Melton has locked in English all-rounder David Mansfield for the 2025-26 Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association season.
Originally for Yorkshire, Mansfield is a right-handed middle order batter and handy off spinner who has played in both the North East and Yorkshire ECB Premier Leagues for a number of years.
Mansfield is also a UKCC level two coach and a qualified primary school teacher.
He is no stranger to Australia having spent a season at Keilor Park in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association as a fresh faced 18-year-old.
Last season, he played in South Australia for Wayback in the Port Lincoln Cricket Association.
He has been one of the star performers in the league with more than 400 runs and took 34 wickets this season. He was part of the league’s representative program as well.
He took 5-12 in the grand final to help his side defend 125.
Melton said that Mansfield will be looking to make an immediate impact as the Lions set their sights on a successful campaign.
The addition is a big one for the Lions that won just one match last season after struggling the season before.
The Lions have also announced that coach Damian Costigan has signed on for next season.
It will be his second season as coach.
Costigan said following the recently completed season that they had been looking to add some experience among the young playing group they had across grades.
“It will add to the development of the youth,” he said. “Five of our seven junior sides are in finals,” he previously said.
“It’s pleasing that we have youth coming through. We need to add some experience to the list.”
The club also thanked this season’s overseas players Will Chesterman and Jack Dickson saying they were always welcome at the club having had a positive influence on the group.
