Premier Cricket 2018-19: Fitzroy Doncaster champion Peter Dickson weighing up future after preliminary final loss

Two of Fitzroy Doncaster’s champions are weighing up their futures after the Lions’ preliminary final exit.

Peter Dickson attempts a drive. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Two of Fitzroy Doncaster’s champions are weighing up their futures after the Lions’ preliminary final exit.

There were emotional scenes in the visitors’ rooms after the 181-run defeat at the hands of Geelong on Sunday as Fitzroy Doncaster seems set to farewell champion batsman Peter Dickson.

The former skipper led the Lions to the 2015-16 and 2016-17 premierships and a grand final appearance in 2017-18.

PREMIER CRICKET: TAYLOR REFLECTS ON TWO-DECADE CAREER

PREMIER CRICKET: LIONS’ MAGICAL FINALS RUN COMES TO AN END

PREMIER CRICKET: GEELONG TO CHASE FIRST PREMIERSHIP

PREMIER CRICKET: GULBIS ONSLAUGHT FLOORS BOMBERS

PREMIER CRICKET: HAWKS LOCK IN NEW HEAD COACH

His 15th Premier Cricket century in Round 2 elevated him into the competition’s top-10 leading runscorers of all time.

Peter Dickson plays a straight bat. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Captain Ejaaz Alavi said it was likely Dickson would call time on his distinguished First XI career.

“At this stage it looks like he might not (play next season) but we’ll try twist his arm and convince him to go around again,” Alavi said.

“He adds so much to the group and is a good person to have around for our young guys and for me as well as a young skipper. We’d like him to keep playing but it’s his decision so we’ll see how he goes.”

Alavi said Ryder medallist Trent Lawford was facing a “similar” decision and that Fitzroy Doncaster would “try and convince him to keep going around again”.

Lawford was crowned last season’s best player, and he has taken 193 wickets and made 1339 runs since joining the Lions ahead of 2015-16.

Trent Lawford has been one of the competition’s top performers in recent seasons. Picture: Peter Ristevski

“He has plenty of great cricket left in him, that’s for sure. Age is on his side and he’s got plenty of cricket left in him,” Alavi said.

“Obviously he’s a key player for us — a matchwinner — so we’d like him to be going around again.”

Alavi shot down suggestions that it was the end of an era for Fitzroy Doncaster after its bid for a fourth consecutive Premier Cricket grand final fell at the penultimate hurdle.

Opening batsman Jack Rudd enjoyed a breakout season, hitting 595 runs to be the club’s leading runscorer.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Liam Banthorpe was rewarded for his strong season with a Victorian Futures League call up, while Noah Korkolis held down the No.3 spot with aplomb in his first season in the First XI.

Nat Vardi on the front foot. Picture: Hamish Blair

Nat Vardi also reached the 500-run mark, but his season was punctuated by plenty of starts — he logged 15 scores between 15 and 69 but failed to reach triple-figures.

Young quick Sam Elliott also showed why he is one of the competition’s most promising players with 26 wickets, including a five-wicket haul against Dandenong in Round 12.

Alavi tipped Fitzroy Doncaster would again be contending for the premiership next season.

“We’ve got really good young players coming through but we’ll see how the older guys go in terms of whether they continue playing next year and things like that,” he said.

“We’ve got really good people among the club, a really good culture and keep attracting good players as well … we’ll back ourselves in to be around the mark again next year.”