ago) and wanted to take a step back but now he is keen, which is the main thing."
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The Cats, who will be led by Tyler Schafer (captain) and Clinton Baker (coach) in 2019-20, also welcome back Kerry Tarbolton and Corey Rounds.
Tarbolten returns from a break he took from the sport and Rounds is back in the south-west after spending time in Kathrine in the Northern Territory.
Lamont said the club had not been active in trying to recruit the quartet.
"These guys have come to or back to the club and we don't make an effort of recruiting," he said.
"If they want to come they can come. It's more the connections to people at the club that brings them in."
Parsons joins the Cats after playing all of his junior and six top-grade Warrnambool and District Cricket Association seasons with the Pirates.
Lamont said the 23-year-old could was lured the club by Schafer.
Clifford also played all his juniors and a chunk of senior cricket at the Eels.
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