Premier Cricket: Casey South Melbourne regains top-liner

Casey South Melbourne has regained Nathan Freitag, strengthening its batting for the 2019-20 Victorian Premier Cricket season.

Nathan Freitag on the attack for Casey South Melbourne.

Nathan Freitag has a simple reason for returning to Casey South Melbourne.

He wants to play the highest level of cricket he can, and that’s Victorian Premier Cricket.

The 29-year-old played four seasons for the Swans under the coaching of Mark Ridgway before heading to Tasmania to see if he could advance to first-class ranks.

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In his first year he split a disc in his back and since then has been unable to bowl his left-arm pace.

“I had to turn myself into more of a batter — I thought I could bat anyway — and I focused on that and I got a few Second XI games for Tassie,’’ Freitag said today.

“I spent five years over there playing for Kingborough Cricket Club and had a great time.

“But me and my partner have got a little family now and there wasn’t much family over there so it was time to return home.’’

Nathan Freitag made six centuries for Kingborough.

Home is central Gippsland. Freitag spent last season at Centrals in the La Trobe Valley competition, cracking 227 in the semi-final.

He enjoyed it but said he was ready for another dash at Premier Cricket.

Two other clubs chased him “but Casey is home, they gave me my first chance and it was the only club I wanted to play at’’.

“I think I’ve still got a little bit left in me to play the best level of cricket I can,’’ Freitag said.

“I know some of the boys there and my chats with Brian (Keogh), the coach, have been really good.

“I think he’s the right man for the job. He’s a real people’s person.

“From what I’ve been told there are some good young players coming through so it’s an exciting time to go back.’’

In 2017-18 Freitag became the first Kingborough batsman to score a double century in first-grade cricket, cracking 219 against Glenorchy.

He made six centuries for the club.

Swans coach Keogh said Casey South Melbourne was thrilled to regain Freitag, who will bat in the top-order.

“He gives us that bit more experience and that bit more talent,’’ he said.

The Swans had previously announced the signings of West Bentleigh paceman Nick Huttley, who won the medal as best player in the South East Cricket Association last season, and Hallam Kalora Park all-rounder Jordan Hammond.