The Hawkesdale premiership player, who has crossed to Killarney for the 2018-19 season to play alongside brother-in-laws Brayden and Kyle Buchanan, will open the batting for the Crabs.

“The best year I had with the bat was when I was playing at Yambuk and opening,” he said.

“I am hoping to cement my spot at number one and I have never made 100 so that will be a goal for me this year, to try and make a ton.”

Julius will don the whites on Saturday as Killarney tries to defend 206 in its opening round two-dayer against Wangoom.

He missed the opening day’s play due to work which has delayed his batting goals.

“I’ll get a good feel of the ball this weekend and a couple more weeks in the nets isn’t going to hurt I think,” Julius said.

The Hawkesdale-based farmer said he was eager to spend as much time at the crease as he could this summer.

“I was hoping to not miss a game of cricket this year as I didn’t play football so I have been pretty keen for cricket,” Julius said.

“But I always say work always comes first.

“I had to go over to Adelaide with some horses, so I got that done and hopefully that’s out of the way now and I can concentrate on cricket.”

Julius played in Hawkesdale’s drought-breaking premiership in March.

The game, which was delayed due to the devastating St Patrick’s Day bushfires which hit the region, was against his new club Killarney. He said it was hard to leave the Cats.

“It wasn’t an easy decision. I just wanted to get that flag with Hawkesdale before I left,” Julius said.