NORADJUHA-TOOLONDO has secured two potent signings for the upcoming Horsham Cricket Association season.
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Former Victoria Country representatives Tony Caccaviello and Matt Combe have both joined the Bullants, adding a touch of class to the side that finished second on the ladder last season.
Caccaviello said it was a difficult decision to leave the Horsham Saints, where he played and coached in 2019-2020.
He said reuniting with Combe - a close friend and former teammate - was the reason behind the move.
"It was definitely a tough call and not a decision I made lightly," Caccaviello said.
"I'm just excited and looking forward to playing with Matt again. That was the catalyst for the move."
Caccaviello claimed 25 wickets at an average of 14.6 with the Saints last season.
He also excelled at the sport's highest level, winning gold with Victoria at the 2020 Australian Country Cricket Championships.
It is meanwhile a homecoming for Combe who played all of his junior cricket at Noradjuha-Toolondo, before moving to the Horsham Saints after the Bullants dropped to B Grade in 2015.
The all-rounder traveled the last two seasons to play for Sandhurst in the Bendigo and District Cricket Association, taking 19 wickets in eight matches last season.
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Combe said it felt like the right time to return to his home club.
"I've played there all my life, and it was always the plan to come back and play for Noradj one day," he said.
"I really loved playing over in Bendigo - it's definitely a higher standard and I enjoyed the challenge.
"But the travel got the best of me. You don't enjoy it as much when you're sitting in the car travelling all weekend."
Combe said to be joined by his good mate at the club was an added bonus.
"I've been talking to Tony all summer, more joking about him coming with me if I headed back to the Bullants," Combe said.
"I was on his back every week and he finally cracked. We've always wanted to play cricket together again, so it's great to get that chance.
"I just can't wait to get out there and play with a lot of my old mates, Tony, and a couple of my brothers. It's pretty exciting."
Combe added that he and Caccaviello were looking forward to helping the Bullants' juniors develop and improve.
"I trained out there last year and the juniors they had out there were amazing. There were heaps of kids which is great to see," he said.
"That's something that we both want to work with as well."
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