Hannett was a member of the Victorian Country team in the early 1980s, a time when international teams toured regional Victoria.

After missing out in the Pakistan match when the team played in Stawell, Hannett got his chance against Sri Lanka.

“We only had one real opener so I put my hand up to get picked to open and make sure I wasn’t the 12th man again,” Hannett said.

“As much as (I enjoyed) being a 12th man in the team at Stawell, I was disappointed I didn’t get out on the field.

“It was a great experience that I’m very thankful for.”

Hannett started playing A Grade cricket at grassroots level as a youngster, kitting up for Navarre alongside his father.

“I was 12 and made 12, against Youth Club,” he said.

“We only had the one side at that time and they were short that day so I got a call-up.”

Before that, Hannett played junior cricket for a club called Trinity, and fondly remembers one of his batting highlights at the age of 14.

“I made 117 in the morning. I then played for Navarre in the afternoon, making 55 not out,” he said.

Hannett played the majority of his cricket at his home club of Navarre where he is known as Joe, a name given to him by his father.

“Navarre got dropped back to B Grade in the mid 80s after losing a lot of players. I moved to Great Western for eight years when that happened to continue playing A Grade cricket,” he said.

Playing as a batsman and bowler throughout his career, Hannett said his preference had always been to have the bat in his hand.

“I enjoyed batting,” he said.

“The part I love most about the game is being a competitor and the friendships you form.”

Hannett represented associations and districts in more than 45 different country weeks during his career.

“Every year we would have Ballarat Country Week and then Melbourne Country Week,” he said.

“My holidays were always centred around going away with the cricket sides.”

In a career full of highlights, Hannett said some of the special memories came when family and cricket combined.

“My son Tom and I played a bit of cricket together. A real standout memory to me was four or five years ago when we batted together and won the game in the last over,” he said.

Hannett played in two premierships with Great Western and five with Navarre.

“One was more special than the rest. The year I won my second premiership with Great Western was the year I got married,” he said.

“I also captained and coached Navarre’s reserves football team in a premiership all in the same 12 months, as well as lost a Melbourne Country Week final.”

When Hannett thinks back to how he fit a wedding into a jam-packed year, he chuckles.

“We got married during the cricket season. I married my wife Lisa on the first Saturday of January when there is normally a break in the cricket season,” he said.

“The competition came back and played on that date. I missed that game of cricket, but funnily enough one of the fellas in the wedding party played that day but left a bit early.”

Although Hannett is still passionate about cricket, he believes his time is now up.

“I filled in one Saturday last season and I realised I shouldn’t be out there,” he said.

“My body doesn’t allow it any more. If it did I would still be out there playing.”

Hannett now serves as the Navarre Cricket Club president and treasurer, and also tends the bar on a Thursday night.

“While the club is going I will be there,” he said.

“I don’t mind helping out and keeping it going.”

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