The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) Cricket Section celebrated the outstanding achievements of the 2021/22 season in the Members’ Dining Room at the MCG last Friday night.
Players, officials, family and friends gathered to celebrate the success of the Club’s premiership teams, and individual award winners from across both the men’s and women’s teams.Amy Vine capped off a superb season by being crowned Club Champion for the third time – following on from back-to-back wins in 2016/17 and 2017/18. Vine compiled 586 runs at an average of 83.71 from 13 innings during the season.
The Paul Sheahan Club Champion Award (for the best Men’s player) was presented to up-and-coming all-rounder, Fergus O’Neill. O’Neill finished the season with 26 wickets at an average 19.31, whilst also making 381 runs at an average of 42.33.
Campbell Kellaway was awarded the Brian Watson Memorial Award for the most outstanding performance by an MCC cricketer for his back-to-back centuries in the First XI against St Kilda (130 runs off 152 balls) and Footscray (102 runs off 120 balls). His knock against the Saints was Campbell’s maiden First XI hundred.
After claiming the Premier Cricket Third XI Player of the Year award last week, youngster Kyle Parrott capped off his season by taking out the Men’s Players’ MVP Award, leading from the get-go and finishing with 19 votes. Ella Hayward claimed a come-from-behind victory in the Women’s Players’ MVP Award, finishing on 18 votes, two ahead of Brea Sutton and Amelie O’Meara who were tied for second on 16 votes.
The XXIX Club Youth Cricketer of the Year awards presented to Zoe Samuel and Harkirat Bajwa. Samuel, at the age of just 15, has already become a First XI premiership player in her first full season, as well as taking out the Women’s Premier Firsts Best First Season Player award at the Premier Cricket Awards last week. Bajwa celebrated his First XI debut during the 2021/22 season, as well as being selected as the youngest member of the Australian Under 19 squad for the ICC Under 19 World Cup.
The Best Club Person award received nearly the biggest ovation of the night, with Will O’Brien receiving the accolade for his service to the Club as a player, coach, captain and role-model.
Congratulations to all of the award winners:
Women’s Club Champion Award
Amy Vine
Paul Sheahan Club Champion Award
Fergus O’Neill
Women’s Players’ MVP Award
Ella Hayward
Men’s Players’ MVP Award
Kyle Parrott
Brian Watson Memorial Award
Campbell Kellaway
Best Club Person
Will O’Brien
XXIX Club Youth Cricketer of the Year (Female)
Zoe Samuel
XXIX Club Youth Cricketer of the Year (Male)
Harkirat Bajwa
Women’s Player of the Finals
First XI Semi Final: Rhiann O’Donnell
First XI Grand Final: Hayleigh Brennan
Second XI Semi Final: Jess Couser
Second XI Grand Final: Lucy Page
Third XI Semi Final: Alice O’Brien
Third XI Grand Final: Parry Jenkins
Men’s Player of the Finals
Third XI Semi Final: Aaron Boyle
Third XI Preliminary Final: Nick Pastras
Third XI Grand Final: Mitch Cheesman
Fourth XI Semi Final: Alistair McCooke
MCC Club XI Division 1 Player of the Year
Hugh Hyslop
MCC Club XI Division 3 Player of the Year
Frazer Hughes
MCC Club XI Division 4 Player of the Year
John Ong