A number of the club’s younger players have established themselves in the top grade of CAW District this season, with a handful pushing for Provincial selection.

Wodonga captain Brad Scheetz said while his side has yet to get much momentum going so far this campaign due to injuries and unavailability, the development of youth has been a pleasing aspect.

“The young guys have really been coming thorough, which is want we want for our District side,” he said.

Blake Noske was rewarded for his early season form with a call-up to the Provincial first grade side after three rounds, while Charlie Jackson, Caleb Matchan, brothers Jarrod and Lachlan Lewin and Michael Grohmann, who has moved up from Provincial second grade, have all shown plenty of promise.

Jarrod Lewin received a promotion to the top side last weekend against Wodonga Raiders after taking nine wickets in his first six games in District cricket, but it’s Lachlan who heads the list with 10 wickets, including a hat-trick against Eskdale a fortnight ago.

This weekend’s clash with Baranduda is a very important one for the Bulldogs who got the job done by three wickets against the Rangers back in round four.

“They’ll be out to get us this time around,” Scheetz said.

“We’ve had blokes getting starts, but we’ve only had a couple score over fifty.

“Our bowling has been pretty good, we just need to focus on digging in and going on with it with our batting.”

He admitted while the wicket of Rangers opener Paul Monro will huge, he knows there is plenty of talent in their well-balanced line-up.

In the remaining round eight clashes, the undefeated Kiewa heads out to Bethanga to retain top position on the ladder, Yackdandah and Eskdale clash for potential fight for second spot, Mount Beauty will be favourites against Howlong, while Dederang and Barnawartha-Chiltern round out the weekend’s action.