AS the final weekend of the Sunraysia Cricket Association season approaches, awards time also comes around.
Wednesday night will see the crowning of the next Les Innes Medal winner as the First Division best and fairest, as well as the Women’s MVP and under-16 John Hall Medal winner.
While there, you never know who might take home votes on the night. Sunraysia Daily takes a closer look at some of the senior players who are expected to feature prominently in voting.
Liam Naylor (Mildura East)
The one-time Scottish international was looking to make in impression in first season in Australia and he has done just that, performing brilliantly with bat and ball.
Making the second most run with 858, including a competition record 260 in the final round, and taking 25 wickets for good measure, he was a huge factor in East’s return to finals.
Certainly looms large as one of the pre-count favourites.
Scott Steel (Irymple)
One of the other favourites for Wednesday night, the English all-rounder has been nothing short of superb in his return to Henshilwood Oval this season.
Steel topped the league runs charts with 948 including three centuries with a best of 235 not out, while he has been more than handy with the ball taking 17 wickets.
A player that catches the eye and will earn multiple best on ground votes.
Shacaya Thomas (Gol Gol)
The reigning medal winner missed the final two home and away matches of the season with a calf injury, but as per usual his work with bat and ball will have him well within the running.
Making 669 runs and taking 29 wickets, the Jamaican-born gun was always in the contest and is a known vote getter as a two-time winner.
A win would make him the seventh three-time meal winner in the competition’s history.
Jasper Presswell (Mildura West)
The leading bowler in the competition, the English paceman has been exceptional, taking 39 wickets for the home and away season.
Ultra consistent from match to match, the 20-year-old had a best performance of an 11-wicket match against Merbein, but took at least three wickets in an innings on eight occasions.
He was also solid with the bat playing some vital innings in his 268 runs at just under 39.
Mark Thomson (Irymple)
Another player chasing his third Innes Medal win, it’s perhaps a bit more of an under the radar season for the Swallows captain from a statistical standpoint, but still finished in the top five run makers with 503.
The Swallows skipper showed great consistency, scoring 34 runs or more in eight of his 13 innings, with one century and consecutive half centuries to finish the home and away campaign.
As a proven vote getter, he is one to watch.
Nick Dorman (Mildura East)
The Mildura East vice-captain has been superb for the campaign, claiming the second most wickets with 32 scalps in his best first division season yet.
With three five-wicket hauls he was a consistent performer for East, with his final seven matches producing 21 of his 32 wickets to come home in great form.
More than 200 runs with the bat was also handy.
Riley Jobson (Nichols Point)
The teenager emerged as an important part of the Nichols Point outfit last season, and that trend continued in this campaign.
In the top six for runs scored with 459 at 45.9, and inside the top 20 for wickets with 16, Jobson started the season with three half centuries in four innings and while the runs dried up slightly, his ability to help home a run chase was important.
Has tough competition from his own teammates but would be a surprise not to feature highly.Women’s MVP favourites
Shania McKinnon (Mildura Settlers)
The Mildura Settlers captain is an obvious place to start after leading the competition run scoring with 446 runs at a ridiculous average, as well as taking eight wickets.
With just one loss for the season, Setts will earn plenty of votes along the way and the three-time MVP winner will be near the top.
Katelin Kemp (Coomealla Wentworth)
A two-time MVP and last year’s winner was at it against for Coomealla Wentworth with the Blues captain steering the ship superbly in almost every game.
Making 444 runs at the end of the home and away season, along with nine wickets to boot, she is a real chance to the first back-to-back winner in six years.
Tara Martin (Mildura West)
A stand-out performer with bat and ball, Martin has been one of the main reasons West have stayed near the top of the table.
Scoring two half centuries in her 342 runs and taking 11 wickets for good measure, the all-rounder could become West’s first ever winner of the award.
Sarah Telfer (Mildura Settlers)
Another previous MVP winner who is right up in calculations again, Telfer can lay claim to being one of the best all-rounders in the competition this season.
With 13 wickets to accompany 389 runs at the top of the order, the Setts star has formed a crucial partnership with McKinnon.
Demi Zanoni (Mildura West)
Still only 18, Zanoni has been part of the women’s competition for a number of years now and has been instrumental in West’s great form in recent years.
The bowling all-rounder grabbed 11 wickets and made 198 runs however she often batted further down the order and was able to make quick runs when required.
Addison Bell (Mildura West)
Continually proving how dangerous of a bowler she is, Bell has emerged as another future star to come out of the SCA.
The up and comer, who also won the SCA under-16 premiership with Mildura West, took a competition-high 16 wickets for the campaign with a best of 4/4.
Abby Collihole (Gol Gol)
All three Collihole girls from Gol Gol – Abby, Emily and Megan – could be in with a shout of being proven vote getters, but Abby’s run making has her in calculations.
Fifth in competition with 285 runs and taking 10 wickets to go with it, she was star for a Gol Gol side that just missed the finals.
