By Tara Murray
On Saturday, Dean Pirro joined a rare club at the Melton South Royals.
When he stepped out on the field against Seabrook ,Pirro became just the second player behind Richie Catlin to play 300 games for the club.
“It is amazing to have played 300 games for Melton South,” he said before the match. “I’ve been at the club since I was 11 years old.
“I could not have asked for more from the club. Richie is a legend of the club to have my name up there with him is a real honour.”
Pirro started at the club in the 2005-06 season in under-12s before making his first XI debut in the 2010-11 season.
He has been a key player in that side ever since.
Heading into the milestone game, he had made 6272 runs with a top score of 138 and had taken 181 wickets.
Pirro said he couldn’t have imagined playing cricket anywhere else.
Lots has changed since he joined the club.
“When I first started we were playing at Melton South Primary School,” he said.” We had to roll out mats to put on the concrete wicket.
“We now have our own turf wicket and new club rooms that have really elevated the club. It’s massive.
“We were playing in the Williamstown District Cricket Association and now we have our own ground. It’s really good to see where the club is at.”
As a junior, Pirro’s talents allowed him to be selected in the JG Craig and Western Spirit representative sides.
The club on social media also highlighted a number of dislocated shoulders during his time.
“When I was a junior, three or four times I dislocated my shoulder,” he said. “My mum would pop it back in and she would tell me to get back out there and go on with it.”
Pirro has been both captain and coach of the club.
“It was something that I wanted to challenge myself and do,” he said of coaching. “I had a blast doing it and it was very exciting.”
Pirro said the two premierships he has won at the club, a junior and a senior, were the highlights, along with the friendships he had made.
He is hoping that he can add a long awaited third premiership this season.
After six rounds of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Evans-Clark Shield, the Royals sit atop the ladder.
“I feel like we have the squad to go all the way if we can put a whole season together,” he said.
“We’re quietly confident in the team. The whole league is quite strong and even and you have to rock up on Saturdays.”
On Saturday, it was a day for the bowlers on day one against Seabrook.
Seabrook was bowled out for just 85, with Saman kumara Muthuwadige taking 6-25 for the Royals.
The Royals lost some early wickets in the run chase but were in sight of victory at stumps. They will resume at 4-61.
