Eaton Cricket Club no longer being ‘by-passed’ as Julian Crudeli joins growing list of big name signings

Eaton captain Clayton Caltsounis says his side is becoming a destination club as the BDCA premiers confirmed the signing of Country XI talent Julian Crudeli.

The pace-bowling all-rounder arrives at the club after a season away from Geraldton-based club Wanderers, during which he played for the Country XI and in Albany’s Southern Smash.

But Caltsounis said the big signing was a testament to the club, which is starting to see more players come knocking.

“In the past we’ve been a club where when people are coming to Bunbury, we get bypassed a little bit for Colts and Marist,” he said.

“Once people know you’ve got a couple of good players, it definitely pricks people’s ears up when they come looking for a club.”

The all-rounder said Crudeli, who was named an Australian Country XI representative in 2020, had a cricketing reputation which preceded him.

“He’s all signed up and ready for the first game,” Caltsounis said.

“We know how good he is as a player but he’s also a really, really nice bloke.

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“In terms of the club and the culture we are trying to get going and to build on, he fits it pretty perfectly as a person as well as a cricketer.”

Crudeli isn’t an entirely new face at Eaton though, having played three games for the club during the 2014-15 season, including a match-winning 46 against Dalyellup.

Eaton, which is poised to announce a new name after shedding the nickname Beavers in the winter, have also added Kaine May and Ben Simpson to its squad.

May, an all-rounder who took 23 wickets for the Warnbro Swans last season, made 70 in the club’s first pre-season game.

Eaton will have to wait an extra week to get its season under way, with a bye in round one before hosting Leschenault in round two.