Brierly Christ-Church start preparations for WDCA title defence

The Bulls, under new coach Kalon Wilkie, started their preparations on Sunday with division one captain Matt Love confident the side could recapture its form from last season.

He said the side would take confidence from having the reigning premiers tag.

"It's a good feeling coming into a season after being crowned the premiers and we have to take it in our stride," he said.

"We have to take confidence into the season and we are really looking forward to maintaining that level."

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Love said the depth of the Bulls' squad would be a handy asset in the club's title defence after retaining a majority of their 2019-20 playing list.

"The first thing we wanted to do was to keep the core group together and it looks like we have done that," he said.

"We have got a really good juniors structure and good quality players coming through and a lot f those played first XI cricket.

"They were getting a lot of good experience with a lot of senior cricketers still playing in the twos. They are learning the game off those guys and should be well prepared for when they come up.

"The amount of players we got through the first XI is a sign of our depth so every club needs to, with unavailability and injuries, have that depth and we are confident we have good strong depth there."

Love said his goals for this season were to contribute where he could, lead the group strongly and hope the runs take care of themselves.

New Bulls coach Kalon Wilkie said he was excited to hit the park with his team for the first time on Sunday.

He said the restrictions put in place due to the coronavirus pandemic still lingering in Victoria provided a silver lining in the earlier parts of the side's preparations.

"It is a lot more challenging when we have to split up groups and being new to the club but I know a lot of the older guys around here playing against them over the years so its about getting around some of the younger blokes," he said.

"It's not ideal as you don't want to segregate anyone in a club but it also allows you a bit more one-on-one stuff as a coach. It's not such a bad thing."

Wilkie said his key focus was to get all senior sides into finals this season and was buoyed by the energy around the club.

"The boys having footy off has created a bit more excitement for cricket this year and there will be a lot fresher boys around," he said.

The Bulls first game of the season is an away one-dayer against Dennington on October 31.

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