Shelton has had another good season

LUKE Shelton readily concedes he is a born-again Territorian, despite growing up in the hustle and bustle of Melbourne.

The right-hand bat and leftarm spinner had another Darwin Premier Grade season to remember, with 568 runs and 24 wickets for the Eagles.

But the skipper was a forlorn figure in his team’s changerooms last night after Waratah dumped them from the finals race.

“Waratah were too good for us today and will go into the grand final as favourites after being the linchpins all season under Isaac (Conway),’’ he said. “But Alex (Bleakley) has led from the front beautifully at the business end of the season for Palmerston and got his side up and about.

“It will certainly be no surprise to me if they beat Tahs (in the final) with that sort of momentum.’’

Shelton lived in his home city of Melbourne until he was 22, spending time in Sydney and Tasmania for another half dozen years before making his way to Darwin.

“I was playing cricket and footy in alternate seasons in Melbourne before a mate, Michael De Lacovo, told me to get to Darwin and play a bit of cricket with him,’’ Shelton said.

“And it’s been a great seven years. I’ve loved it, played in a lot of successful sides and made some mates for life, even if we’re scattered across the country.

“We had a good few years in that time (premierships in 2015, ’16 and ’17) with some really great sides and great players. The club has been awesome and done heaps for me. I just love playing cricket at Darwin Cricket Club where I’ve been lucky enough to be captain for five years.”