Subbies cricket: Caulfield’s Jacob Thorne wins fourth consecutive Val Holten Medal in Sub-District cricket

Sub-District cricket president Phil O’Meara believes more Val Holten Medals await Caulfield champion Jacob Thorne, who won the award for the fourth time on Friday night.

Minutes after Jacob Thorne had won his fourth consecutive Val Holten Medal as the best player in Sub-District cricket, association president Phil O’Meara predicted more victories in the prestigious award for the Caulfield all-rounder.

“It’s staggering what he’s done, just staggering,’’ O’Meara said.

“Four in a row? That’s something we never thought we’d see. But I’ll also say I’d be staggered if he doesn’t win it again.

“He’s 30. He’s coming into his prime years as a cricketer. Who knows how many he can end up with. He could win another two or three easily. Four in a row is unheard of …. but to think he could potentially win a few more … I reckon you’re at your best when you’re 30 to 32 of age. He bats at No 3, he bowls a lot of overs. He’s always in the game.’’

Jacob Thorne bowling for Caulfield last season.

Thorne, who is contracted to Caulfield for three more seasons, was the medal favourite ahead of last Friday night’s count at the RACV Club.

He thought his teammate Graeme Rummans would win, but Thorne topped the count with 18 votes, one more than the three-time Victorian Premier Cricket Ryder Medallist.

A three-vote performance for a century against Malvern in Round 12 lifted Thorne to victory.

Brunswick paceman James Pearson was third with 16 votes. Four players were equal fourth on 15: Ivanhoe’s Kasun Adikari, Croydon’s Steve Wright, Noble Park’s Nilo Perera and Altona’s Adam Yates.

Thorne has won the Val Holten in each of the four seasons he has played at Caulfield. Consistency is at the core of his cricket: in home-and-away fixtures in 2018-19 he hit 648 runs and took 42 wickets, exceeding his figures of 2015-16 (465 runs, 35 wickets), 2016-17 (544 runs, 33 wickets) and 2017-18 (580 runs, 32 wickets).

Ormond legend Col Hyland with James Wild (left) and Rodney Bird.

“It’s definitely what I’m feeling right now, proud,’’ Thorne said.

“Just really humbled and grateful also to the people who contributed in some way, at Caulfield Cricket Club and before that the eight years I had at Geelong Cricket Club. I’ve had a lot of people influence my cricket, even now with my mentors, ‘Wazza’ (Adam Warren), Shaun Richardson, ‘Rummo’. They don’t necessarily know I see them as mentors but I look up to them and try to model myself on them.’’

Fielders director of cricket Richardson called Thorne’s streak a “freak effort’’ and declared “it will never ever be seen again’’.

“In fact I doubt it’s happened in any reasonable standard cricket competition anywhere in the world,’’ he said.

Thorne was also named in the VSDCA team of the year.

Nigel Murch, Rodney Marsh, Peter Bedford and David Broad.

He missed out on the media award as south section player of the season, the selectors going with Elsternwick captain Cam Christensen for his 637 runs and lifting Elsty into their first grand final in more than 50 years.

Ryan Pearson (north), Luke Wintle (east) and Yates (west) also received media awards.

It was the 40th VSDCA medal dinner and the association invited the past 40 winners to attend.

Ormond great Hyland and fellow two-time recipient Nigel Murch were among the guests.

Murch was on the Malvern table alongside two other former Victorian players, Brownlow Medal champion Peter Bedford and David “Sammy’’ Broad.

Legendary Australian wicketkeeper Rodney Marsh was the guest speaker and in an entertaining 25-minute talk called for Test cricket to return to Pakistan.

Former Victorian player Nigel Murch with his son James.

Val Holten Medal

Jacob Thorne (Caulfield) 18 votes

Graeme Rummans (Caulfield) 17 votes

James Pearson (Brunswick) 16 votes

James Earle Medal (2nd XI Player of the Year)

Ryan O’Brien (Brunswick) 13 votes

Musaddiq Ali (Preston) 13 votes

Matthew Stead (Melton) 12 votes

William Tucknott Medal (3rd XI Player of the Year)

Vaninder Pal Singh (Moorabbin) 15 votes

Anthony Jordan (St Bernard’s) 13 votes

Lucas Alaimo (Melton) 12 votes

Ted Plant Medal (4th XI Player of the Year)

Dharmesh Patel (Oakleigh) 18 votes

Omar IIyas (Williamstown) 15 votes

Darren Callahan (Plenty Valley) 14 votes

Anthony Gale Medal (Under 21 Player of the Year): Brett Smith (Hoppers Crossing)

Team of the Year

Ryan Pearson (Plenty Valley), Graeme Rummans (Caulfield),

Luke Wintle (Noble Park, captain), Matthew Dean (Werribee), Kasun Adikari (Ivanhoe), Jacob Thorne (Caulfield), Eoghan Delany (Preston), Adam Yates (Altona), Brenton Hodges (Williamstown, wk), Michael Splatt (Oakleigh), Leigh Brennan (Brunswick), James Pearson (Brunswick).