Cricket Southern Bayside: Hampton signs wicketkeeper-batsman Jarrod Munday

A former St Kilda wickie has landed at Hampton. And Beaumaris has regained an ex-Saint for the 2021-22 season.

Jarrod Munday behind the sticks at St Kilda. Picture: Chris Eastman/AAP

As one former Saint was leaving Hampton, another was arriving.

The Seahorses farewelled their 2019-20 Cricket Southern Bayside Championship Division premiership captain and ex-St Kilda all-rounder Dan Forbes, who has crossed to Subbies club Caulfield.

All-rounder Charlie Ross has replaced him as skipper.

Now the Seahorses are welcoming another former St Kilda player, Jarrod Munday, as they gear up for pre-season training.

Munday is a wicketkeeper and lower-order batsman and played 33 First XI matches in Premier Cricket.

He made his debut in 2014-15 and his last appearance for the Saints in 2018-19.

Putting a high price on his wicket, Munday averaged 22.35 with the bat and had a highest score of 67 not out, suggesting he will be a good performer in the middle-order for Hampton.

Jarrod Munday batting for the Saints. Picture: Chris Eastman

His keeping is of a high standard, but a broken finger stalled his progress. He took a break from cricket last season.

The keeping position at Hampton has had a few occupants in the past couple of years.

Veteran Joe Kenny stood behind the sticks in the grand final win over South Caulfield.

Oliver Tate, a noted leggie, had the gloves in the early rounds last season and then Jack Smart took over.

“Awesome to have him commit,’’ Hampton coach Matt Kenny said of Munday.

“We’ve got a couple of connections with him. He played at St Kilda with Charlie Ross and ‘Forba’ (Forbes) and he plays footy at Parkdale Vultures with my son Abe.

“From all reports he’s an understated sort of guy but a fierce competitor, gun keeper, gun bat.

“He might be little bit rusty to start off but class is permanent, as they say.’’

Kenny admitted it had been tough to call Smart and tell him Munday would be keeping.

He said Smart did a great job.

“We actually didn’t go looking for a wicketkeeper. We went looking for the best player we could find who would fit our culture, and he just happened to be a wicketkeeper-bat. Who knows how it will work out during the season,’’ Kenny said.

“But Jack’s a gem and his attitude was, Whatever is best for the club’. He’s a great young man with a huge amount of integrity and loyalty. A bit of a tough conversation but he took it on the chin, like I thought he would.’’

Kenny said Forbes had been an outstanding player but the club understood his wish to play with his former St Kilda captain Graeme Rummans at Caulfield.

He said he left on good terms and the Seahorses hoped they hadn’t seen the last of him.

“It’s not necessarily a full-stop to his Hampton career. When you play in a flag, you’re bonded for life. He’ll always be a Hampton man. Hopefully we see him in Hampton colours again. That would be my wish.’’

He said the club was fortunate to have a player of Ross’s ability to move into the captaincy.

Ben Earney bending his back for St Kilda.

Beaumaris has regained its former junior Ben Earney, who played First XI cricket at Richmond and St Kilda.

He’ll help Beauie cover the absence of former Premier Cricket Ryder Medal champion James Miller, who is travelling around Australia with his family and is expected back about halfway through the season. He’s told the club that if he plays, it will be with Beaumaris.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Sammy Coates, rising 40, is playing on after his golden summer.

Coates was crowned the Championship Division MVP after hitting 707 runs at 58.9, including successive centuries.

Veteran Chris Hall remains coach of Beaumaris, which lost the grand final series to South Caulfield.