With the Cricket Shepparton season only a few days from completion the league held its awards ceremony on Monday night to celebrate the Goulburn Valley’s best cricketers.
At Cricket Shepparton’s night-of-nights president Narelle Claney rolled out the red carpet with a function at the Goulburn Valley Hotel and, while it may not have been quite like the Crown Palladium — venue for the AFL’s Brownlow Medal count — all who attended enjoyed the night as the food was scoffed and drinks enjoyed.
Some of the favourites to take home the Lightfoot Medal for the best player in A-grade were busy early in the night as they got their daily steps while walking to and from the podium.
Kyabram star Kyle Mueller won the Batting Aggregate award for the most runs for the season with 612, with a mammoth top score of 158 against Euroa.
Waaia bowling bandit Jesse Trower collected the awards for best bowling average (10.15) and leading wicket-taker (36), tying for the latter with Nagambie’s Mark Nolan.
Later in the night, Nolan also won the Cricketer of the Year award.
The star all-rounder was a shining light for the Lakers across the 2023-24 season, amassing 242 runs and taking 39 wickets across all formats.
Cricket Shepparton’s future showed it was in good hands with a talented trio making the top three of the Under-23 Cricketer of the Year award.
Numurkah star Ragu Aravinthan took out first place, while Tatura all-rounder Blake Armstrong and Karramomus bowler Lachie Keady came in second and third, respectively.
However, the star of the show was Shepparton Youth Club United’s batting all-rounder Rehan Bari, who took home the Batting Average award (58.3) and the famous Lightfoot Medal for best A-grade player as voted by the umpires.
United missed out on finals this season after a disappointing finish, but Bari was consistent for his side, scoring four 50s and one 100, as well as taking 13 wickets to round out a superb season.
The Cricket Shepparton A-grade Team of the Year only had three returning players from last season’s side (Liam Callegari, Kyle Mueller and Mark Nolan), while wicketkeeper Luke Nolan returned to the team after featuring for the 2021-22 season.
After losing one game throughout the home and away competition, Waaia heavily featured in the side with four players, while Kyabram and Nagambie had two players each.
Four teams (Old Students, Numurkah, Northerners and Shepparton United) had one player selected.
Interestingly, Mooroopna didn’t have any representation in the team despite finishing second on the ladder and qualifying for the grand final.
Cricket Shepparton A-grade Team of the Year
Opener: Brayden Carey (Waaia)
Opener: Paul Parsons (Kyabram)
Batter: Kyle Mueller (Kyabram)
Batter: Rehan Bari (Shepparton United)
Batter: Reinhardt Engler (Waaia)
Batter: Tim Arnel (Numurkah)
All-rounder: Jordan Cleeland (Waaia)
Wicketkeeper: Luke Nolan (Nagambie)
Bowler: Mark Nolan (Nagambie)
Bowler: Jesse Trower (Waaia)
Bowler: Liam Callegari (Old Students)
Bowler: Josh Sidebottom (Northerners)
Life memberships were awarded to two of Karramomus’ most significant figures, Paul McGrath and Paul Trevaskis.
Usually unheralded aspects of cricket were also celebrated on the night, as umpire Mal Stewart was recognised for his 65 years of service to the sport and Northerners cricketer Tim Jacobson was honoured with the Spirit of Cricket Award.
Other umpiring awards went to Rohan Storey (Best First Year Umpire) and Darren Meek (Most Improved).
Across the other grades, Kyabram all-rounder Jason Parsons claimed the B-grade Champion Player award.
Karramomus all-rounder Travis Guppy won the C-grade medal for best player, while in D-grade Pine Lodge all-rounder Braydon Kearns won the award for best player.
Lastly, Katandra all-rounder Dillon Shelley took out the award for best player in E-grade.