Cricket Southern Bayside: South Caulfield signs Callum Nankervis and Jak Jowett

South Caulfield is going all out for a three-peat in Cricket Southern Bayside, signing two crack recruits, including a decorated Subbies star.

Callum Nankervis of Plenty Valley rocks back and plays a cut shot. Picture: Hamish Blair

The premiership celebrations had barely simmered down when South Caulfield began plotting its next mission.

South was on the hunt for recruits to help them in their quest for a three-peat in CSB Championship division.

And they found what they wanted, securing VSDCA Holten medallist Callum Nankervis and former St Kilda and Dandenong paceman Jak Jowett.

They are top-shelf recruits.

“We’re hoping to stay up towards the top of the ladder and go after another premiership,” South Caulfield president Jonathan Restarick said.

South Caulfield will have a new captain in 2022-23 after Will Russell relocated to England.

The new leader is yet to be announced but Restarick said the role would go to a player “inside the club”.

Nankervis bowling.

Jak Jowett.

Hard-hitting all-rounder Nankervis, 26, joins South Caulfield after four outstanding seasons with Plenty Valley in the Subbies competition.

The top-order batman and medium pace bowler scored 1945 runs, at 35.36, and took 61 wickets, at 24.39, in his time with the Bats.

Nankervis was the toast of the Subbies a year ago when he won the VSDCA’s top individual award the Val Holten Medal in 2020-21.

His cricket career also includes four seasons with Premier Cricket club Essendon, where he had a high score of 136 for the Bombers’ seconds.

Jowett, 28, coached Clayton Districts in CSB Division 2 last season after joining the Clays from Dandenong, where he missed out on grand final selection in 2017-18 despite taking 31 wickets for the season.

Jowett made his Premier debut at St Kilda in 2014-15 and crossed to Dandy for one season. All up he had 43 First XI matches, taking 63 wickets at 22.84.

South Caulfield players want more success. Picture: Ron Weil

In other news at South Caulfield, key players Brad Erasmus, Lewis Mildenhall and Jono Curtis have been locked in, and champion veteran Kanishka Alvitigala will go around again.

Former St Kilda all-rounder Gerard Cull, who has coached South Caulfield for the past two flags, will continue in the role.

It’s been a golden era for South, and Restarick said the players are determined for it to roll on.

“There are quite a few of them that are specifically wanting to do a three peat this year,’’ he said.

Restarick said the club was mindful of “refreshing’’ the team each season.

“Especially the right age ranges. We don’t want to get caught up with a whole lot of guys who are 35 and all retire at the same time,’’ he said.

“We want to keep creating an environment where people who come to the club stay for a while, it’s a place that people like to come to and it’s a good supportive environment.’’