Aaron Shellie, Aaron Ayre lead Coburg to victory over arch-rival Brunswick

Aaron Ayre won the battle against his old Essendon teammate Matt Doric and skipper Aaron Shellie hit a match-winning ton as Coburg beat Brunswick.

Old Bombers (from left) Aaron Shellie, Fletcher Stewart, Karl Mayne, Matt Doric and Aaron Ayre. Picture: Ben Higgins

Aaron Ayre won the battle against his old Essendon teammate Matt Doric and Coburg won the war against Brunswick on Saturday.

Yet it was another former Bomber, Lions captain-coach Aaron Shellie who stole the show with a match-winning century, leading his team to a 69-run victory and second spot on the VSDCA North-East group ladder.

In an superb all-round performance, Shellie scored 104 – his second century of the campaign – before turning destroyer with the ball, claiming 4-44 to skittle the Wicks.

After being sent in on a green top, Shellie rated the knock as one of his best.

“It’s good fun to get some runs, I’m enjoying it at the moment,” he said.

Aaron Shellie in action for Coburg. Sarah Matray

“It was definitely hard work, it’s one of my favourite ones to be honest.

“I would have been 14 or 15 off 40 rocks at the start, just trying not to die, I copped a few on the body and I’ve got a few bruises today.”

Despite ripping through the Brunswick top order, he considered himself lucky.

“Sometimes you get a little lucky, I had one shoot through and then I had a chop on, but I’ll take clean bowled every day of the week,” Shellie said.

“Then I got one to straighten down the line to Hilly, nice little in-swinger second ball, which was pretty lucky because he’s an unbelievable cricketer, his record speaks for itself.”

The clash saw five ex-Essendon players line-up at Gillon Oval; Shellie, Ayre, Fletcher Stewart, Doric and Brunswick coach Karl Mayne in his 100th First XI appearance for the club.

It would have been six if paceman Louis Cameron hadn’t been unavailable due to work commitments.

Ayre blasted a quick-fire 36 before slashing at a rising Doric delivery, caught by Simon Hill at first slip.

Aaron Ayre edges to first slip. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Simon Hill takes the catch. Picture: Stuart Milligan

However, he would get his revenge, dismissing Doric for 25, caught by man-of-the-match Shellie, and now sits outright top of the competition’s wicket-taker charts.

“It’s always good fun playing against blokes you’re good mates with and it adds a little bit of fuel to the fire, I know Dozz was trying pretty hard to snick me off,” Shellie said.

“There wasn’t too much (chat when Doric dismissed Ayre) he just gave him a little grin, they’ll talk about that one in private.

“(Getting out to Ayre) 100 per cent that’s worse, I’ve never seen Aaron take a wicket until this year and now he’s sitting on top of the tree. It’s remarkable.

“I was at short mid-wicket (for the catch), I didn’t have to say too much, he already had a nose bleed batting at six.”

Batting at No.9, Abhiram Paleru made a crucial 42 not out, combining with Jack Sheppard (21) helping Coburg reach 250 all out.

Shellie praised Dan Patrick’s innings, his 23 halting a 3-17 collapse.

“I was rapt for Daniel Patrick, that innings changed the game,” Shellie said.

Aaron Shellie takes a hit. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Matt Doric appeals for lbw. Picture: Stuart Milligan

“They got three in a row and were up and about and that pressure to keep scoring could have been put on me but he took it on himself, played his shots and pushed the game back in our favour.”

After Shellie’s early rampage, Brunswick recovered thanks to Connor Ridge (46), Leigh Brennan (34), Doric (25) and Mayne (25) but couldn’t stem the flow of wickets, dismissed for 181.

Ayre finished with 3-52, while Jordan Ashby collected 2-26.

After finishing second last last season, the Lions sit second with one game to go before the Christmas break.

Shellie believed the club’s investment in its players was paying off.

“We’ve spoken about over the last couple of years, investing in a few guys, a couple of the younger boys have taken bigger roles,” he said.

PREMIER: YOUNG GUNS, BIG GUNS FIRE FOR ESSENDON

LEADER: GET YOUR SUBBIES CRICKET NEWS HERE

VSDCA: CROYDON GRINDS OUT CRUCIAL ROAD WIN

“When you add someone like ‘Nugget’ and he gets off to starts like that, it’s infectious and everyone starts believing.

“There’s a lot more confidence around the group and I think we know how to wins game now.

“There were games last season that we touch and go and we found ways to lose it but now we’re staying in the contest longer and backing blokes to win it from anywhere.”

Coburg travels to St Bernard’s on Saturday for the last game of the year, while Brunswick is on the road against Bayswater.