Premier Cricket: Carlton’s Matt Wilson signs with Dandenong

The Panthers have made a key signing but are sweating on the future of champions Tom Donnell and James Nanopoulos.

Carlton’s Matt Wilson is crossing to Dandenong. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The Victorian Premier Cricket season finished on Saturday.

Now comes what Dandenong coach Warren Ayres calls “the silly season’’ of club comings and goings.

Ayres and his club have started it smartly: two days after losing the grand final to Prahran, Dandenong locked in a recruit for the 2021-22 season, Carlton fast bowler and lower-order batsman Matt Wilson.

The 22-year-old works at Murrumbeena and lives at Noble Park, and is keen to not only play closer to home, but play a bigger role in First XI cricket.

Wilson made his debut for the Blues in 2017-18.

Although he missed out on their memorable 2018-19 premiership, he played every match in the First XI in the season just completed, taking 21 wickets at 23.3.

Matt Wilson bending his back for the Blues.

Ayres said Wilson bowled “a heavy ball’’ and was also capable with the bat.

“He’s a strong bowler and he also wants a few more opportunities with the bat, because he’s been batting at No 9 for Carlton,’’ he said.

“Initially he was a batsman who bowled a bit.

“His game has gone in a different direction I suppose due to the circumstances – the strength of Carlton’s batting. He’s keen to see if he can get his batting going again.

“He’s a solid batsman, a decent player, and overall he’s going to take on more responsibility at Dandenong.’’

Ayres coached Wilson for a couple of years at Carlton.

Blues coach Evan Gulbis said Wilson was a good, committed cricketer and popular clubman, and Carlton wished him well.

Wilson’s arrival is the first development in what will be a busy off-season for Dandenong.

Captain and champion Tom Donnell is weighing up retirement, medium-pacer Peter Cassidy will almost certainly join Sub-District club Brighton, batsman LJ Edwards is also rumoured to be on the move and ace allrounder James Nanopoulos has some thinking to do about his future.

Peter Cassidy chipping away for Dandenong. Picture: Valeriu Campan

It’s believed Nanopoulos has been offered the sun, moons and stars to play for a local club, but is also in the sights of other Premier teams.

Ayres said the Panthers were keen to bolster their batting but were also mindful of giving chances to younger players such as Jarryd Wills.

Cassidy has given Dandenong excellent service since breaking into the First XI in 2015-16.

He figured in the 2017-18 flag, taking 34 wickets with right-arm medium pace bowled with admirable accuracy.

Cassidy nabbed 24 wickets this season but also showed his capabilities with the bat in a century-stand with Jacques Augustin that lifted Dandy to a semi-final victory over Geelong.

Ayres said he hoped Donnell would go on.

The left-hander top scored for his team with a classy half-century in the grand final, and is closing in on 9000 runs in Premier Cricket.