Coburg’s Aaron Ayre named VSDCA Val Holten Medal winner for 2021-22

Coburg opener – and surprise spinner – Aaron Ayre caps a stunning first season with the VSDCA Holten Medal. See the winners.

A dazzling debut season in the VSDCA has earned Aaron Ayre the Val Holten Medal.

The Coburg star – and former Essendon and Victorian batsman – named Subbies’ best player on Wednesday night in a gala event at the MCG.

Ayre polled 25 votes, earning best-on-ground honours six times in 14 appearances, to beat Daniel Forbes (Caulfield) and Adam Bull (Ormond) by two votes with teammate Aaron Shellie a further two votes back.

Ayre was also named in the VSDCA Team of the Year after delivering 596 runs at an average of 42.57 with the bat during the home-and-away season to rank fifth among all Subbies batters.

However, it was his bowling that impressed most, the former state wicketkeeper tallying 28 wickets at 16.04 with his spin – also ranked fifth.

Aaron Ayre in action for Coburg. Picture: Hamish Blair

Ayre said the learning the art of spin bowling had been a highlight of his season.

“It’s been really enjoyable, I joke with a lot of the Essendon boys and I’m sure I’ve got a lot of messages saying ‘you’re joking’,” he said.

“Wicketkeeping is a very closed skill, you’ve just got to catch the ball, so I find spin bowling quite the opposite, you can be doing a bad job and pick up wickets and everyone thinks you’re setting the world alight.

“It’s been really enjoyable to bowl to some bloody good players – Test cricketers, First Class, Victorian Second XI – and when you come up against guys like that you definitely find out were you’re at.”

The opener is just the second Coburg player to claim the Holten Medal, joining club legend and 1994-95 winner Glenn Edwards.

Edwards was in attendance and Ayre was in awe of joining him in a very elite group.

“For Eddo to be here tonight was a massive honour for me and the rest of the club,” Ayre said.

“I think he’s equal First XI games record holder at the club so maybe we can sneak him in for Round 1 next year and get him over the line.”

Coburg Holten Medallists Aaron Ayre and Glenn Edwards.

The 2021-22 @SubbiesCricket Val Holten Medallist ... Aaron Ayre from @CoburgCC1856.
Sensational season, 600 runs and 30 wickets and a dynamic duo with Aaron Shellie. https://t.co/aE6bL9Td5wpic.twitter.com/X4lYk0BGZB

— Ben Higgins (@ben_higgins84) May 25, 2022

After a distinguished Premier Cricket career with Essendon, Ayre joined his brother-in-law Shellie at Coburg City Oval this season.

The pair were the most damaging opening partnership in the VSDCA with Shellie topping the North-West group run-scoring charts with 638.

The step back has allowed Ayre to take a more relaxed approach to the game while also mentoring the next generation of cricketers.

“I’ve been lucky coming to Coburg, there’s a million great guys at the club and every time we walk out on the field I have a lot of fun and that helps me play my best cricket,” he said.

“We put a lot of time into our young players, if I was a young player growing up in the area Coburg would definitely be on my radar.

“We like to develop them not only for our club, we want them to go play Premier Cricket and then hopefully, like Aaron (Shellie) and myself have done, we get them back.”

Ayre welcomed a son, Isaac, during the season and paid tribute to his wife Paige for her support.

“She’s been the rock of my world for the last nine year – it’s probably felt like 20 for her,” Ayre said.

The @SubbiesCricket Team of the Year. Some fair seasons here. 🏏 pic.twitter.com/iCUqjVDxi8

— Ben Higgins (@ben_higgins84) May 25, 2022

Coburg pair Aaron Shellie and Aaron Ayre. Picture: Ben Higgins

“Paige and I found each other when I first moved down here so she’s been the one constant in my life in Victoria, there’s been a lot of ups but a lot of downs too.”

At the other end of the pitch, Shellie often had the best seat in the house to watch Ayre do his work.

The Lions captain-coach couldn’t have been prouder of his mate and said Coburg was in a better place because of him.

“I’m rapt for him, he’s a ripper, for him to come to Coburg and do what he does – not just on-field but all the stuff off-field to help me,” he said.

“You know what you’re going to get with the bat, he’s going to make a stupid amount of runs, and what he’s done with the ball was just a bonus.

“I’ve learnt a lot playing Premier Cricket with Nug and having him come on board after two mediocre seasons for the club and the club is in a better space with him.”

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Brighton’s Ricky Damiano and Malvern’s Tom Rickarby rounded out the Holten Medal top five.

Caulfield’s Adam Quirk won the Second XI James Earle Medal.

Hoppers Crossing’s Abdul Javed and Bayswater’s Michael Fahy shared the Third XI Division 1 William Tucknott Medal, while Strathmore’s Isaac Dukic claimed the Geoff Hart Third XI Division 2 award.

Preston’s Brodie Battocciotto was named the Ted Plant Fourth XI Division 1 Medallist and St Bernard’s Henry Jaggard was awarded the Daryl Thiele Medal as the best player in Fourth XI Division 2.