Check out the biggest stories from a memorable year in local sport
From a surprise netball debut to a range of cricket controversies, we’ve compiled the biggest Local Sport stories from a memorable year.
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It’s been a massive year in local sport despite COVID’s constant disruptions.
We’re celebrating the year that was with the 21 biggest local sport stories from 2021.
From AFLW star Tayla Harris’ surprise netball debut to Glenn Maxwell’s T20 demolition of Northcote and much more in between.
We celebrated the best local cricket has to offer and farewelled some much loved sporting figures.
Check out all the big news that created plenty of headlines and chat below.
1. SUMMER SIZZLERS: 75 OF THE BEST LOCAL CRICKETERS
Author: Paul Amy, Luke D’Anello, Ben Higgins, Simon McEvoy, Dan Cencic
Following the 2020-21 season, Local Cricket’s writers named the 75 of the best talents running around in metropolitan suburban competitions.
2. TAYLA HARRIS’ EYE-POPPING START IN NEW SPORT
Author: Simon McEvoy
AFLW star and boxer Tayla Harris made a shock netball debut in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean league and her first touch reportedly drew gasps.
3. CRICKET UMPIRE PUSHED IN GROUND INVASION
Author: Paul Amy, Simon McEvoy
A Cricket Southern Bayside semi-final in March was marred by a ground invasion in which the umpire was shoved from behind. You can see the footage here.
4. CRICKET FINAL ABANDONED AFTER UGLY BRAWL
Author: Ben Higgins
A North West Metro Cricket Association final was abandoned after police were called when the match erupted in violence.
5. CRICKET ANGER AFTER PREMIERSHIP STRIPPED
Author: Simon McEvoy
Mornington Peninsula cricket club Tyabb was incensed when its premiership was stripped for playing an ineligible sub-fielder.
6. LOCKED IN: BEST RECRUITS IN LOCAL CRICKET FOR 2021-22
Author: Paul Amy, Ben Higgins)
As we counted down the days to the new cricket season we also counted down some of the best recruits from across Melbourne’s metro competitions.
7. JUNIOR HOCKEY COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS LIVESTREAM
Author: Brayden May, Michael DiFabrizio
The state’s best junior hockey players battled it out at the Victoria Hockey Junior Country Championships and Leader proudly livestreamed the event.
8. TRIBUTES POUR IN FOR MELBOURNE SPORTING FIGURE STEVE LAUSSEN
Author: Paul Amy
Steve Laussen was involved at AFL clubs Sydney, Carlton and Melbourne, as well as numerous local sporting clubs, and was fondly remembered in December.
9. ON THE RISE: 25 YOUNG PLAYERS TO WATCH IN PREMIER CRICKET
Author: Paul Amy
From Kangaroo Darcy Bell to Demon Xander Buxton, we previewed the most talented young cricketers coming through Premier Cricket ranks before the new season started.
10. VTCA SLAMMED FOR ‘GARBAGE’ FINALS RULES CHANGE
Author: Ben Higgins
The Victorian Turf Cricket Association was under the pump after approving last-minute rule changes before last season’s semi-finals despite mounting anger from clubs.
11. PLAYERS FRONT TRIBUNAL AFTER CRICKET DUST-UP
Author: Paul Amy, Simon McEvoy
Cricket Southern Bayside club Aspindale was hit with a big fine and threatened with deregistration while five players were suspended after a finals dust-up with Dingley.
12. STATE OF PLAY IN VICTORIAN PREMIER CRICKET
Author: Paul Amy, Luke D’Anello, Ben Higgins, Simon McEvoy, Dan Cencic
Back in February we looked at how every Premier Cricket club was tracking as finals approached and put a spotlight on the star performers this season.
13. JAYDE HERRICK CALLS IT QUITS AFTER FIERY FINISH
Author: Simon McEvoy
Former Victoria quick Jayde Herrick announced his retirement from cricket after Langwarrin lost to Sorrento by a wicket in a dramatic MPCA semi-final in March.
14. VIC CRICKET SELECTORS UNDER FIRE FROM CLUB
Author: Paul Amy
Premier Cricket club Essendon tendered a hard-hitting submission to Cricket Victoria calling for a formal review of the way state teams are selected and players are contracted.
15. HOW DERMIE FELL TO BRILLIANT BELLY CATCH
Author: Simon McEvoy
VFL/AFL legend Dermott Brereton’s first foray into Over 50s cricket was looking good until his wicket fell in a spectacular twist.
16. THE SENIOR TALENT DRAIN FROM PREMIER CRICKET
Author: Paul Amy
There was an exodus of senior talent from Premier Cricket after last season but Cricket Victorian was unconcerned.
17. CV, GOVERNMENT IN TALKS OVER START OF SEASON
Author: Paul Amy
Cricket Victoria held talks with the Victorian government in September as it tried to plan the start of the 2021-22 season amid COVID restrictions.
18. SRI LANKA CHAMPION LINKS WITH LOCAL CRICKET CLUB
Author: Luke D’Anello
Sri Lanka legend Sanath Jayasuriya took on a local cricket coaching job in June, a major coup for ambitious Eastern Cricket Association club Mulgrave.
19. WHITE BALL, COLOURED CLOTHES FOR 2021-22 SEASON
Author: Paul Amy
The Sub-District Cricket Association decided one-day games would continue to fill the fixture in 2021-22 with COVID conditions still in play as the new season approached.
20. TON OF TALENT: 25 LEADING PLAYERS FOR CRAIG SHIELD
Author: Paul Amy
A batsman surged past 500 runs, a bowler snaffled 15 wickets and a wicketkeeper that did everything bar serve afternoon tea were among the 25 leading players from the VSDCA Craig Shield series that finished in January.
21. 61 BALLS, 125 NOT OUT: MAXI’S SUPER SLAM BLAST
Author: Paul Amy
When superstar allrounder Glenn Maxwell phoned Fitzroy Doncaster asking for a run in the T20 Super Slam, little did they know of the remarkable knock that would follow.
‘He just gets it done’: Dandenong’s glowing praise for young gun
Dandenong coach Tom Donnell has sung the praises of two star Panthers, including one he thinks could be making a historical start to his Premier Cricket career.
Magpies double-act sends Blues reeling
A pair of Camberwell Magpies rising stars produced performances some cricketers can only dream of in a Premier Cricket under-18s game where a Carlton opponent almost stole the show.