Drysdale’s Blake Dobbin is the Bellarine’s leading A2 bowler for the third season in a row

After chasing a new beginning at Drysdale, a Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association bowler is a competition leader for a third straight season.

Blake Dobbin bowling for Drysdale.

With a “clear mind, fresh start” at Drysdale, gun opening bowler Blake Dobbin continues to be a massive factor as the Hawks chase grand final redemption this summer.

Dobbin has again been A2’s most dominant bowler in the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association, with an incredible 22 wickets at an average of 7.5 after just six games.

It comes off the back of some bountiful summers of late, with 31 wickets at 11.2 in 2022-23 with Drysdale, and 30 wickets at 10.8 in 21-22 and 27 wickets at 9.5 in 20-21 in Demons colours.

Dobbin has helped Drysdale destroy some teams this summer, skittling Wallington (115), Newcomb (27), St Leonards (49) and Winchelsea (64), with his side only dropping one game so far, to league leaders Collendina, to sit in second place.

Blake Dobbin takes a wicket during the A2 grand final last summer against Barwon Heads.

However, the local scaffolder said there had been no secret to his rich vein of form which has lasted for consecutive seasons.

“Just bowling my lines and my lengths, and probably just had a bit of luck along the way,” Dobbin said.

“Our fielding’s improved heaps from last season.

“We haven’t dropped many catches. You take your catches, you win 80 per cent of your games.”

He also paid tribute to his new partner in crime, 16-year-old opening bowler Hayden Eddy, who has the ability to swing the cherry both ways and has stepped up with 10 wickets at 14.8.

“He’s probably the one who’s tied up an end and other batters have had a crack at me,” he said.

“I’ve just gotten the rewards.

“I just focus on my plans and how we’re going to get batsmen out.”

Dobbin has been the leading bowler in A2 for the past three seasons.

The Epping product crossed to Drysdale after five seasons with Portarlington.

“I had personal stuff that had happened,” he said of the switch.

“I just needed a fresh start. I had a couple of mates at Drysdale.

“Just a clear mind, fresh start. It’s been good.”

And Dobbin has plenty of motivation to keep destroying teams.

The Hawks have lost their past two grand finals in A2, to Barwon Heads last summer by 129 runs and to Armstrong Creek by just seven in a heartbreaker in 21-22.

However, Dobbin starred in last year’s big dance with 7-49 and 45 runs coming in at number nine.

“We’ve still got to get there, anything can happen in cricket, hopefully the end goal is to go one better,” he said.

“It still hurts ... we lost to a fairly good side (in Barwon Heads). It’s just the way cricket is.”

Originally published as Drysdale’s Blake Dobbin is the Bellarine’s leading A2 bowler for the third season in a row