How VTCA Division 1 club secured star Premier Cricket paceman for 2021-22
For the second straight off-season VTCA Division 1 club Airport West St Christopher’s has made a big splash in the recruiting market.
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For the second straight off-season Airport West St Christopher’s has made a huge splash in the recruiting market.
After securing Daniel Salpietro last year, the Eagles have added former Victoria rookie and Melbourne University paceman Steven Reid after a distinguished Premier Cricket career.
And it was Reid’s friendship with Salpietro that draw him to Etzel Reserve.
The pair will form a formidable partnership in VTCA Division 1 and lifts Airport West St Christopher’s to pre-season premiership favourites.
Eagles recruiter Jon Clampett was rapt to bring in such elite talent.
“Reidy played representative cricket with Dan Salpietro many years ago so that’s the link there,” he said.
“His work and family commitments meant he wasn’t able to commit to Premier Cricket so he’s come back to local cricket.
“He’s obviously got amazing knowledge and experience and he’s pretty enthusiastic about his new challenge. It will be of great benefit to our group.
“If you look at his last game for Melbourne Uni, it was a quarter-final against eventual premier Prahran, and took figures of 4-33.
“He’s still at the peak of his powers and should make a big impact for us.”
Reid retired from Premier Cricket at the end of this season with 312 First XI wickets to his name from 208 matches with Essendon and University.
He earned a state rookie contract in 2011, coming close on several occasions to making his Victoria debut, and played two Second XI matches.
The craft quick collected 25 or more wickets in seven of 14 seasons since debuting for the Bombers in 2007-08 with a season-high of 38 for Melbourne University in 2018-19.
He’ll link up with Salpietro who was named the Division 1 league best-and-fairest in his debut season.
The former Victoria and Tasmania star knocked in 590 runs and collected 27 wickets in a brilliant all-round campaign.
Airport West St Christopher’s is expected to retain the bulk of its squad for next season with only Luke Macumber retiring.
The Eagles finished the season in third and lost the semi-final to eventual premier Craigieburn.
The club also finished runner-up in the VTCA T20 competition, going down to Senior Division outfit Haig Fawkner by nine runs in the grand final.
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Clampett was confident the team was well placed to take the next step in 2021-22.
“The Second XI won the premiership this season, so we’re confident we’ve got the depth of talent to complement those two marquee players,” he said.
“Hopefully it propels us further than our third placing this season.
“There’s been a few other important signings at rival clubs, so it looks like there’s a few looking to improve.”
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