Premier Cricket: Fitzroy Doncaster’s Mark Phelan blasts ‘one of the better centuries in the history of the club,’ coach declares

Fitzroy Doncaster’s Mark Phelan arrived with a big reputation – and Saturday’s showing at the crease certainly lived up to its dizzying heights.

It hasn’t taken former Northcote batter Mark Phelan long to fire for the Lions. Picture: Valeriu Campan

It hasn’t taken the star recruit long to shine in his new colours.

Fitzroy Doncaster’s Mark Phelan produced what coach Matt Bremner described as one of the standout centuries in club history on Saturday, pulling the Lions back from the brink of disaster with 129 runs off 222 balls against Carlton.

The ex-Northcote batter steered his side to 240.

“We’re stoked with ‘Phelo’,” Fitzroy Doncaster coach Matt Bremner said.

“He walked out at 2-1 and he was the last batter out at 10-240 … we were in a lot of trouble, on a pretty dicey deck, and then to peel off 129 off 222 balls was an outstanding effort.

“I think it’s going to go down as one of the better centuries in the history of the club, since we amalgamated … that’s how good a knock the playing group and the coaching staff think it was.”

Phelan, who also played seven years at Carlton, brought more than 5000 First XI runs’ experience to Schramms Reserve when his signature dropped earlier this year.

Bremner said the Lions had also reaped the benefits of his presence off the field.

“The standard he sets at training … all the boys have to do is look over at ‘Phelo’ and the way he goes about it, he ticks every box – they’re learning a lot, he might not speak a whole lot, but he leads by actions,” he said.

“He’s got a look in his eyes every time he goes out to bat, and even in the nets, every ball has purpose behind it.

“When the pressure’s on, you’d love ‘Phelo’ out in the middle and that’s what happened on the weekend – his composure was second to none.”

Meanwhile, Big Bash slugger Josh Brown tipped in 35 runs from 24 deliveries, as captain Ejaaz Alavi put up 36 from 65.

No. 10 bat Ethan Boyd (13 runs) stayed in for the long haul, facing 126 balls to keep the Lions alive.

“It was an unbelievable effort from ‘Boydy’ as well,” Bremner said.

Carlton put up 0-8 to stumps, ahead of day two at Schramms Reserve on Saturday.