Sub-District cricket: Daniel Forbes joins reigning premier Caulfield

Caulfield has locked in champion Jacob Thorne to a long-term deal – and recruited another ace allrounder.

Daniel Forbes hitting out for Hampton in Cricket Southern Bayside.

Its 2020-21 premiership celebrations have only just finished, but Caulfield’s bid for a follow-up flag has already started.

The Fielders confirmed today they had re-signed champion allrounder and captain Jacob Thorne to a long-term deal and recruited former St Kilda player Dan Forbes.

Thorne was recently inducted to the club’s hall of fame in recognition of six outstanding seasons in Sub-District cricket.

The four-time Val Holten Medal winner, three-time premiership player and two-time Jack Sheehan Medal recipient has agreed to play at Caulfield for another four years.

Outgoing president Shaun Richardson said Thorne, 32, was the greatest player the club had had and by the end of his career would be regarded as among the best cricketers in the long history of Subbies.

The No 3 batsman and off-spinner has hit 3800 runs and nabbed 240 wickets in the VSDCA.

“I do think he’s already the greatest player Caulfield’s ever had,’’ Richardson said.

“We’ve always had Bryan Harper, who made 6000 runs and played in three flags, and Keith Walker, who took 640 poles, but I think he’s gone past them with his performances over these six years.

Jacob Thorne bowling for Caulfield. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“He’s as good as they come in my opinion. His leadership and his contribution around the cricket club have continued to grow. Not only with what he does on the field, but off it … we don’t think he’s ever missed a training session, and he’s never missed a game.’’

Thorne, 32, said he was pleased to commit to another four seasons.

“I was happy, the club was happy, so the thought was let’s keep going,’’ he said.

“Both parties are happy with how things are tracking.

“When you win premierships, you want to win more. You know what the feeling is like, how much fun it is, and you want to experience that continually.’’

He said it was a surprise and an honour to be added to the hall of fame.

Forbes will join his former St Kilda captain Graeme Rummans, teammate Lachie Graf and coach Adrian Jones at the club after spending four years with Hampton in Cricket Southern Bayside.

He led the Seahorses to the Championship premiership in 2019-20 and has been one of the competition’s leading allrounders.

In the season just completed he hit 562 runs at 46.8 and captured 22 wickets at 15.2.

Forbes was even better in the premiership season, pounding out 707 runs and taking 29 wickets.

At Premier level he made 125 First XI appearances for St Kilda and captained the side in 2016-17 in the absence of Rob Quiney and Michael Beer. He played in a One-Day title for the Saints.

Richardson said Forbes had been a fine player and would strengthen the batting and the bowling.

Caulfield is keen for the youngest players in the 2020-21 premiership side, Joshua Agar and Jayden Banks, to try their luck at Premier Cricket.

JACOB THORNE IN SUBBIES

2015-16: 661 runs at 44.1, 46 wickets 15.2

2016-17: 713 runs at 47.5, 41 wickets at 16.4

2017-18: 626 runs at 52.2, 45 wickets at 10.6

2018-19: 660 runs at 44.0, 47 wickets at 13.0

2019-20: 445 runs at 31.2, 34 wickets at 12.7

2020-21: 484 runs at 40.3, 31 wickets at 12.1