Deer Park makes recruiting splash, securing former Essendon, Coburg guns for 2024-25
Reigning VTCA Senior Division premier Deer Park has made a stunning start to the off-season, adding two former Essendon and Coburg guns.
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Deer Park is building a behemoth.
The reigning VTCA Senior Division premier has secured a stunning double recruiting coup for 2024-25.
The Lions have signed Aaron Shellie and Aaron Ayre from VSDCA club Coburg.
The pair are both former Essendon Premier Cricket stars and have been named in the Subbies Team of the Year in recent seasons.
Shellie is expected to again feature in the end-of-season XI after a superb campaign that saw him score 572 runs at an average of 38.13 and snare 35 wickets at 13.74 – ranking top-10 in both categories.
In an interrupted season, Ayre finished with 403 runs at 44.78 and 11 wickets, but won the Holten Medal in 2021-22.
Deer Park coach Mick Andriadis revealed the pair were committed long-term.
“I’ve always been in contact with Aaron Shellie, since he was a guest player at Keilor in the T20,” Andriadis said.
“I’ve always wanted to recruit him since he left Essendon and we had an opening for him and Aaron (Ayre).
“Not only have we signed them, we signed them for three years.
“They’re both very good all-rounders, but not only that, they’re good people.”
Shellie and Ayre join a premiership-winning squad.
Deer Park added Premier Cricket talents Dean Russ and Daniel Sartori last off-season when they called time at Footscray.
Andriadis expects of the majority of his playing group to return next season to defend their history-making crown.
The Lions proved too good for Sydenham-Hillside in the grand final, claiming a 212-run outright victory – the club’s first top-flight flag.
Angelo Emmanuel (573), Sartori (507), Hashan Wanasekara (455), Mohammed Alfar (426) and Russ (345) were all among the leading run-scorers this season.
Fawad Malook was the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 39 scalps, while Ricky Suvada (23), Allan Wise (17) and Keon Harding (17) were also among the top bowlers.
Andriadis was excited to welcome more talent to the club.
“They’re looking to finish off their careers, they’re got young families, and who knows maybe their kids will play for Deer Park,” he said.
“They’ll make the group stronger, they’ve both played good cricket – Aaron Ayre has obviously played for Victoria and ACT – and the club is rapt to have them.
“It’s a good match for everybody.
“Plus, we’ve got the likes of Suvada still – he’ll go around – and our foundation Sri Lankans are looking to stay.
“If they do leave, and James Leech is thinking about it, it will only be to go to District (Premier) and with Sartori and Russ they can point them in the right direction.”
Andriadis is confident the pair will slot easily into the club’s player points cap.
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Shellie has played VSDCA for the past four seasons, while Ayre has been at Coburg for three.
The club is also looking to promote its youth alongside its new recruits.
“We’ll have Lachlan Fitzgerald come back, a Deer Park junior and zero pointer,” Andriadis said.
“Young Nick Xavier, I’m looking to put him into the First XI team.
“We’re going to have a good mix of local and experienced guys.”
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