Yarraville’s Josh Hahnel joins Premier Cricket club Melbourne University

One of the leading batsmen in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association will pad up in Victoria’s top competition in 2021-22, three years after playing in the thirds.

Josh Hahnel has made more than 1000 runs for Yarraville in the past two seasons. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Josh Hahnel couldn’t help but laugh when asked if he expected to be in this position three years ago.

The Yarraville batsman was a lower-grade player in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association in 2018, compiling a respectable runs tally for the club’s Third XI side.

Fast forward to now, and Hahnel is preparing for his opportunity in Victoria’s top competition after two run-filled seasons for the Eagles.

The 24-year-old will pad up for Premier Cricket club Melbourne University next summer, capping a swift rise.

Hahnel has hammered 1035 First XI runs for Yarraville in the past two seasons to establish himself as one of the leading batsmen in the VSDCA.

But the transformation has not come to fruition on the back of endless technical changes or ridiculously long sessions in the nets.

Instead, Hahnel has taken a more relaxed approach and focused on fun.

“The only difference the past couple of years has been maybe a little bit more perspective that cricket isn’t the biggest thing,” Hahnel said.

“I went to England (in 2016), played cricket over there, came back and probably took it a little bit too seriously.

“Now I’m a lot more relaxed about it and just enjoy playing cricket a lot more.”

The opener produced a career-best campaign in 2020-21, piling on 545 runs at 45.4.

There were centuries against Altona (135 not out) and Coburg (100), along with hands of 88, 66 and 52 in a remarkably consistent season that featured only one-day fixtures.

Hahnel’s was rewarded with Team-of-the-Year honours as he finished the sixth most prolific batsman in the North-West group, with his Eagles failing to contest finals.

With Yarraville losing champions such as Matt Love and Matt Harrison in recent years, Hahnel said he felt the need to lift.

“I felt a lot more responsibility to make big scores and helping the team by just making runs,” he said.

“The last couple of years we’ve kind of struggled a little bit with making big scores. It was good to at least lead and feel some sort of responsibility.

“I just feel like I’m improving a lot, getting a bit fitter.

“(Yarraville coach) Matt (Grose) gave me a good opportunity to bowl as well, so it just feels like it’s all heading in a good direction.”

Melbourne University wicketkeeper Noah Croes represented the Eagles in the VSDCA’s Twenty20 competition this season, sparking Hahnel’s desire to have a crack at a higher level.

“I reached out to him, just to train a little bit, and still didn’t have much of an intention of playing Premier Cricket,” he said.

“But the set up there is really cool, so it suits me really well.”

The Students have waved goodbye to four key players in James McNeil, Liam Scammell, Jarrod Martignago and Steven Reid.

But rather than sensing a chance to replace those who have exited, Hahnel said he would focus on what had worked for him.

“I don’t really worry too much about what opportunity there might be,” he said.

“I’m just going to rock up to pre-season training and do what I’ve done at Yarraville and have some fun.”