THREE Sunraysia cricketers were named in the 2021 Victorian Women’s Premier League team of the season on Saturday.
Mildura West all-rounder Rhiann O’Donnell, former Workers Gol Gol wicketkeeper Teagan Parker and former Workers batter Makinley Blows were named on the Kookaburra Women’s Premier Team of the Season list.
O’Donnell also came away from the Victorian Premier Cricket Awards with the Una Paisley Medal for best player in the league.
O’Donnell said it was difficult playing in Melbourne while living in Mildura. However, she said the standard of cricket was good enough to make the hours in the car worth it.
Cricket has been a “bit of a rollercoaster” for O’Donnell, but she said she wouldn’t have changed a thing.
“My favourite thing this year was being able to get back down here and play with West – the club that taught me the game,” she said.
“To me cricket is being about consistent. If you can’t do it week-in week-out, that’s what a truly good cricketer is.
“And staying hungry. I’m never satisfied and I want to keep getting better.”
The first thing to come out of O’Donnell’s mouth when asked how it felt to be named in the dream team alongside her mates was a name – Andrew Farlie.
When the three women were growing up as children, Farlie was the regional cricket manager for Sunraysia.
Back then, O’Donnell said, cricket for girls wasn’t as big.
Farlie took the girls under his wing and always gave them access to a professional environment, making sure they didn’t “get lost in the system”. It was something O’Donnell said influenced all three of the women’s careers.
“Andrew doesn’t get the recognition he deserves,” O’Donnell said. “He did a lot for us in our cricketing journey. He’s probably prouder of us than anyone.
“For us to be named in the list together was pretty special.”
O’Donnell tallied 488 runs for the Demons and she took 25 wickets, making her the third Melbourne cricketer to win the medal in the past five years.
Makinley Blows compiled 406 runs for Essendon-Maribyrnong this year with a highest score of 85 and a 50.8 average.
Parker made 403 runs for Melbourne and took 16 catches.
The women – spread between Melbourne Cricket Club (O’Donnell and Parker) and Essendon-Maribyrnong (Blows) – made up a quarter of the 2021 team of the season.
