Cam McClure earns Victoria rookie contract, James Seymour and Connor Rutland in emerging squad
Promising paceman Cam McClure is confident he can continue his rapid rise through the Victorian ranks after earning a rookie contract. Essendon teammates James Seymour and Connor Rutland are also on the state radar.
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Cam McClure’s raw talent has been recognised with a Cricket Victoria rookie contract.
The 19-year-old, 200cm paceman has experienced a whirlwind rise since making his First XI debut for Essendon last Premier Cricket season.
The Maryborough native claimed 4-52 against Dandenong and finished the campaign with 18 wickets.
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McClure earned a late call up to Australia’s Under-19 World Cup squad in South Africa and made four appearances for Victoria’s Second XI.
The promising quick was satisfied his hard work had paid off.
“It’s been a massive season and to get that just tops it off,” McClure said.
“Having a really good district season was important and then being in the under-19s at the World Cup helped me a little bit. That was super exciting.
“To get the call and be told I’d got a rookie contract was the goal I’ve been pushing for for the past couple of years.”
With Peter Siddle and Chris Tremain departing and James Pattinson expected to be on national duties for much of the summer, there will be opportunities to make an impact.
Scott Boland, Xavier Crone, Zak Evans and Mitch Perry are the frontline pace bowlers with senior contracts.
McClure, Brody Couch and Sam Elliott hold rookie contracts, while Jordan Buckingham, Matt Hennig and Jack Prestwidge are in the Emerging Performance squad.
We’re probably the youngest state, especially the bowling attack, so there’s going to be a lot of opportunities,” McClure said.
“There’s going to be a big focus on us young guys getting experience, so getting a couple of games would be nice.”
McClure is the only Essendon player on Victoria’s contract list after Aaron Ayre was cut.
However, reigning Ryder Medallist James Seymour and young all-rounder Connor Rutland were included in the Emerging Performance squad.
Seymour was desperately unlucky to be overlooked for a state contract, likely squeezed out after Peter Handscomb and Marcus Harris lost their national contracts.
The dashing opening batsman has been the second highest run-scorer in Premier Cricket for the past two seasons, knocking up 922 and 711 runs in 2018-19 and 2019-20 respectively.
Rutland scored 261 runs at 26.10 and claimed 13 wickets at 25.77 last season.