All four clubs looked to bolster their respective squads via the GVBBL Draft ahead of the upcoming season next month.
The Jarvis Delahey Crushers, who held the first overall pick, selected Cricket Shepparton stalwart and Northerners all-rounder Nick Breslin with the famed number one slot.
Breslin was the first of 28 selections in the seven-round draft.
The former Lightfoot Medal winner and Old Students premiership player will make his debut appearance in the GVBBL when the Crushers take on Cobram Panel Works Panthers on January 9.
Speaking after the draft, the Crushers’ co-coach Paul Trevaskis said he was satisfied with the players they had selected.
“We are happy with what we have come away with,” he said.
“We are pretty comfortable to have guys like Breslin, (Jake) Klemm and (Brad) Todd, as well as picking up our marquee (Dylan Brasher) the other week.”
Meanwhile, the first two selections from the draft will go head-to-head in the opening round after the Panthers selected Izac Artavilla with pick two.
The Cobram young gun has 189 runs from three innings in the Murray Valley Cricket Association season.
“Izac is a young fella from Cobram and he has really stepped up in the past 18 months and taken his game to another level,” Cobram Panel Works Panthers owner Mark Haberfield said.
“This is the perfect format for him.”
Last year’s runner-up, Hurley’s Hotel Hounds, were next on the clock with pick three.
Hounds player and Katandra star Jedd Wright announced that the Kyabram-based outfit had acquired the services of Rochester all-rounder Angus Martin.
The Goulburn Murray Cricket live-wire was a member of last year’s GVBBL-winning squad, the SRP Mud Dogs.
“Angus from all reports is a very handy cricketer. We are really looking forward to getting him to the club,” Wright said.
Rounding out the first-round selections, the Mud Dogs selected a local Haisman Shield captain.
Talented Tatura opening quick Jayden Armstrong joined the two-time champions via pick four.
The left-armer is fresh off a dazzling 3-13 performance at the weekend.
Mud Dogs owner Steve Reeves was thrilled to welcome Armstrong to the reigning premier’s line-up.
“We see Jayden as a good leader who can add to our bowling stocks. He’s a local boy as well so we’re very happy to welcome him on board,” he said.
GVBBL Draftees
1. Nick Breslin (Crushers)
2. Izac Artavilla (Panthers)
3. Angus Martin (Hounds)
4. Jayden Armstrong (Mud Dogs)
5. Jake Klemm (Crushers)
6. Jake Burge (Panthers)
7. Corey Hickford (Hounds)
8. Riley Gow (Mud Dogs)
9. Brad Todd (Crushers)
10. Brodie Ross (Panthers)
11. Robert Salter (Hounds)
12. Rylea Jones (Mud Dogs)
13. Ash Saunders (Crushers)
14. Will Sharp (Panthers)
15. Daniel Ellis (Hounds)
16. Lachlan Hyde (Mud Dogs)
17. Lachlan Keady (Crushers)
18. Drew Cameron (Panthers)
19. Blake Armstrong (Hounds)
20. Kobyn James (Mud Dogs)
21. Stuart Turner (Crushers)
22. Charlie Hillier (Panthers)
23. Ash Gray (Hounds)
24. Mason Reeves (Mud Dogs)
25. Sam Nash (Crushers)
26. Oliver Willett (Panthers)
27. Steven Stroobants (Hounds)
28. Nathan Berry (Mud Dogs)
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