VSDCA 2018-19: Plenty Valley legend Sean Ayres reaches 300 games

A historic cricket association says it is “only a matter of time” before one of its stalwarts is made an official legend after becoming the 14th player to feature in 300 games.

Sean Ayres was given a guard of honour by Plenty Valley and Brunswick after his 300th game. Picture: Greg Heatley.

AS one of the greatest VSDCA careers draws closer to its end, Sean Ayres has taken the opportunity to reflect.

And the 45-year-old has plenty to reflect fondly on.

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A fierce competitor from the day he played his first VSDCA match with Ivanhoe, the all-rounder has amassed more than 7000 runs and taken 588 wickets during a 300-game career.

“I’m amazed how a big bloke like that can play 300 games,” VSDCA chairman Phil O’Meara said.

“It’s a fantastic record and he’s still going strong.”

Ayres has featured prominently in premierships with Ivanhoe, Malvern, Bundoora Old Paradians and Plenty Valley.

A former Premier cricketer with Collingwood, he spent five seasons with the Saints and Malvern, crossing to Bundoora Old Paradians in 2007-08.

Sean Ayres charges in during his first season with Bundoora Old Paradians.

Ayres questions an umpire during his early days with Bundoora Old Paradians.

He has since made more than 4000 runs and taken 293 wickets for the club, which is now known as Plenty Valley.

O’Meara said Ayres, the 14th player in the VSDCA’s 110-year history to reach 300 games, was “a monty” to be immortalised as a legend of the competition.

“It’s only a matter of time,” he said.

Long-serving Plenty Valley president Darren Callahan lauded Ayres’ quality into the latter years of his storied career.

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Ayres compiled his highest score of 180 against Ormond when he was 40, one of six centuries he has crafted since his 40th birthday.

He was crowned the Val Holten medallist at the end of that season, 2013-14, an incredible campaign which yielded 828 runs and 38 wickets.

“To be able to play as much sport as he has, because he played a lot of footy as well, is a real credit to him,” Callahan said.

“He just keeps turning up and doing the job.”

Ayres had enjoyed success as a spin bowler in the latter years of his career.

Ayres has also taken 162 wickets since turning 40 and featured in a flag with Plenty Valley in 2014-15.

“I have always been a competitor,” Ayres said.

“I don’t just go through the motions and I don’t play sport to lose. That’s what was always instilled in me from my old man.”

An overseas holiday delayed Ayres’ 300th game by two weeks and meant he reached the milestone on the ground where his dad John was a legend of the VFA with Brunswick.

“I spoke to my uncle to let him know I was playing (at Brunswick) for my 300th and he said ‘it’s such a fitting story’,” he said.

“Pearson St, which is now new houses, used to be two-storey units where my mum and dad lived.”

Sean Ayres carves a cut shot through the off side at Watsonia’s A.K Lines Reserve

Ayres was a fearsome left-arm quick for most of his career, but has switched to bowling off-spin in recent seasons with great effect.

He plundered 103 not out in the opening round of 2018-19 against Coburg, providing further proof of his enduring quality.

“I look at the boys I have been playing with over the last 4-5 years who retire here or retire there and it’s like ‘you guys are only in your 30s. Wait until you get to my age’,” he said.

Ayres listed Grant Jordan, Ranga De Silva, Adam Dale and Mark Harrison as some of the best players he had taken the field with.

Sean Ayres and Andrew Bennett embrace after Plenty Valley’s grand final win over Roxburgh Park/Broadmeadows in 2014-15. Picture: Angie Basdekis

He recalled battles with Werribee’s Kirk Norton and Brighton’s Richard Herman as a tough introduction to the VSDCA.

“I thought just getting to 200 (games) was going to be my milestone,” he said.

“It wasn’t until Darren Callahan said ‘you have got to get to 300 now’ and I’ve got there. “Still being able to produce the overs and bowl at a high level and winning comes first out of all of it.

“It’s all about the team sport and that’s why I have always loved playing.”

Plenty Valley captain-coach James Dickinson said the importance of Ayres’ role could not be understated, describing him as “a weapon”.

“He’s an aggressive batsman that can make hundreds quickly,” Dickinson said.

“He can come on and take wickets and keep the economy under two and he fields at first slip.”

Sean Ayres has still delivered with the ball for Plenty Valley in recent summers.

Ayres played against current Bats wicketkeeper Rory Collins when the gloveman was a teenager with Broadmeadows.

During his 300th game, he bowled in tandem with 14-year-old spinner Ikroop Dhanoa, who was born seven years after Ayres’ maiden VSDCA appearance.

“Everything about him is class. He’s a superstar player and a superstar guy,” Dickinson said.

“He’s showed his versatility to steam in most of his career and then change to off-spin and just dominate for the last few years of his career.

“An asset to any team he’s in.”

Sean Ayres hammers a ball of his pads to the fence.

Callahan expects Ayres will hang up his spikes for the final time at the end of 2018-19.

The veteran was less categoric, despite conceding “it’s just getting harder and harder”.

“I think I am done. I am pretty sure,” Ayres said.

“I don’t just want to keep limping through. I want to finish on a high and hopefully this year will be a good way to finish it.”

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