Power secure cricket premiership with Nathan Bassett as the spiritual leader
The season has not even started but Port Adelaide’s players and coaches already have a reason to celebrate because of their endeavours on the cricket field.
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Port Adelaide has powered to a premiership before the JLT Series has even begun.
The Grange Dolphins C-grade team, made up of Power players and coaches, on Tuesday knocked over the Multicultural Sports and Community Club to take out the Adelaide Turf Competition’s premiership in the Twenty20 competition and will now have to consider whether to challenge for B-grade next summer.
Grange made 140 — with Tom Clurey making an unbeaten half a century and the team’s spiritual leader, former Crows champion and assistant coach Nathan Bassett making 49 — before rolling the opposition for 90-odd.
The team included past players such as John Butcher and Paul Stewart and the initiative to play was applauded by coach Ken Hinkley, who has been strong in wanting his players to have a good work-life balance.
Port Adelaide’s new football co-captain Tom Jonas talked up a range of teammates after the win.
“Everyone played their role, actually,” Jonas said. “We sort of had one person who made runs every week.
“Travis Boak was handy with both bat and ball, Ryan Burton took a few wickets and had a big knock.
“Dougal Howard was consistent most games, playing his role.
“And Nathan Bassett, obviously, was pretty solid. He made a lot of runs, took a few wickets and set the field.”
The question now is whether the players and coaches want to take it up next summer.
Jonas was in two minds.
“We’ll have to discuss that,” he said. “The standard is obviously a little bit higher (in B grade).”
As for his own contribution, Jonas was modest.
“I did play but I was a bit like the chairman of selectors, scorer, water boy, square-leg umpire, coach,” he said.
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