By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE Seagulls’ favourite son – the big man who can do it all with bat and ball – is back at the nest.
In a staggering development set to vault Tooradin even further into premiership contention in the top tier of the West Gippsland Cricket Association (WGCA), star all-rounder Cal O’Hare has returned to the club after a season with Buckley Ridges in the Dandenong District Cricket Association.
Though his numbers weren’t at their usual level for Buckley in Turf 1 last year, O’Hare is set cause all sorts of hurt to the Seagulls’ Premier opposition this season.
He, Aaron Avery and new recruit Russell Lehman are quite simply three of the very best all-rounders in the modern era of the WGCA and team mate Tom Hussey stands clear as one of its best ever batsmen.
Since the 2007/08 season, O’Hare has scored 3313 runs across all WGCA competition – including four centuries. He has also taken 211 wickets in that time – including eight five-wicket hauls – at an average of just 18.32.
He’s made the sixth-most amount of runs in the history of the WGCA’s Premier division (2379) and is one of the top three wicket-takers with 145. And he’s still only 27-years-old.
In announcing O’Hare’s return to the Seagulls’ nest, Tooradin president Kane Latham said: “We are thrilled to have Cal O’Hare join us again.
“Cal was missed as much off the field as he was on it. He’s obviously one of the most consistent, genuine all-rounders in WGCA history.”
Latham said O’Hare’s Terry Stephenson and Glasscock Medals were proof of that.
“To add him and Russell Lehman to our young and very talented line up is a dream come true. To say we are excited for the upcoming season would be an understatement”.
Lehman, who was announced in a Gazette story on Tuesday, drew the highest of praise from Pakenham president Phil Anning on his departure from the Lions’ den – describing him as one of the top four or five players he’s seen at the club.
“He got an offer that was too good to refuse and we’ve got no animosity towards him at all,” Anning said of Lehman’s switch to Tooradin.
“He’s been an integral part of our club over the past eight seasons or so, and more than that he’s been a great ambassador for us.
“He’s not just a cricket player, but a great family friend of ours and we’d love to have him back one day.
“Tooradin has ambitions to win a flag next season like we all have, and I wish them nothing but the best… in 12 out of the 14 games at least!”
Pick up a copy of this week’s Pakenham-Berwick Gazette – out now – for plenty more WGCA news, including a host of other high-profile player moves.
