VTCA Paxino Medallist Mickey Hay moves to Footscray for shot at Premier Cricket

Recovering from a knee reconstruction gave Mickey Hay plenty of time to think about what he wanted and it’s lead to a shot at Premier Cricket.

Recovering from a knee reconstruction gave Mickey Hay plenty of perspective on his sporting ambitions.

It gave him the time to think about what he wanted from his cricket and it’s led him to taking a shot at Premier Cricket, joining Footscray for the coming season.

“I’d been thinking about it for couple years and now is a better time than ever to give it a crack and see how I go, really test myself,” Hay said.

“Over the time I had off it gave me time to think about what I really wanted to do.

“I’m not getting any younger so I feel now is the time, I’ve had a good break obviously and now’s a good time to get back into it.

Micky Hay in action for Druids. Picture: Hamish Blair

“”I’d spoken to a few people about Premier clubs and how all the different clubs are and from what a lot of people said the Dogs are a great club, really family orientated, which is important to me.”

Hay won’t have to travel far, crossing to Merv Hughes Oval from Footscray-based VTCA club Druids.

The South African managed just three games last season after rupturing his ACL in December.

It was a bitter blow for player and club after outstanding form saw him score almost 1000 runs in the previous two seasons at an average of more than 50.

Hay won the Paxino Medal as the VTCA Senior Division’s best-and-fairest in 2020-21 after smashing 516 runs at 57.33 and taking 12 wickets.

It saw him take part in the Renegades Recruit, competing for a Big Bash League contract, and he followed that up with 460 runs at 51.11 in 2021-22.

If fit, there is an opportunity to break into the Footscray First XI.

However, Hay is willing to bide his time and prove himself in the lower grades first.

“I’m coming off the ACL surgery, so it will be dependent on that,” he said.

“That’s looking pretty good at the moment, I’m recovering well and doing a lot of training on it.

“I’ll give it my best go to see if I can slot in to start, but if not, it’s not going to stop me working hard and seeing if I can get into the Firsts.”

Hay leaves Druids after eight seasons, winning a Division 1 premiership and T20 title in 2018-19 and was captain-coach for two seasons.

In 92 matches he compiled 2698 runs and collected 103 wickets.

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“I played eight years, since I came over from South Africa,” he said.

“It’s a great club, they did so much for me throughout my time and made it so easy for me to slot in.

“I wish them all the best with their new recruits and hopefully they can do well this year.”

Having lost the services of Hay and spearhead Nathan Johnson, Druids has bolstered its line-up with spinning all-rounder Charith Mendis from Haig Fawkner and former club champion Dhanushka Dharmasiri from East Keilor.