Dual local sports star Michael Tassone reflects early footy retirement and standout summer with the bat

Local dual-sport star Michael Tassone has had an outstanding summer with the bat to date but it hasn’t been smooth sailing since his retirement from footy last year. The Mullalyup sporting star has made runs left, right and centre for Hay Park, including in their T20 grand final win on Sunday, and Western Australia during the Australian Country Cricket Championships. The WA skipper capped off a standout tournament in the ACCC winning the Don Bradman batting award with 454 runs at an average of 50.44, 141 runs ahead of second place. The opener was named Player of the Championship with 494 total points and named captain for the team of the tournament. “It was pretty awesome. You don’t go into those carnivals hoping for the accolades but more for the team success and wanting to win it,” he said speaking to the South Western Times. “On a personal level it was good to contribute the best I could but the team aspect — we didn’t fall into the right results.” The Black and Gold ended the tournament in fourth, with three wins and six losses. The side had multiple narrow defeats, highlighted by New South Wales No.11 batsman Rhys Cattle hitting a six off the last ball to win the game for the Blues in a T20. “A few times we did so much right but it just gets taken away from you.” “It’s the highs and lows of cricket, some things you can control but some you can’t. But we were a lot better than result showed.” Tassone retired from East Fremantle after suffering multiple severe concussions during last year’s WAFL season, finishing with 97 league games to his name for the Sharks and Peel. “I had the conversation with my coach after the first that I would be done after another bad one,” he said. “The second was against Peel in round 15, the vision in one eye wasn’t right, so I went to hospital and I wasn’t in a great state. “I knew straightaway to finish and made the decision the week after.” Seeing the silver lining in not being able to play the sport he loves, Tassone said it was a “blessing in disguise for my cricket.” “It has helped with my cricket to have the time to prepare and train.” he said. “I was still able to go to the gym and run and stay fit but because so much time was spent in WAFL training, I wasn’t able to put time into my cricket.” Tassone has had plenty of clubs ask him about his future with football but the local is still undecided with what lies ahead. “I’ve had a few clubs approach me about coaching but I will take a step back this year.” “I’m involved at the football program at school I work in. I’m working through if that’s someone I want to do.”