Victorian Premier Cricket: Scott Edwards, Rhiann O’Donnell take medals

Scott Edwards became Richmond’s second Jack Ryder Medal winner when he topped the count at the CitiPower Centre.

Scott Edwards batting for Richmond in a season when he posted almost 650 runs. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Scott Edwards became only the second Richmond player to win the Jack Ryder Medal when he topped the count in the prestigious Premier Cricket award last night at the CitiPower Centre.

Twenty years after the Tigers produced their first Ryder recipient, English allounder Paul Collingwood, Edwards polled 37 votes to defeat Carlton coach Evan Gulbis (35) and Prahran batsman Damon Egan (33).

The Una Paisley Medal count was also tight, with Melbourne all-rounder Rhiann O’Donnell (33 votes) edging out Box Hill’s Zoe Griffiths (31).

Essendon Maribyrnong Park Ladies’ Elyse Villani was third with 20 votes.

Scott Edwards scored two centuries last season.

It was O’Donnell’s first season with the Demons – she crossed from Plenty Valley – and she certainly went the distance for them, making the long drive from Mildura every week to play.

She finished the season with 488 runs and 25 wickets, and became the third Demon in five years to win the Paisley.

The 22-year-old counted a maiden Premier Cricket century in her run tally, 105 not out off 111 deliveries against Dandenong.

Rhiann O'Donnell hitting out for Plenty Valley.

O’Donnell opened the batting and bowling at Melbourne as she sought to regain her Victorian contract. She had debuted for the Vics in the WNCL in 2018-19, the season when she also played for Hobart Hurricanes in the WBBL after an earlier stint with Melbourne Renegades.

“The sacrifice she makes is tremendous, amazing really,’’ Melbourne women’s cricket co-ordinator Marcella Torre said of O’Donnell during the season.

“It’s something girls from the country have to do,’’ Torre said. “So many talented players do it every week, not just at our club, but all around the competition.’’

Born in Tonga and a Netherlands representative at ODI and T20 level, Edwards, 24, had an outstanding season for the Tigers, hitting 637 runs at an average of 45.5 and having 22 dismissals.

There were centuries against Kingston Hawthorn (121) and Northcote (101no) and six half-centuries.

Edwards was also named in the team of the year.

“He’s got really good game sense, understands how to pace the innings,’’ Richmond coach Shannon Young said of his player during the season.

“He’s very good against spin. He sweeps a lot, he can paddle, he can reverse, he can do all that.

“What we’ve worked on with him is tightening up as an opening batter against the quicks. Most openers around the competition, they get through the new ball and with some of them you can take the pace off and control them a little bit.

“With Scott, you can’t, because he’s got those sweeps and the other shots. He keeps the game moving.’’

Geelong batsman Eamonn Vines was named captain of the team of the year. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Edwards came out of Blackburn South, gaining attention with an innings of 155 in a Box Hill Reporter Shield semi-final when he was 16.

He joined Richmond when Young was installed as coach, starting in the Third XI, and succeeded Jack Harper as the No 1 keeper.

Having a Dutch passport gave him the chance to train with the Netherlands in Dubai four years ago, and coach Ryan Campbell pushed him up to the national squad.

Edwards has since played four ODIs and 24 Twenty20 matches at international level.

There was a surprise or two in the men’s Premier team of the year, with Fitzroy-Doncaster’s Jack Rudd and Carlton’s Nick Ross both overlooked.

Opener Rudd had strong claims for his 780 runs, putting him third on the list, and Ross scored two centuries in the home-and-away series and a third ton in the finals as a middle-order batsman in a season dominated by top-three players.

Women’s Premier Cricket Awards

Una Paisley Medal: Rhiann O’Donnell (Melbourne)

Women’s Premier Firsts Best First Season Player: Isabel White (Box Hill)

Women’s Premier Seconds Player of the Season (Sue Woolcock Award): Hasrat Gill (Melbourne)

Women’s Premier Thirds Player of the Season: Teagan French (Essendon Maribyrnong Park Ladies)

Kookaburra Women’s Premier Team of the Season

Teagan Parker (c) (wk) – Melbourne

Tiana Atkinson – Dandenong

Makinley Blows – Essendon Maribyrnong Park Ladies

Bhavisha Devchand – Ringwood

Kim Garth – Dandenong

Zoe Griffiths – Box Hill

Olivia Henry – Ringwood

Anna O’Donnell – Melbourne

Rhiann O’Donnell – Melbourne

Natalie Schilov – Essendon Maribyrnong Park Ladies

Laura Shaw – Ringwood

Ellen Williams – Prahran

Men’s Premier Cricket Awards

Jack Ryder Medal: Scott Edwards (Richmond)

Men’s Premier Seconds Player of the Season: Jack Wrigglesworth (Geelong)

Men’s Premier Thirds Player of the Season: Jacob Hind and Jordan Hesline (Tied) (Richmond)

Men’s Premier Fourths Player of the Season: Oscar Gordon (Essendon)

Kookaburra Men’s Premier Team of the Season

Eamonn Vines (c) – Geelong

Scott Edwards (wk) – Richmond

Damon Egan – Prahran

Evan Gulbis – Carlton

Fergus O’Neill – Melbourne

Eddy O’Sullivan – Carlton

James Nanopoulos – Dandenong

Thomas Rogers – Ringwood

James Seymour – Essendon

Henry Thornton – St Kilda

Matt Wilcox – Prahran

Kyle Williamson – Melbourne