Tara Murray
One of the members of Sunshine United’s most famous families is taking on the coaching reins for the 2021-22 Victorian Turf Cricket Association senior division season.
The Tigers last week announced that Dean McGrath had been appointed coach for the upcoming season.
He replaces premiership winning coach David Dodemaide, who stood down for work commitments.
McGrath has spent much of his life at the club, as a player, coach, committee member, chairman of selectors, captain and net captain.
His father Norm is one of the founders of the club, with the pavilion at its home ground Selwyn Park named after him.
Tigers president Mark Dalrymple said the club approached Dean McGrath about taking on the coaching role after a suggestion from one of the players.
“David left due to work commitments and being late in the process, we were finding it difficult to find a coach,” he said.
“One of the players suggested Dean. He had been net captain a couple of years ago while David was there.
“We never anticipated that he had wanted to be a senior coach. We put in the call and he put his hand up sensing the club was in need.”
Dalrymple said while McGrath had only coached junior sides at the club, he was an experienced cricket person who knows the cricket scene.
He said there had been a really positive reaction to the appointment.
McGrath will be assisted by Daniel Norris, who has been appointed assistant coach.
Norris is the club’s T20 captain, as well as being a grade captain and committee member.
Dalrymple said Norris was the perfect assistant for McGrath.
“He has had some leadership roles at the club,” he said.
“He’s still a player, with coaching aspirations in the future. He knows what’s been happening the last few years since Dean was here.”
Neeten Chouhan will continue on as captain, with Thomas Duxson to remain vice-captain.
McGrath, Dalrymple and the club now have the job of putting together a squad for next season.
Dalrymple said there would be a few changes to the side that claimed last season’s premiership.
They’ve lost three key players including former Sri Lankan international Kaushal Lokuarachchi.
“Two have gone to other clubs and one has gone interstate,” he said.
“We’re yet to recruit anyone new, but we’ve been active in getting a few guys back to the club that haven’t played the last couple of seasons.
“There’s a couple who have played firsts in the past and we think they can put pressure on for spots.
“There’s a couple of juniors that we want to blood.”
