Locked in: McKinnon picks up trio of former Premier players
Two batsmen who played Premier Cricket First XI have strengthened the Heat for the 2021-22 season in Cricket Southern Bayside
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When it came to recruiting, the Heat was “on’’.
Eager to climb into the finals after missing out last season, McKinnon completed a hat-trick of excellent signings for 2021-22 in Cricket Southern Bayside.
Former Moorabbin Sub-District captain Lee Weiss, ex-Kingston Hawthorn Premier Cricket batsman Luke Heath and former Carlton player Jack O’Shea have joined the Heat.
Weiss and Heath have crossed from Sub-District club Ormond, where they both spent three years.
Weiss described left-hander Heath as a “very fine player’’. He made seven First XI appearances for Kingston Hawthorn from 2017-18 after an earlier stint at Casey South Melbourne playing seconds and thirds.
Last season he dominated at Second XI level for Ormond but the club had issues with its points, sometimes preventing him from playing in the firsts.
Weiss also made more than 300 runs in the Second XI.
He captained Moorabbin at the age of 21 and had time at St Kilda and Kingston Hawthorn.
“We’re pretty good mates and we were pretty keen to play with each other, to be honest,’’ Weiss, 28, said.
“The real kicker for coming to McKinnon was Reece Taylor, who plays in the First XI. He’s one of our best mates and we decided to play with him.’’
Batsman O’Shea played two First XI matches for Carlton in the 2018-19 season, scoring 53 on debut against Prahran.
He had six seasons with the Blues after coming out of Nondies Cohuna.
O’Shea played in the Victorian Youth Premier League Under 16 series for Country Murray Mallee.
“He’s a very good player,’’ Weiss said of the former Blue.
Brian Kulasena will captain McKinnon, which finished fifth in Division 1 of CSB last season.
With Round 1 called off, the Heat will open their season against Clayton District, promoted after winning the Division 2 premiership under the coaching of former Premier Cricket fast bowler Jak Jowett.
Former McKinnon captain Rohan Best will skipper the Clays.
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