Around The Leagues: They might be retired from footy but Nat Fyfe, James Aish to play cricket for Lake Grace

The Advertiser brings you Around The Leagues, taking a look at cricket stories of players and personalities from the Albany and Districts, Great Southern and Upper Great Southern regions. The Lake Grace Dockers First it was All-Australian defender Jordan Clark and now it is dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe. Lake Grace Cricket Club can easily claim the tag for the biggest name players of this summer, with Fyfe set to play for the regional club on Saturday. Fyfe retired from the AFL this year after 248 games with Fremantle, going down as one of the club’s all-time greats. However just a couple of months on from closing the curtain on his decorated AFL career, Fyfe is set to play a game of country cricket for his hometown. Fyfe along with former Dockers teammate James Aish are the two shock inclusions to a Lake Grace side that will play Cuballing on Saturday. Around The Leagues came across the news when the club posted to social media with their team, casually saying “we’ve got some fresh faces in the lineup, bringing fresh energy and excitement to the team”. Aish also retired this season, hanging up the boots after playing 148 games across three clubs and finishing his career in the west. The round five Upper Great Southern Cricket Association A-grade fixture will have plenty of eyes on it, just a few weeks on from when Clark played a cameo game for the same team. Clark, who was harvesting on his partner’s family farm, belted 55 from 32 balls and took three catches as the keeper in a big Lake Grace win on November 9. Fyfe and Aish are set to play in the unbeaten Lake Grace side that will travel to tackle Cuballing in the one-day game that starts at noon. Morgan magic produces mammoth ton It is fair to say Albany product Dylan Morgan is seeing the ball quite well at the moment. Morgan, who played for Royals in local cricket, whacked a brilliant century earlier this month in the Perth Swan Cricket Association. In action for City Beach Green Range Cricket Club, Morgan blasted 162 in the H division contest on November 15. Morgan’s incredible knock came from just 111 balls and contained eight sixes and 16 fours, with the boundaries at Burkinshaw Park not big enough for his dominant display. Glen Forrest sent City Beach in to bat and Morgan’s heroics led his side to a score of 6-280 from 40 overs. Morgan then snared 2-2 from just seven deliveries to help clean up the tail as Glen Forrest were knocked over for 147 in reply. In just four games this season Morgan is averaging 91 with the bat, having scored 117 in round two. Plenty of Joy for Bremer Bay all-rounder Albany and Districts star Lincoln Joy will represent WA Country XI for the second time, named in the team for the upcoming national championships. The men’s competition will be held in the Busselton and Margaret River region from January 3-10 with Joy earning touring honours for the second time. Joy travels from Bremer Bay to play with Royals in the Albany and Districts Cricket Association. He debuted for the WA Country XI in 2024, coming away as the Terry Waldron medallist as WA’s best player with 192 runs and eight wickets at the carnival. However injury prevented Joy from touring with the side last year. He is expected to play a big part for the hosts, named in a side that contains the likes of Adam France, Bevan Bennell, Bradman May, Joshua Vernon and Michael Tassone. Tim Hutchison, who played with Royals and Collingwood Park in the ADCA, is a vastly experienced member of the WA squad. Got a cricket story from our region to share? Email cameron.newbold@albanyadvertiser.com