Victorian young gun Ollie Peake on Troy Selwood inspiration driving him as standing grows after second XI knock

Ollie Peake was mentored by Troy Selwood. And since the former AFL player’s tragic death, Peake’s standing has continued to grow. He reflects on his recent feats during a challenging time.

Ollie Peake of the Renegades poses for a photo with their debut caps prior to the BBL match between Melbourne Renegades and Brisbane Heat at Marvel Stadium, on January 18, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

Victorian future star Ollie Peake says the encouragement of mentor Troy Selwood is inspiring him to achieve his goals as his steep rise continues in the wake of the former AFL player’s tragic death.

Peake, 18, was one of many Geelong Grammar students to receive valuable guidance from Selwood as a scholar at the prestigious school.

The burgeoning Geelong teen, one of the country’s most promising young cricketers, was among those to place an item of significance on Selwood’s casket at his funeral at GMHBA Stadium a fortnight ago.

Troy Selwood was remembered at a funeral service in February. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Troy Selwood mentored sports scholars at Geelong Grammar. Picture: Geelong Grammar

Since then, Peake has made a sparkling 99 Victoria’s second XI draw against Western Australia at Junction Oval last week – in just his second game for the side – and was called up to the Victorian one-day squad for the first time for their win over NSW in Sydney on Sunday.

Peake said his jam-packed schedule in the past month has helped him during a challenging period.

“I guess across the last few weeks I’ve been pretty busy since the tragedy happened, so I’ve been able to keep my mind occupied,” Peake said.

“And yeah it is definitely an inspiration to keep pursuing some of my goals because I guess I shared them with Troy and he was a massive supporter of them as well. So, I just want to keep going with all that.”

The left-hander wasn’t fazed by falling one run shy of a century – his only frustration was being unable post a really big total on a pitch that has flattened out.

“I’m pretty cruisy with that sort of stuff. Like, I think anything under ten feels like a duck to me and I guess if I’m in the 90s I’m normally pretty comfortable with how I’m going,” Peake said.

“So I guess I didn’t feel too much nerves, like obviously you always want to make a 100 but I was more disappointed in the fact that the pitch had just got really good to bat on and I was pretty keen to sort of make a really big score, like something over 150.”

Peake in action during his BBL debut. Picture: Mike Owen/Getty Images

“But that was probably the more sour thing, rather than one more run, I felt like I could have made a lot more out there.”

Caught behind playing a defensive shot off the leg-spin of Canadian international Matthew Spoors, Peake feels he should have tried a different tact.

“Should have probably tried to smack it for six,” Peake chuckled.

Peake has had a whirlwind past year since playing a key role at the back-end of Australia’s Under-19 World Cup win in South Africa, making his Big Bash debut for the Melbourne Renegades, plundering twin tons in India for the U19s and joining the Aussie Test side for their tour of Sri Lanka as a development.

He doesn’t think much has changed in his preparation in that time, with that view echoed by Geelong cricket director Travis Agg.

“I think it’s the result of, I guess, a lot of hard work across five or six years in the particular and to sort be getting results now it doesn’t feel like I’ve really changed or anything. It’s just probably consistency over a long period of time and then the results sort of taking care of themselves I guess,” Peake said.

“Training with the Vic squad this year, I have grown a lot as a player from that experience and heading up there during the week to face the best bowlers in the state consistently is really helping fast track my development.

“To not be in the squad and to be able to train is yeah, I’m very lucky to be able to do that.”

Ollie Peake (left) with the Under-19 World Cup.

Victorian head coach and former Test batter Chris Rogers described Peake as, “Different to just about every young player that comes into a squad”, due to his ability to work the ball into gaps and build an innings.

Agg believes his knock in the second XI off the back of limited time out in the middle is a testament to his talent.

“He hasn’t changed. He is exactly the same person that he was. If anything the experiences that he has received from being involved in the squads and being part of the Renegades and travelling to Sri Lanka, he is going to be better for that,” Agg said.

“As part of that it also means you don’t play as much cricket as you would be used to so therefore it is a different challenge now, trying to perform when he gets those opportunities and sometimes those opportunities are few and far between.

“He is a quality problem solver and the fact he probably hasn’t batted heaps in a game since he got back from Sri Lanka and then first innings of the second XI comes out and makes a 99, it kind of shows that sometimes he is playing on a different level to some of the rest of us.”

Peake’s partner in crime in school cricket, Richmond No.1 pick Sam Lalor, remains in the frame for a round one debut against Carlton despite suffering a broken jaw and concussion in his first practice match for the Tigers.

Having watched him get through several setbacks last year, Peake backed Lalor to respond well.

“I’ve spoken to him a couple of times over text. I think his face is pretty swollen still from surgery, I haven’t spoken to him face-to-face yet,” Peake said.

“But it’s just another little hurdle for Sammy and he’s dealt with a lot of those things across the last couple of years, so I’m sure he’ll be really diligent with his rehab and he’ll get back in no time I’m sure.”

Originally published as Victorian young gun Ollie Peake on Troy Selwood inspiration driving him as standing grows after second XI knock