Sport

21 March, 2025

Hannett hits gold at MDCA awards night

Laanecoorie Dunolly’s Tom Hannett has capped off a wonderful season with the bat and gloves, taking home the prestigious Ken Gibbs Medal at the Maryborough District Cricket Association (MDCA) presentation night.

By Jonathan Peck

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Hannett is a worthy recipient of the medal, awarded to the best player in the MDCA A grade competition, scoring a league-leading 510 regular season runs at an average of 85.

Hannett’s 2024/25 season is one of the most prolific batting seasons Laane has ever seen, rubbing shoulders with club legends like Samit Gohil, Neil Davies and Matt Smith.

“It’s honestly a real privilege to be voted the best player,” Hannett said.

“It feels like a great achievement for me and knowing Ken personally as well, it’s a real honour to win the medal that’s named after him.

“During my three years at Wendouree, Ken was a massive influence on me — he was at training every Tuesday and Thursday and there on Saturdays.

“The quality of player that he was and the quality of players that have won that award, it’s a real honour to be a part of that.”

His third season at Laane was Hannett’s most productive, demonstrated by centuries against Beaufort in round nine and Colts Phelans in round 12.

According to Hannett, a change in mindset while at the crease was the catalyst for him producing his best cricket in a Laane jersey to date.

“Certainly the 138 not out against Beaufort was a highlight because it was the first time I got a ton for the club, it was also the first one in four years so there was a little bit of time between drinks,” he said.

“It wasn’t the flashiest of innings, it was a hard-working, grinding innings and to come out the other side and end up with a score like that, it was a lot of reward for a lot of effort.

“Being that year older and playing in a side that’s super successful, you understand what your role is.

“Developing my game in a way that was successful to the team but also brought that individual success was a real goal for me this year.

“Once you get that roll on and you see those results, its a real boost to your confidence to keep going on.”

Hannett also won The Maryborough Advertiser A grade player of the year with 24 votes as well as the A grade batting average award and was named vice-captain and wicketkeeper for the MDCA team of the year.

Hannett said his individual success this season was thanks to his club and his teammates.

“I would like to thank Ralph Williams for the power of work that he does, the cricket club is in the situation that it’s in because of the work he’s done,” he said.

“Matt Smith for getting me across, we had a meeting when I first went across and he was super open about what his expectations were and how he saw me playing.

“It’s great to pay those two back this year with a quality season with the bat and the rest of the blokes there who make cricket so enjoyable and make me want to keep coming back from Melbourne.”

Beaufort’s Tom Alexander picked up the final individual A grade award, with the left-arm spinner named A grade bowling average champion with 21 wickets at an average of 16.67.

In A reserve, Jason Hunt was named the player of the year, who also won The Addy’s A reserve player of the year as well as finishing with the best batting average in the competition, scoring 310 runs at an average of 44.29.

Colts Phelans’ Graham Taylor was awarded with the A reserve bowling average trophy, taking 25 wickets at an average of 7.24.

The MDCA affiliated under 16 teams competing in the Castlemaine District Cricket Association were also recognised, with Colts Phelan’s Brett Coon winning his second consecutive J.C Hunter Cup.

Maryborough’s Oliver Cassidy also repeated as winner of the U16 batting award, finishing with an otherworldly average of 271, while Carisbrook’s Axel Purcell was given the U16 bowling award, dismissing 10 batters at an average of 9.3.

The 2023/24 Ken Gibbs medallist Lachlan Oddie was named senior representative cricketer of the year, while fellow Oddie Andrew won the administrator of the year award.

Beaufort’s Cooper Cahill and Laane’s Thang Nguyen were joint U17 representative cricketer of the year, while Carisbrook’s Georgina Bates was named U14 girls representative cricketer of the year and Colts’ Cody Jamieson was awarded U13 country week cricketer of the year.

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