Hurn prefers kicks for six

WEST Coast captain Shannon Hurn suspects his late grandfather bowled to Sir Donald Bradman as he sets out to add an AFL premiership to his family’s rich sporting heritage.

Hurn, 31, grew up playing cricket and footy in the Barossa Valley as he was told stories about the SANFL feats of his father, William Hurn, and the cricket feats of his late grandfather, Brian Hurn.

Brian Hurn was a bowling all-rounder who played 31 firstclass matches for South Australia from 1957-1967.

He played in the winning Sheffield Shield 1963-64 team, alongside captain Les Favell, Ian Chappell, Neil Hawke, Barry Jarman and another handy all-rounder — Sir Garfield Sobers.

“I think he would have [bowled to Bradman]. Bradman was coach when Grandad was playing,” Hurn said.

“Unfortunately, Grandad’s passed away now, but I know he got to play with Sobers — and he reckons Sir Garfield Sobers was one of the best he played with.

“He got to play with the Chappell brothers as well. It was pretty good hearing those stories.

“There was no sports science back in the days, if they wanted to bowl they’d bowl and if they wanted to bat more they’d just go bat more.”

Hurn played in three Central District premierships — an under-19 title in 2003 and league premierships in 2004-05 — before he was drafted by West Coast.

While Hurn — who eats four Weet-Bix and drinks two coffees on game day — made his AFL debut in 2006, he did not play in the Eagles’ last premiership. Hurn, a middle-order batsman, chose AFL instead of touring with the Australian under-19 cricket team.