Champ itching to pull on pads again

FORMER Barwon Heads cricket coach and premiership hero Jason Mallett has returned to the club and will don the whites in 2022 after coming out of retirement.

Mallett (pictured) retired from the game two years ago after stints at Leopold and Drysdale but said he had started to “get that itch again”.

“I’ve had the last few years off, I had retired and was just following my son around, but he’ll be 18 next season and will be able to get to his own games himself,” he said.

“I’ve been spending a bit more time at Barwon Heads, especially in the second half of the season, and there’s a really good vibe around the place.”

Mallett attended Barwon Heads’ BPCA A2 semi-final loss to Armstrong Creek, which he said made him want to be involved again.

“In my mind I knew I was pretty keen to come back but there had been no discussion with the club during the season,” he said.

“But when I went and watched that semifinal, I knew, first and foremost, I wanted to go back and play cricket, have some fun with the boys. Ultimately, I’d love to see Barwon Heads back up in BPCA A1, so that is part of the goal for returning for me.”