Australia and Victoria representative bolsters Coburg’s VSDCA hopes
Coburg has made a strong off-field start to the 2020-21 VSDCA campaign, securing a former Australia and Victoria representative, as the Lions look to bounce back from a wooden spoon last season.
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Coburg has made a strong start to season 2020-21, securing a former Australia and Victoria representative and Premier Cricket allrounder.
After taking last season off, Fletcher Stewart will link up with former Essendon teammate and Lions captain-coach Aaron Shellie in the VSDCA.
Stewart has represented the Australian and Victorian indigenous teams, touring India and England, and has played First XI cricket at Essendon and Fitzroy-Doncaster.
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The leg-spinner and middle order batsman last played with Heidelberg in the Diamond Valley league’s Money Shield in 2018-19 but Shellie was excited to see him return to the field.
“It’s good to get him on board, I’d been pestering him for a while now,” he said.
“I’m good mates with him from playing at Essendon, he played ones in the season we lost the grand final.
We are delighted to announce the arrival of Fletcher Stewart for @SubbiesCricket season 20/21!
— Coburg Cricket Club (@CoburgCC1856) September 27, 2020
A highly experienced cricketer, Fletcher has represented the Australian and Victorian Indigenous sides, and has played Premier 1st XI cricket for @EssendonCC and @fitzdonc. pic.twitter.com/ujld2cm9F8
“He’s a ripper bloke, so he’ll fit in really well.
“He only let me know (Monday) that he was 100 per cent keen, so I’m really happy.”
Stewart was a mainstay of Essendon’s First XI in 2013-14 as the Bombers reached the grand final, contributing 13 wickets and 197 runs.
“He’s a leg-spinner, he’s probably one of the best fielders I’ve seen at Premier level and is really handy with the stick as well.
“He’s played a lot of high-grade cricket, so it will be really good for us.”
Coburg has also snared another former Essendon player in the form of Shariq Khan.
Khan played four seasons in the lower levels at Windy Hill and last played in the Williamstown District Cricket Association.
Despite the big step up in level, Shellie was confident Khan would have a big impact.
“Being a majority one-day comp this season, he’ll be massive,” he said.
“He hits the ball as hard as any bloke I’ve seen and he’ll really bolster our line-up at the top of the order.”
Coburg will be looking to bounce back after collecting the wooden spoon in the VSDCA North-South group last season.
While the season start remains up in the air as Melbourne remains under COVID-19 restrictions, there is a lot of work being done behind the scenes to have the club ready for 2020-21.
“Trying to figure out the logistics of it all has been full on,” Shellie said.
“Training nights will be a bit different, working with the juniors and the women’s teams.
“Obviously, you’ve got all the sanitisation business and training in separate nets.
“It’s going to be an interesting year, it will be one we won’t forget that’s for sure.”