Eastern Cricket Association: Callum Still departs Old Carey, new Ashburton Willows coach

Glen Iris is the latest Eastern Cricket Association club to announce changes to its leadership structure. Here’s what’s happened.

Glen Iris will have a new captain leading the way as it aims to return to Dunstan Shield finals action in 2022-23.

The club has announced the appointment of Nathan Boucher as the new First XI captain after Tom McDermott announced he was stepping down from the position.

The former Glen Iris junior has been awarded the Glen Ferguson/Ric Ford Club Championship for the past two seasons.

“We are so pleased to be able to appoint another ex-junior as our First XI captain and know Nathan will lead our club from the front,” Glen Iris said in a social media post.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed Lucas Skelton will continue as club coach for the upcoming season — his eighth in the role.

He has played 120 games for Glen Iris since arriving.

Former captain McDermott will continue to play for Glen Iris despite stepping down from the position.

“Unfortunately distance and work have made it difficult for Tom to continue as First XI captain so he has decided to take a step back, but we will still see him playing for GICC next year,” a social media post said.

McDermott is a six-time premiership player with Glen Iris and has played 253 games for the club going onto score 5814 runs — the fourth highest total in Glen Iris history.

REIGNING PREMIER LOOKS FOR NEW CAPTAIN COACH

One of the Eastern Cricket Association’s most storied players is moving on.

Old Carey captain-coach Callum Still has announced his departure from the club two months after his side took out the 2021-22 Dunstan Shield against East Doncaster.

Still leaves a strong legacy at Old Carey having guided the club in the role for seven seasons.

His resume includes three First XI premierships which saw the club rise from A Turf premiers to a Dunstan Shield force.

He was also a terrific all-rounder having scored 2796 runs at an average of 35 while taking 169 wickets at 15 with the ball across 97 matches.

Callum Still has stepped away from Old Carey. Picture: Jordan Ciuro

“I’d like to thank all members of the club for their trust and support,” Still said.

“Nothing worth accomplishing comes without challenges. Captaincy and coaching has definitely been challenging, but also incredibly rewarding.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunities that the club has given me.

“I’m super proud of what we’ve achieved on the field in the last few years, and for the friendships and great memories that I’ve been able to build as a cheesehead”.

Old Carey took out the Dunstan Shield last season. Photo: Chris Mirabella.

In a social media post from president Chris Angus and vice-president Jack Quartermain, the club said “Cal has been an outstanding servant to Old Carey both on and off field and has been a major catalyst in driving the standards and culture shift that has seen Old Carey transform into a Dunstan Shield premier”.

It will now take a “club-wide effort to fill the void left” by Still’s departure according to club coach Drew Smith, who is also a long-term friend of Still.

“(He is) the ultimate professional who led by example on and off the field,” Smith said.

NEW COACH TO LEAD ASHBURTON WILLOWS CHARGE

Brian Kulasena will lead Ashburton Willows this season.

Ashburton Willows’ bid to return to the top division of the ECA has received a boost with the appointment of Brian Kulasena as club coach.

Kulasena has experience in the Victorian Sub District Cricket Association where he was the captain-coach of Endeavour Hills.

“Brian has a very clear coaching philosophy and is looking forward to getting to work with AWCC’s talented senior playing list and young stars who are progressing through our burgeoning junior program,” the club said in a social media post.

He spent last season with McKinnon in Cricket Southern Bayside Division 1 where he took 26 wickets at 13.85.