Mitcham stalwart Ross Collins to bring up 500th game for BHRDCA club

Mitcham stalwart Ross Collins will bow out of cricket after more than four decades this summer, but not before he brings up a significant milestone cricketers can only dream of.

Ross Collins ahead of his 500th game. Picture: Sarah Matray

Mitcham stalwart Ross Collins will bow out of cricket after more than four decades this summer.

But not until after he brings up a significant milestone that is a reflection of the mighty contribution he has made to the Tigers.

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Collins will reach his 500th game for the club when he turns out for Mitcham’s veterans against North Balwyn on Sunday.

Ross Collins poses for a photo from the Walker Park grandstand. Picture: Sarah Matray

It’s fitting the game will be played at Walker Park, a venue the 63-year-old has called home since he arrived at Mitcham in 1976-77.

“I remember as a young kid that I wanted to play until I was 50 and back in those days not too many players got there,” Collins said.

“That was before veterans cricket came along so I’ve played quite a few veterans games and that’s how the numbers get up.”

Collins started as a leg-spinner before becoming a batsman in the lower grades later in his career, playing in the McIntosh Shield 1986-87 and 1991-92 premierships.

As well as a decorated playing career, Collins was president for four years, club coach for two seasons and was a long-serving junior mentor.

He was given Mitcham life membership in 1989 and was an inaugural inductee in the club’s hall of fame in 2014.

Ross Collins will retire at season’s end. Picture: Sarah Matray

“I’ve certainly loved the club. There was one year when I was president, we started up the Milo cricket and we started up the veterans the same year. That particular year I was training on Tuesday, coaching the juniors on Wednesday, trained on Thursday, did the Milo cricket on Friday, coached Saturday morning, played Saturday afternoon and played vets on Sunday,” he said.

“The club does go through ups and downs and the friendships you build up, I’ve got lifelong friends there, best mates and it has been an important part of our lives.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have a wife that has been able to support me to allow me to spend as much time down there as I did.

“She got involved socially as well so that meant off the field we had just as much fun.”

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