After a year filled with exciting contests, outstanding individual performances and the occasional COVID-19 hiccup, the dust has finally settled on the 2021-22 Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield season.
Mooroopna made it back-to-back triumphs with a thrilling grand final win over Kyabram and Waaia opener Liam Evans came away with the Lightfoot Medal after a dominant campaign.
And, while Cricket Shepparton did come out with its own Haisman Shield Team of the Year, we at The News sportsdesk have put our own spin on things and released our Team of the Year.
1. Liam Evans — Waaia
What can one say about this man’s season that has not already been said? It was a massive season for Evans with bat and ball, picking up the Lightfoot Medal for his hard work.
He played a key role in Waaia’s undefeated regular season, with the classy all-rounder ever reliable for his side.
A season total of 437 runs with the bat and 16 wickets with the ball, including a spell of 3-40, are not numbers to be scoffed at.
Evans’ form this season will certainly be remembered by fans of Waaia and Cricket Shepparton alike, and his name will be forever etched into Cricket Shepparton history on the Lightfoot Medal winners’ list.
2. Brendan Scott — Central Park-St Brendan’s
An experienced campaigner in every sense of the word, Central Park-St Brendan’s skipper Brendan Scott enjoyed another excellent season at the top of the order.
Forming part of a star-studded batting line-up, the talented opener was a model of consistency throughout the season reeling off 411 runs at an average of 31.62.
The highlight of his season came in a round nine clash against Tatura, where he smashed a scintillating 130 off 138 deliveries to see the Tigers to a season high total of 2-301.
Along with his exploits with the bat, Scott also chipped in with some handy spells of bowling, taking 11 wickets across his 14 games.
3. Kyle Mueller — Kyabram
It was a big year at the crease for Kyle Mueller, with Kyabram’s captain coming agonisingly close to leading his side to a drought-breaking Haisman Shield win.
Mueller was instrumental in the Redbacks’ charge to the final, knocking 587 runs at an average of 41.93, with a high score of 89 coming in a big round one win over Nagambie.
Picking up 40 runs in the Haisman Shield final, Mueller put himself on to bowl on a number of occasions throughout the season, with figures of 2-28 off 8.1 overs an admirable best.
While his side failed to get over the line in the final it was certainly a successful year for Mueller.
4. Tyler Larkin — Central Park-St Brendan’s
Returning to his hometown Tigers on a full-time basis as coach in season 2021-22, Tyler Larkin certainly didn’t disappoint.
Beginning the campaign with scores of 95, 73 and 44, he firmed as an early Lightfoot Medal favourite as his team romped through the competition with some powerful performances.
Finishing the season with a grand total of 416 runs at 46.22, the only thing that eluded the uber-talented number four was a century, as he finished fourth in the competition for runs scored.
Set to lead this exciting team forward, everyone at Deakin Reserve would have been buoyed by his production and eager to see what the future holds.
5. Cade Mueller — Kyabram
Brother to Kyabram captain Kyle, Cade Mueller is a Haisman Shield star in his own right, with the Redback a headache for opposition sides this year.
Dangerous with the bat, Mueller made 397 runs across the season, averaging 39.7 a game, with a score of 109 against Karramomus in round 10 a high point of the season.
A key cog in the Kyabram wheel, Mueller helped his side get into the final, however, the Redbacks went down in heartbreaking fashion.
One of the league’s best performers this year, Mueller fully deserves a Team of the Year berth.
6. Luke Nolan (wicketkeeper) — Nagambie
While Nagambie endured a largely inconsistent 2021-22 campaign, the only thing that never wavered was the production of wicketkeeper Luke Nolan.
Opening the batting for the Lakers, Nolan finished second on the competition’s run-scoring table with 462 at an impeccable average of 46.20.
His performances pre-Christmas were particularly impressive, as he all but carried Nagambie’s batting unit, with a gutsy 57 not out off 132 at Waaia an example of his gritty determination.
He also showed up in the finals, with his blistering 86 not out in the qualifying final almost enough to lift the Lakers to a stunning upset win over eventual premier Mooroopna.
7. Jedd Wright — Katandra
One of the league’s best all-rounders, Wright consistently performed well throughout the season.
With the bat he was lethal, hitting 441 for the season at an average of 33.92 a game. A high score of 100 against Old Students was his highest of the year, while a ridiculous 5-15 against Katandra was his best bowling figures.
Wright consistently performed well with bat and ball, with the Katandra star able to turn games on their head at the drop of a hat.
Certainly, one of the Haisman Shield’s best talents, the Team of the Year would not be wright without Jedd in the team.
8. Luke Zanchetta — Mooroopna
Leading his team to a second straight Haisman Shield title, Mooroopna coach Luke Zanchetta had an incredible 2021-22 season.
Topping the competition’s wicket-taking leader board with an impeccable 32 scalps at 8.94, opposition batters simply couldn’t get the Cats quick away.
Taking multiple wickets in all but three of his 16 matches, you won’t find many more consistent performers than Zanchetta as he constantly got the job done for his team.
His performance in the grand final epitomised his class, as he took the responsibility and bowled his team to victory in what was an incredibly tight final few overs at Deakin Reserve.
9. Nathan Fothergill — Nagambie
One of the major catalysts behind Nagambie’s late season charge into the top four, spearhead Nathan Fothergill terrorised top order batters all season.
Renowned for his blistering speed and ability to hit a good length, Fothergill shot up to third in the league’s bowling standings by season’s end, taking 28 wickets at 11.93.
The quick caught fire in the latter portion of the season, taking nine wickets in a two-week stretch against Euroa and Numurkah to consolidate the Lakers’ position in the finals series.
10. Mitch Cleeland — Waaia
A standout with the ball this year, Cleeland picked up wickets in 12 of the 13 games he played. Another key ingredient in Waaia’s recipe for success this season, the quick’s pace left many teams scratching their heads.
Figures of 4-22 against eventual premier Mooroopna, 3-21 against Shepparton United and 3-29 against Central Park-St Brendan’s show how dominant Cleeland was with the ball in hand this season.
To bowl the ball so well, so consistently, is no easy feat and Cleeland did more than enough to earn a Team of the Year gong this season.
11. Darin Ohlsen — Kyabram
Opposition batsmen were sent into a spin whenever Ohlsen rolled the arm over this season. Helping Kyabram go all the way to the Haisman Shield final, Ohlsen put in shift after shift for the Redbacks with the ball.
With 29 wickets for the season, at an average of 6.38 he certainly was not messing around and a 5-19 against Shepparton United was the best of his scintillating season statistics.
Like Waaia’s Mitch Cleeland, Ohslen picked up wickets in every game he played this season bar one and his fine form deserves to be recognised in the Team of the Season.
12th man. Joel Brett — Northerners
Carrying the drinks for this talented team is Northerners all-rounder Joel Brett, who enjoyed an excellent season for the seventh-placed Jets.
Brett began the season with a bang, reeling off a stunning 113 against Kyabram in round three, before backing it up with an 83 against Numurkah the next week, as he finished the season with an impressive 311 runs at 28.27.
The Tallygaroopna talent was as effective with ball in hand, stepping up in big spots to claim 21 wickets at 17.19 including a dominant 5-40 against Katandra in round 10.
Brett is as well rounded a cricketer there is in the Haisman Shield and will without doubt be a force for many years to come with bat and ball.