ALL-ROUND LEGEND
Portarlington veteran all-rounder Paul McGrath has been hailed as one of the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association’s all-time legends after taking his 600th wicket on Saturday. But could this weekend be McGrath’s last appearance at his beloved home ground, the Ron Evans Oval?
PORTARLINGTON veteran Paul McGrath has been hailed as one of the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association’s alltime legends after posting a major milestone on Saturday.
McGrath will take to the field on Saturday as just the second player in the association’s history to reach 600 Agrade wickets.
His legacy as one of the competition’s greatest ever players was further confirmed last weekend as he claimed 4-60 on day one against Collendina to surpass the milestone.
“It’s obviously fantastic to get there,” McGrath said.
“It’s a huge honour, I don’t take it lightly.”
An incredible feat, the allrounder admitted the milestone delivery itself was anything but, with a full toss securing him wicket 600, after Collendina’s Dean Britt fittingly hit it straight to McGrath’s brother Adam at midoff.
Now nearing the end of an astonishing 24th season with Portarlington, McGrath puts both his longevity and an extraordinary list of achievements down to an enduring love for the game and the club he’s won four premierships with.
“I’ve always loved cricket and Portarlington — love the club — so that’s probably the main thing,” he said. “Just being involved with mates and just enjoying playing with guys and just staying active too.”
A fixture of the Demons’ Agrade side since the 1993-94 season, McGrath has seen generations of cricketers come and go. But he pointed to premiership teammate Damian Vassiliou and older brother Justin McGrath — both prolific run-scorers — as the best two he’d played alongside.
While the father of four admits he has been saying he will retire for at least the past five years, it is a distinct possibility that Saturday could be McGrath’s last appearance at his beloved home ground, the Ron Evans Oval.
“I’m trying to talk him into playing another season in Agrade,” Demons coach Tony East said, laughing. “He’s been an icon in the competition and 600 wickets, you’d go a long way to find anybody with a record like his.”
Just eight scalps away from Queenscliff legend Robert Warren’s 609-wicket record, and a 300-game milestone only four matches away, the man known as ‘Poudge’ says it won’t be the lure of even more achievements that tempts him to go on next season.
“I think (retirement is) getting closer, but I don’t know, I suppose maybe one more year, maybe not, we’ll just have to wait and see what comes around next year,” he said.