“New year, new me” will be bandied around a lot over the next few weeks.
It is a tired and overused expression to help demonstrate one’s willingness to change their life for the better as the new year rolls on.
However, if we were to use it as a viewpoint for how the coaches and captains of the Haisman Shield would be feeling come January 1, what resolutions would each leader be making for their club heading into the second half of the season?
Some may be determined to get the most out of their high-price imports, others may realise that youth over veterans is the way to go or vice versa.
Here we analyse what your club will make its New Year’s resolution for 2025.
Central Park-St Brendan’s
Resolution: Get the captain in form
The league’s perennial powerhouse has barely put a foot wrong to start the season.
Central Park-St Brendan’s is placed second and undefeated in the two-day competition heading into 2025.
The Tigers have only lost one out of six one-day matches and remain in the top six with a single round remaining before finals.
Their seasoned bowlers are doing the job with ball in hand as Brendan Scott (19 wickets at an average of 11.63) and Ramadan Yze (14 at 14.86) continue to be among the wickets, while spinner Jarrod Wakeling is taking poles for fun.
The one area with room for improvement for Tigers’ leaders will be searching for more output with the bat from skipper Tyler Larkin.
This resolution for more runs from Larkin is arguably stiff given he is averaging a reasonable 23 runs an innings in the Haisman Shield, but if the Tigers skipper can hit a rich vein of form in the second half of the season, they would arguably enter the finals series as short-priced favourites.
Euroa
Resolution: Stick fat with the young guns
Heading into the summer, Euroa’s leaders knew the 2024-25 season could be a tough one.
The club’s decision to focus on a youth-led rebuild has meant a rough run of games leading into 2025.
However, green shoots emerged during the Magpies' round eight victory over last year’s two-day grand finalist Mooroopna.
Euroa was led by mid-teen Walter Jackson who has been opening the batting and bowling in recent weeks.
When speaking to opposition coaches about the Magpies, a similar sentiment is said, ‘Their young guns will be great for them in a couple of years’ time’.
All coach Andrew Squires and captain Scott Hamilton have to do is sit back and watch their magic beans grow.
Karramomus
Resolution: Keep on the upward trajectory
After a dour 2023-24 season Karramomus finished dead last on the Haisman Shield ladder.
Heading into the summer, the Bloods' ladder range was fairly unknown, but going forward into 2025, they remain in touch with the top six in the two-day competition.
The Bloods have conceded the fifth-least runs in A-grade, demonstrating their ability to restrict their opposition.
Even if they don’t make it to finals in the second half of the season, if Mitch McGrath and his soldiers can keep their upward trajectory and growth going, the Bloods will be rocketing up the ladder in the years to come.
Katandra
Resolution: Runs, runs and more runs
The Eagles can feel hard done by in the first half of the season.
Katandra has only lost two matches across the first eight rounds and yet it sits outside the top six of the one and two-day competitions.
The A-grade side’s bowling attack is performing with clinical precision, with overseas recruit Seth Westley (18 wickets at 11.89) slotting in seamlessly alongside veteran Hadleigh Sirett (14 at 11.21), all-rounder Andrew Riordan (12 at 15.17) and young gun Bailey Simpson (11 at 20.18).
When Corey Hickford and Jedd Wright return to full fitness, opposition sides will find it near-impossible to post an imposing total with the willow.
Where the Eagles need to improve is through their batting given no-one from Katandra ranks in the top 20 players for runs this season — Ben Pedretti is the highest ranked (23) with 169 runs.
If the Eagles are to jump over their top six rivals in 2025 they will need their batters to find rhythm with the willow, fast.
Kyabram
Resolution: Keep Kyle happy
If Kyle Mueller asks for new gloves while out at the crease; give them to him.
If he asks for a foot massage during the drinks break; bring the lotion out with you.
If he asks for a cigar in between overs; ‘Who has the lighter?’ Should be the only question asked.
Mueller has been on the most scintillating of hot streaks throughout the first half of the season.
Blasting three centuries and four 50s across nine innings (averaging 120) including a quick-fire 150 runs off 163 balls against Waaia.
Of course, there are multiple important parts to Kyabram’s strong first half of the season, such as Cade Mueller and Billy McLay’s work with the bat and Charlie and Jackson McLay’s work with the ball.
However, if Kyabram can keep Kyle scorching every single bowler, the Redbacks' success will continue deep into 2025.
Mooroopna
Resolution: Rediscover that killer instinct
After going 8-2 and two no-result fixtures across the 2023-24 Haisman Shield season, Mooroopna is on track to do the opposite of that this summer.
Last year’s two-day grand finalist has gone 2-5 and one no result in the lead-up to the new year.
As the season rolls on into 2025, Mooroopna needs to refind its spark and grunt in the back half of the season.
Once renowned for how tough a club it was to play, Mooroopna seems to have lost that edge this summer.
One example of this would be during the club’s recent clash with cellar-dweller Euroa when Mooroopna had its young and inexperienced opponents bowled out for 128 in a two-day clash.
Mooroopna — at home — was not able to seal the deal and instead was skittled for 121.
Henry Barrow and his men will be writing in their journals come 12.01am January 1 that they need to find the spark that nearly secured them a flag last March.
Nagambie
Resolution: Keep this form going
In a tightly-contested top six for the one and two-day formats, Nagambie has a genuine shot at both flags.
The Lakers came within a whisker of shocking Waaia during last season’s elimination final, but fell to the Bombers in a tight thriller.
This summer, Nagambie will be determined to head into March with a full head of steam and turn the club from being a tough competitor to top of the league.
The Nolan and Winter-Irving brothers are doing their best to steer the Lakers’ ship to become a premier.
Luke Nolan is dominating behind the stumps (nine catches) and at the crease (329 runs at 54.83), meanwhile, Mark Nolan is still dangerous with either a Kookaburra bat or ball in his hand.
Player-coach Zac Winter-Irving and his brother Mitch have also been strong for the Lakers as the family-based club will be resolute in keeping its form hot through 2025’s opening months.
Numurkah
Resolution: Hold on to “Ragu” for as long as possible
The Blues' import has been on a heater to end 2024.
After a strong opening 2023-24 campaign for Numurkah — resulting in winning Cricket Shepparton’s Under-23 Player of the Year award — Raguvaran Aravinthan has taken his game to another level this summer.
Numurkah’s beloved import has turned his bright potential into sizzling output as his 2023-24 starts have become big scores for the Blues.
Aravinthan currently sits second on the top run scorers with 357, along with nine wickets, as the young gun continues to impress week in, week out.
His blistering 136 not out against Euroa and his defiant 85 not out against Katandra were clear indications of his growth as a player and heading into future summers Numurkah will be doing all that it can to bring Aravinthan back to his second home.
Old Students
Resolution: Make a two-day final
After finishing ninth at the end of last year’s Haisman Shield season, Old Students have already equalled their 2023-24 win tally (three) before the Christmas break.
Even more impressive is that they currently sit third on the two-day ladder with three rounds left before finals.
Students are a team built on the foundations of youth with the likes of batting all-rounder Oscar Lambourn and batter Sam O’Brien beginning to find their feet at A-grade this season.
However, it won’t be easy for the boys at Kialla Park as they face a tough run home, playing likely finalists Waaia, Kyabram and Numurkah in their remaining two-day fixtures.
Pine Lodge
Resolution: Find some runs/get a win
While the Lodgers’ bowling has impressed across the league this summer, their batting has left a bit to be desired.
Slingshot-actioned quick Tiron Fernando has been an A-grade revelation, taking 18 wickets at an average of 16.78 in his jump from B-grade.
Fernando has also been assisted by the likes of Ryan Kearney (15 wickets at 23.07) and Travis Waters (11 at 20.64).
While Pine Lodge’s work with the Kookaburra has made it a threat, its batting department hasn’t followed suit.
The Lodgers sit in fourth last place on the ladder in terms of runs scored, however, they have also played either one or two more matches than the sides below them.
If Waters and his men are to crack through and secure their first A-grade victory, their batting needs to find the bowlers’ rhythm.
Shepparton Youth Club United
Resolution: Roll the dice
Heading into the second half of the season, Shepparton Youth Club United has a lot of catching up to do on the win tally.
While one-day and Higher-grade T20 finals are out of reach for the boys from Princess Park, two-day finals are still a possibility.
United has only won a single two-day victory this summer, however, the club is placed sixth heading into January.
If Sam Nash and his charges can manifest and achieve their “roll the dice” resolution against Pine Lodge, Waaia and Katandra in their remaining two-day fixtures a finals berth remains well and truly available.
Tatura
Resolution: Keep the consistency
A positive first half of the season will mean nothing if Tatura takes its foot off the gas in 2025.
Throughout the first nine rounds Tatura has impressed the rest of the competition, defeating the likes of Numurkah and Waaia in recent fixtures.
Sitting in fourth place in the two-day competition and fifth place in the one-day, Tatura is well positioned for a red-hot crack at finals.
The Armstrong brothers Blake (322 runs at 46) and Jayden (14 wickets at 15) have been pillars of consistency with bat and ball.
If Tatura can continue to model its form on the Armstrong pair, Daniel Coombs and his men should be featuring heavily come March.
Waaia
Resolution: Lesser-knowns must stand up
Captain courageous Mitch Cleeland has been leading Waaia from the front with his willow this season, scoring 350 runs (third most league-wide) at an average of 43.75.
Meanwhile, the Trower brothers Will (16 wickets at 11.63) and Jesse (15 at 14.4) have been typically deadly with Kookaburra in hand.
So, why is Waaia not top of the table if these three stars are firing?
If Waaia is to fight for an A-grade flag in 2025, the Bombers need their lesser-known players to stand up and assist their guns out on the pitch.
When Cleeland watches the fireworks shoot up and explode on December 31, he will be hoping some team-wide consistency will be on the cards across the final few games — and perhaps some runs from big off-season signing Liam Evans.