Burge ready to take on familiar faces as Mud Dogs take on Panthers

By Max Stainkamph

Jan 15, 2021

He walked into the SRP Mud Dogs not knowing anyone, but this week Jake Burge will have plenty of familiar faces on the field.

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They’ll just all be dressed in the pink of Cobram Panel Works Panthers.

The Goulburn Valley Bush Bash League’s number one draft pick will come up against teammates and opponents from Cricket Albury-Wodonga, with bragging rights on the line.

Among those Burge will know will be North Albury clubmate Ash Borella, while opponents he’ll recognise include Echuca-based Ben Fulford, former Wodonga talent Jack Craig and Thurgoona’s Drew Cameron.

“It’s going to be fun going up against them and the winner will definitely take bragging rights,” Burge said laughing.

“Especially with Ash, I’ve said to the other bowlers come wide of the crease and put two gullies in place and he’ll hit it straight to them.

“I don’t know how likely I’ll be to get two gullies but I’ll try.”

One talent Burge won’t have to try to knock over will be Panthers’ marquee James Seymour, who’s been brought into the Melbourne Stars’ Big Bash League squad following his century for the Premier Cricket XI last weekend.

Burge is eager for the Mud Dogs to carry on their form from the opening game, where they overcame Hurley’s Hotel Hounds off the back of a masterclass from Joel Brett.

“I was saying when he went out to bat I’ve never heard someone hit a ball so cleanly,” Burge said.

“It’s been good, the standard’s been really good.”

Burge was playing his first GVBBL game on Sunday and while he said he “didn’t know what to expect” he found the standard to be higher than he expected.

“I was told it’d be good, but there are plenty of good hitters and bowlers.”

Burge didn’t set the world alight with ball in hand on Sunday, with 0-29 from three overs, and he said he was determined to make an impact after being taken with the first selection in November’s draft.

He said the drafting process, and being taken with the number one pick — weren’t things he’d expected.

“It was quite unique, it’s not something I’ve been a part of before,” Burge said.

“The coaches were all really good, they called around and asked questions and wanted to know my intentions, and I could learn a little bit about how they wanted to build a team.

“You don’t get much like this in bush leagues or clubs.”

Burge said he’d enjoyed the company of the Mud Dogs from the moment he got there.

“They’re a great bunch of blokes.”

He’s hoping that great bunch of blokes will be bolstered by new marquee signing Jack Neylon and they continue their march towards finals.