By JARROD POTTER
ALL he needed to do was return a phone call.
Dialling the number set the scene for Dandenong’s Justin Butterfield to start his Victorian Premier Cricket career.
Despite missing the calls from Dandenong legend Warren Ayres, Butterfield, 28, from Narre Warren, eventually rang him back and accepted an opportunity that would shape the next 10 years of his sporting life.
Ayres’ eye at the crease was legendary, but so it seems was his eye for scouting talent, as his repeated recruiting efforts reaped Dandenong another wonderful clubman in Butterfield, who just notched his 100th first XI match on Saturday as a Panther.
“I got a phone call from Ayresy years ago and kept missing his calls and I eventually got in touch with him and he said come down,” Butterfield said. “Dandenong runs an open day each year and I had a bowl down there and he asked me if I’d like to play and it was as simple as that.”
From humble beginnings, working his way up through second and third grades, Butterfield has well and truly cemented his spot as Dandenong’s spearhead in charge of a young attack.
With 168 first grade wickets at an average of 22 since joining the club in 2006/07- including 17 already this season – he’s been a force throughout his time at Shepley Oval and isn’t slowing down yet.
“It was bit of a long time coming to be honest – had a few quiet years so I didn’t think I’d get there in the end, but I’m very proud to run out for Dandenong,” Butterfield said.
“We’ve been alright – we had that three year patch where we made back-to-back grand finals and a semi-final before that, so like anything it goes in cycles and we’ve always been there or there abouts, if we’ve missed finals we’ve never been too far away.
“Success – particularly in the first XI – is something that is expected -whenever we’ve missed out it hasn’t been by much, so it’s never been a particularly disappointing season.”
He would know a thing or two about ultimate club cricket success.
Butterfield’s fondest Premier memory isn’t with the ball, but with the bat, as his amazing 32-run partnership with James Pattinson under pressure-filled circumstances in the nail-biting 2010/11 Victorian Premier Cricket finale.
Their final-wicket stand saw off Frankston-Peninsula’s dying efforts to snatch the premiership away from Dandenong, but the bowler’s rearguard 13 off 58 balls ensured the Panthers claimed the pennant.
But it’s not just the premiership that stood out to him, but the people he played with along the way including a plethora of Test cricketers who have called Shepley Oval their club-cricketing home including the Pattinsons – Darren and James – and Peter Siddle.
“That’s obviously the highlight of the career (the premiership) and playing with those sorts of people, Darren, James and Pete; it’s been great to have on-field success and be around blokes who have been at the top level,” Butterfield said.
“It’s always a thrill when they’re down at training and you have a chat to them and then go out and play.”
Dandenong coach Ross Woodall said Butterfield’s perennial efforts throughout the years though – sticking by the Panthers through lean years after the club’s premiership success in 2010/11 – was a testament to his character.
“He’s the heart and soul of the place and it’s really important for us to perform well in his 100th,” Woodall said.
“He’s done a hell of a lot for the club and the blokes out here today, so it’s about time we repay the favour.”
Butterfield charged in for his 100th Victorian Premier Cricket match and toiled on Saturday to take 2/56 as the Panthers will need to work hard to chase down Carlton’s 339.
