WA eyeing domestic dynasty after breakthrough Shield

If they weren't a powerhouse already, Western Australian cricket have their sights firmly set on becoming one.

Having secured WA its first Marsh Sheffield Shield title in 23 years, coach Adam Voges says his squad is on the verge of creating "something pretty special".

With five players in the Shield-winning side 25 years old or younger, Voges has a list that is capable of creating a legacy like their last successful teams in 1997-98 and 1998-99.

Back then, nine out of the 13 players that featured in those two finals went on to play for Australia, and with 15 players in Western Australia's current squad having already played international cricket, the sky is the limit for WA over the next decade.

"It's exciting isn't it, to think a number of 24-year-olds, 23-year-olds, Teague Wyllie is 17 so I think the future is really bright," Voges said after securing a drought-breaking Shield title.

"We've got six guys over in Pakistan, we've got guys over in the IPL (Indian Premier League) now, so the depth within this squad is something pretty special.

"The squad mentality and just the sheer joy for our teammates to do well and for each other I think has been a real highlight.

"I think my favourite moment of this whole game was Sam Whiteman's celebration when Aaron Hardie got his hundred, he was exhausted, but he still had the double arm fist pump because his mate got to a hundred and I think that sums up our group.

"That holds us in really good stead not for just what we've achieved but for what the future holds as well."

But he'll have to contend with a Victorian team that is equally as young and emerging.

The Vics also had five players in their XI aged 25 and younger with a slightly higher average age of 27 compared to WA's 26.8.

Victoria's 22-year-old quick Will Sutherland certainly won the hearts of his opponents with an effort that brought back memories of Test skipper Pat Cummins' marathon 65 overs at just 17 years old in an unsuccessful 2010-11 Sheffield Shield final.

Sutherland sent down 64.1 overs of his own across the five days at the WACA, and although in awe of his endurance, WA's young batters said they were happy to win the first of what could be a mouth-watering taste of the battles to come over the next decade.

Along with Sutherland, Mitch Perry (21), Jono Merlo (23), Will Pucovski (24), Sam Harper (25) and 12th man Fergus O'Neill (21) all featured for Victoria in the Shield final, while 21-year-old off-spinner Todd Murphy helped get them there when they beat Tasmania in the penultimate game of the season.

Western Australia had Wyllie (17), Josh Philippe (24), centurion Aaron Hardie (23), Lance Morris (24) and Corey Rocchiccioli (24).

When asked what the future holds for such a young group, Hardie said "hopefully a few more Shields".

"I suppose it's always nice to get one up on them early," he said of his emerging Victorian opponents.

"They've got some really good young players as well, so hopefully a few more games like that (to come).

"Sos (Shaun Marsh) is still hanging on, blokes like Sam Whiteman he's still got plenty of good cricket left in him and we've got a lot of good young players so that's a super exciting time for WA."

Victoria captain Peter Handscomb said it was an exciting time for Australian cricket.

"We've got two teams here in the final with some young players being played which shows the depth of Australian cricket is really good," he said.

"For us this is a good steppingstone from a couple of years where we've gone through a bit of a rebuilding phase, so hopefully we're coming out the other end of that and to make a Shield final with young players is great."

Voges, who coached WA and the Perth Scorchers to all three domestic titles on offer this summer, said he is firmly focused on next year at Western Australia rather than emulating his predecessor Justin Langer in moving up to coach the national side.

"I'm contracted to WA Cricket and I'm loving my job at the moment," Voges said.

"We've achieved a hell of a lot this year but I still think this is just the start of something pretty special. I've got a lot of work to still do here, and I'm firmly focused on doing that at the moment."