27/03/2026
- DEVON WINSALL 150 GAMES -
Congratulations to Devon Winsall, who will play his 150th senior game in this weekend’s 1st XI grand final vs North Geelong.
A homegrown East Belmont product, Dev came through the junior ranks during a strong era, making his senior debut in 2005 and playing in an Under 17 “Just” premiership in 2007/08.
Initially showing talent as a ‘keeper-batsman, Dev got a taste of turf cricket from quite a young age but would take an extended break from the club commencing in 2012, including a stint at Torquay. He returned to the Lion’s Den for a hit in the lower grades in 2015/16 but didn’t recommence playing regular cricket until 2020.
The last several years have seen him play plenty of cricket, with his very best form seemingly having come in the last 12-24 months. He broke through for his 1st XI debut in 2025, receiving cap #270, an achievement that came two decades on from his senior debut for the club. Across his career, Dev has played 6 games in the 7ths, 5 in the 6ths, 13 in the 5ths, 31 in the 4ths, 41 in the 3rds, 42 in the 2nds and 11 in the 1sts, making him one of 16 players to represent the club in all 7 senior men’s grades.
A highly proactive presence at the crease, Dev is a dynamic player who seeks to keep the scoreboard ticking by whatever means necessary. Whether attacking the boundary ropes, manipulating gaps in the field, or haring between wickets at a pace that regularly exhausts his batting partners, Dev’s game is one that is built on high energy.
He has batted 130 times at senior level, registering 24 not outs and scoring 2,915 runs at the healthy average of 27.50. That tally includes 170 @ 21.25 in the 1sts, 876 @ 25.03 in the 2nds, 844 @ 31.26 in the 3rds, 576 @ 32.00 in the 4ths, and 449 @ 24.94 in the lower grades. He has scored 18 thirties and 17 half-centuries, while his career best score and sole knock of three figures came in November 2024 in the 2nds, when he blazed his way to a brilliant 116 vs St. Joey’s. While typically occupying a spot in the lower-middle order in the 1sts, he has proven that he can contribute vital runs at the top level, with his highest 1st XI score being 47* vs ladder leaders North Geelong in round 7 of this season.
Having regularly occupied a position behind the stumps throughout most of his early career, Dev has bowled only on rare occasions, having sent down a grand total of 8.5 overs for a career return of 3/54. He has taken 0 wickets for 10 runs in the 1sts, 1 wicket @ 3.00 in the 2nds, 0 wickets for 24 runs in the 4ths, and 2 @ 8.50 in the lower grades. Dev’s average of 18.00 and strike rate of 17.67 are tidy enough, although his economy of 6.11 could do with some polishing. His career best figures came in December 2015, when he claimed 2/5 vs the Murgheboluc 5ths. Dev has become quite a diligent net bowler in recent years, and while often relegated to delivering throwdowns on the wanger, always enjoys engaging in a bit of a battle when the opportunity to send down some of his nagging medium pace arises.
Dev is a spectacular presence in the field, having been blessed with wonderful hand-eye coordination, brilliant reflexes, and a seemingly tireless capacity to throw himself about in the field. He routinely manages to reel in any ball that gets near him in the ring, saving dozens of runs and providing a significant competitive advantage to whichever side he is a member of. He has taken 39 catches as a fielder, to go along with 94 wicketkeeping catches and 7 stumpings, for a grand total of 101 dismissals. Dev’s value in the field was never underlined with greater emphasis than during our round 9 1st XI clash with South Barwon, during which he snaffled two stunning catches during the death overs to enable us to pull off a thrilling 8-run win.
Dev has recorded 10 ducks, while also having launched 17 sixes. He has played in a single senior premiership for the club, in 2009/10 in the 4ths vs St. Joey’s. He has had somewhat limited opportunities to add to that tally over the years, having developed an infamous reputation for finals unavailability, owing to his commitment to participating in the CFA State Championships (which are regularly held in late March.) Having finally opted to prioritise cricket, he was a member of last season’s agonising 2nd XI grand final loss to North Geelong, but will no doubt be coming primed and ready for this weekend’s 1sts decider, as he aims to finally add premiership number two to his career CV.
With 150 games under his belt, Dev’s enthusiasm for both the club and the game show no sign whatsoever of diminishing and despite now being well into his 30s, his best cricket seems to still lie out in front of him. With fiancée Michelle “Bourbon and Marcola” having also taken up the game (30 senior games including an A Grade debut this season,) Dev has become an even more regular sight around the club and is regularly one of the friendliest faces to share a beer and a laugh with.
Congrats Dev on 150 games and a fantastic cricketing journey to date. All the very best in the big dance this weekend!
🦁❤️
