ALLANSFORD-Panmure's inaugural skipper says several former Grassmere Cricket Association talents are pressing for division one selection in the merged club's maiden season.
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Chris Bant, a former Allansford captain who started his career at Panmure, has been appointed skipper of the new Warrnambool and District Cricket Association side.
Members of Allansford and Panmure signed off on a deal to merge the clubs in July after months of deliberation. It means several of Bant's former teammates - who won six Grassmere Cricket Association premierships between 2010 and 2019 - have crossed to the WDCA.
I wrote down all of the names who I thought were capable of division one the other night and I came up with 22.
- Chris Bant
Bant said Daniel Meade and Paddy Mahony were among the former Bulldogs expected to play a role in division one.
"A fair few blokes will get an opportunity. I wrote down all of the names who I thought were capable of division one the other night and I came up with 22," he said.
"It'll be a fairly decent squad of players. (Lineups) will depend on things like match formats and things like that." Bant, who coaches Panmure's football club, said he was relishing the chance to play alongside "a fair few of my close mates".
"I haven't had as much footy stuff going on with COVID (cancelling the season)," he said.
"When Luke (Ryan) and Brad (Sheen) weren't going to be able to commit to the job again, I was happy to step up into the role.
"Playing with a fair few good mates again probably appealed too."
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Nick Ansell
Nick Ansell is a sports journalist at the Warrnambool Standard.
Nick Ansell is a sports journalist at the Warrnambool Standard.
