Peter Conell to become Long Island’s first 500 game player

A fiery clash with former Australian fast bowler Rodney Hogg is one of many stories in Peter “Potto” Conell’s journey to 500 games for Long Island.

Peter Conell hs scored over 11,500 runs for Long Island. Picture: Derrick den Hollander

It was the 1995-96 MPCA Provincial grand final between Long Island and Red Hill.

The Hillmen were led by former Australian fast bowler Rodney Hogg. Desperate to win, Hoggy steamed in and peppered the Island batsmen, especially opening batsman Peter “Potto’’ Conell.

It was such a fiery clash that Potto gets a mention in Hoggy’s book in the chapter, ‘Batsman I have maimed’.

Hogg struck Potto a couple of times in the one over.

The story goes that Potto, on about 50 at the time, lost his vision for 30 seconds after being hit in the head and went to walk off the ground retired hurt.

But Long Island teammate Steve Johnson put paid to that, telling Potto that he’s not walking off the ground in a grand final.

So Potto turned around and went back to the crease and made 74 — and Long Island won the flag.

Peter Conell on the drive.

Conell goes big.

Conell is still going strong, these days opening the batting in Long Island’s seconds. Just last week he peeled off a sizzling century.

And on Saturday, the 54-year-old will become the club’s first 500 game player when he reaches the milestone against Langwarrin in the final round of the season.

Loyalty has underpinned his career at Long Island; he’s never felt the need to leave the club he joined as a little boy.

“I had a couple of offers but when reality set in I thought, ‘I can’t do it’,’’ he said in 2015.

“I’d rather play with my mates than go somewhere for money.’’

Conell is held in the highest regard at Long Island, where he played his first senior game in 1981.

A life member, over 11,500 runs, a past president, junior coach and 11 time senior premiership player (5 x 1st XI flags) — what a career!

Potto also has done more than his bit off field for the Islanders, serving as club president and coaching junior sides. All this after a slow start to his cricket career.

“I started at Long Island in Under 12s but I wasn’t allowed to play cricket because I had to go to Greek school,’’ he said.

Potto says he’s been blessed to play with some of peninsula cricket’s greatest cricketers, including Rob and Pete Bedford, Paul Hartle and Scott Phillips.

The club will celebrate Potto’s 500th match with a gathering at the rooms from 6.30pm on Saturday. Anyone who has played with or against Potto is welcome.