Deer Park is looming as a huge threat in the coming metro pennant bowls season.
The Parkers have all the makings of a championship-winning team after steadily building in recent years.
Deer Park was promoted into division 1 at the end of 2011-12 and had no trouble with the jump in class, playing finals the past two years.
That pedigree has the club as one of the favourites to take out this season’s division 1 competition.
Parkers’ president Ray Franksen hasn’t shied away from the club’s desire to reach Bowls Victoria’s premier division. He says he’s rapt with the progress.
“They make it tough so that only the best get there,” he said.
“A mob from our division [Kew Heights] last year actually qualified for premier division.
‘‘We played them in a practice match a few weeks ago and actually beat them. We were both missing players, but it shows we’re up there.”
One thing the Parkers are unhappy about is changes to the pennant draw.
Previously, division 1 clubs were grouped into sections based on geographical location.
This year’s fixture was done by a random draw, which will lead to Deer Park clocking up some huge travel miles. The Parkers will take on the likes of Ferntree Gully, Bundoora RSL, Burwood District, Whittlesea and Brighton.
“There’s a hell of a lot of travelling this year, a ridiculous lot of travelling,” Franksen said.
“We won’t get home sometimes until half past seven. That’s what Bowls Victoria has done with these changes. All the sides on the other side of town are annoyed at having to come over the West Gate, too.”
The Parkers begin the season with an away match against Bundoora RSL next week.
The club’s first home game will be in round two against Croydon.
