Two seasons after falling fractionally short of a grand final the Eastern Suburbs squad has been decimated.
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At least 10 players who featured in the Griffins first grade squad last season will not be around in 2015-2016, including multiple Maitland district player of the year Jason Allen.
Allen retired at the end of the previous summer and will be joined on the sidelines by another familiar face, Griffins premiership winner Dallas Crane.
The experienced opening bowler has also hung up the whites after many overs out in the middle.
At the other end of the spectrum, young up-and-coming left-arm paceman Pat Magann and Lucas Sergeant have both moved to Newcastle.
Magann has joined Wallsend and Sergeant has gone to Stockton. Both are significant losses.
The Hicks brothers, Alex and Josh, have indicated they are not playing as well as wicketkeeper Jake Peterkin.
Rounding out the departures at East Maitland Park are Haydn Adams (Sydney), Will Vickery (England), Lachlan Watts (Muswellbrook).
“I knew we were going to lose a few, but I didn’t expect that many,” skipper Andrew Vickery said.
“It is a lot of blokes to lose in one hit.”
Looking ahead, Vickery said this summer would provide many younger players with an opportunity to play first grade at Easts.
The all-rounder will be the oldest player at the age of 29 with Brendan Allen, Cody Little, Cal Sergeant and Sean Clune all returning from last season.
Ryan Broadley and Luke Patchett are expected to make a comeback to the middle this summer.
Joining the Griffins this season are Mitch Cox (City), Chad Pulsar (Raymond Terrace), Mitch Budden (Thornton) and Sam Zerafa (Stockton).
“We will be a younger side, no doubt about that,” Vickery said.
“But I have 11 blokes that are keen to go and ready to play which is the main thing.”