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Portarlington cricketer Sam Chisholm set to play 300 games for the Demons

With the support of 10 family members deeply entrenched at Portarlington Cricket Club, a proud stalwart will reach 300 games for the Demons.

Sam Chisholm (centre left), with his family members (from left, back row) Sue, Ken, Sarah, Elise, Travis, Vyas, Jess, (from left, front row) Phoebe, Mia, Tas and Henry, will play his 300th game for the club on December 2. Picture: BPCA
Sam Chisholm (centre left), with his family members (from left, back row) Sue, Ken, Sarah, Elise, Travis, Vyas, Jess, (from left, front row) Phoebe, Mia, Tas and Henry, will play his 300th game for the club on December 2. Picture: BPCA

Mateship, unbreakable family ties and the cerebral side of cricket has kept Portarlington stalwart Sam Chisholm coming back for nearly 300 matches with the Demons.

Chisholm will bring up game 300 this Saturday against Anglesea at Ellimatta Reserve in the B1 competition.

It follows Chris Dunne and Steve Dowie racking up their 300 and 200-game milestones for Portarlington respectively in early November.

In a career spanning more than 4800 runs, 230 wickets and two senior premierships – including one last summer in B1 – Chisholm has a highest score of 154, twice, and the best figures of 8-36 with his medium pacers.

In a memorable 154 against Collendina, he combined with friend Brad Vagg to compile over 100 before the first drinks break, and 200 before tea, while against Drysdale he was dropped twice in the first over.

Sam Chisholm reaches for the ball against Drysdale in November, 2017. Picture: Mike Dugdale
Sam Chisholm reaches for the ball against Drysdale in November, 2017. Picture: Mike Dugdale

However, it’s not why Sam plays the game, and apart from the friendships he’s made along the way, Chisholm has loved the strategic side of cricket.

“It’s the mental side of the game I enjoy the most,” Chisholm said.

“You can ruin somebody’s day with a couple of good shots, or setting a good field with a couple of good balls.

“The club’s just a great spot to be, it’s pretty easy to turn up when you’ve got an environment like that.

“I don’t know if I’m still going strong, but I’m still going (laughs).”

The Chisholms have become synonymous with Portarlington cricket ever since Sam’s father Ken and mother Sue arrived decades ago from Bendigo.

Ken would become a president, life member and B Grade premiership skipper while Sue was a secretary who would later have the Sue Chisholm Medal named in her honour for the best women’s player.

And the family ties grow even stronger, with Sam’s wife Sarah playing in the women’s team, and is a junior coach and delegate, while sister Elise was the first female to play in a Demons men’s team, back in 2002 — she is the current captain of the women’s team.

Meanwhile, his daughter Phoebe plays alongside her mother, and sister Mia in the juniors, while his brother Travis is a former player and club treasurer.

Sam Chisholm (centre left), with his family members (from left, back row) Sue, Ken, Sarah, Elise, Travis, Vyas, Jess, (from left, front row) Phoebe, Mia, Tas and Henry, will play his 300th game for the club on December 2. Picture: BPCA
Sam Chisholm (centre left), with his family members (from left, back row) Sue, Ken, Sarah, Elise, Travis, Vyas, Jess, (from left, front row) Phoebe, Mia, Tas and Henry, will play his 300th game for the club on December 2. Picture: BPCA

Nephews Henry and Tas also play, with the former making his senior debut this summer, while Sam plays alongside his brother-in-law Vyas Pankaj in the B1 team.

Sam’s journey began as an eight-year-old, filling in with the club’s under-12 team.

It was far from an auspicious debut, with Sam bowled first ball.

“I did try and hit the ball too hard,” he said.

“We only had footy and cricket in Port growing up.”

Looking back on his career so far, Sam has loved the environment at Portarlington and treasured the friendships he’s made over many summers.

“I’ve played with some pretty highly skilled cricketers at Portarlington,” he said.

“It’s been a pretty good environment to learn the game.”

Originally published as Portarlington cricketer Sam Chisholm set to play 300 games for the Demons

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Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/portarlington-cricketer-sam-chisholm-set-to-play-300-games-for-the-demons/news-story/57486e082ae797046b319e99dfe015ef