Premier Cricket: Carlton signs emerging all-rounder Connor Rutland

One of Premier Cricket’s young guns is on the move, taking up the chance to work with champion Evan Gulbis at the Blues.

Connor Rutland will bolster Carlton’s line-up. Picture: Hamish Blair

Connor Rutland has made the switch to Carlton with the opportunity to work under captain-coach Evan Gulbis proving appealing for the young Premier Cricket all-rounder.

Rutland has been at Essendon for the past seven seasons, nailing down his spot in the First XI in recent summers.

A member of the 2020 Cricket Victoria Emerging Performance squad, Rutland returned 222 runs last season with a best contribution of 86 against Footscray.

He enjoyed an impressive 2019-20 campaign, hitting 261 runs at 26.10 to go with 13 wickets at 25.77.

Gulbis said the likes of star middle-order batsman Nick Ross and Footscray premiership player Guy Walker would also be key mentors for Rutland, who is looking to turn potential into consistent performances in the state’s pre-eminent competition.

“He obviously loved his time at Essendon and it wasn’t an easy decision,” Gulbis said.

“But the opportunity to work with me, Nick Ross and Guy Walker was too good to turn down.”

Connor Rutland appeals for a wicket. Picture: Julian Smith

Rutland was a Vic Metro Under-19 representative in 2018-19, underlining his ability.

He is capable of opening the batting and filling a spot in the middle-order, while his medium-pace will bolster the Blues’ already formidable bowling line-up.

“I think he’s a very good player,” Gulbis said.

“I think he’s got the skeleton of a complete all-rounder, just need to work on helping him create that potential into performance.

“Being able to play with our really strong batting line-up, but also with our bowling line-up will allow him to flourish in our team.

“Obviously I’m hoping I can help him find something within himself to create performance.

“I see him as someone who can play from one to seven with the bat and bowl at any stage.

“It’s a massive signing for us, especially with the movement we’ve had in the off-season. To be able to bring in a player like him, a fantastic talent, is a great signing.”

Carlton has lost paceman Matt Wilson (Dandenong) and Donovan Pell (Westmeadows) since season’s end.

The Blues finished the regular rounds minor premier before suffering a shock loss to Fitzroy Doncaster in the opening week of finals.

Gulbis said the club remained confident it had “ready-made replacements” for the departed duo.

“I think our list is pretty healthy,” he said.

“We were probably on the back foot a little bit just with COVID last year, where we weren’t able to do much recruitment/development squad stuff.

“We’ve prided ourselves on being a development team – we develop players. We don’t recruit, which is why (Rutland signing) is a bit of an anomaly for us.

“But we see a young player who wasn’t getting the best out of himself and we think we can help him do that.”