Who makes the cut in Leader’s VSDCA North-West Team of the Year

Runs for fun and wickets galore in our star-studded Subbies North-West Team of the Year. See who made the cut here.

Another Subbies home-and-away season is in the books.

Young guns emerged while experienced stars continued their long-term dominance

We have picked our XII from the North-West section of the competition.

Did we get it right?

Yarraville opener Josh Hahnel. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Jarrod Martignago in action for Spotswood. Picture: Andy Brownbill

1. Josh Hahnel (Yarraville)

Named skipper at the start of the season on his return to the club and he delivered as the competition’s run scorer with 783 at an average of 87. His season included two centuries along with 15 wickets at 21.13.

2. Jarrod Martignago (Spotswood)

A dominant season at the top of the order for one of the premiership favourites after scoring 716 at 59.67. Scored a century in the final round as he aims to help deliver back-to-back premierships to Spotswood.

3. Simon Lambert (Hoppers Crossing) (Capt)

The Cats captain-coach plundered runs for fun again in 2023-24, finishing the season with 683 at an average of 48.79 – third most in the competition. Didn’t crack triple figures this season but posted six half-centuries with a high of 91 against Coburg. An opener by trade but we’ve slotted him in at first drop. A handy spin option too, snaring 11 wickets.

4. Matt Dervan (Williamstown)

A career-best season for the Seagulls star as he racked up 571 runs at 57.1 – ranked fifth in the competition. Started the season with a bang scoring 56, 37, 35 and 89no before coming home strong with 30no & 67no in the outright win over Plenty Valley then 59, 50, 102 and 17 as Willy came up just short of finals.

Altona captain Ben Davies. Picture: Andy Brownbill

5. Ben Davies (Altona)

Back at Altona this season, the ex-Premier Cricket player emerged as one of the competition’s leading all-rounders. Davies scored 616 runs and claimed 22 wickets.

6. Aaron Shellie (Coburg)

The North-West group’s premier all-rounder, the only man in the top-10 for runs and wickets, and one of two across the entire VSDCA. The Coburg skipper finished fourth in both runs and wickets. Shellie racked up 572 runs – scoring 123, 93 and 99 – and snared 35 poles – taking three five-fors. The Lions’ lack of wins might cruel his Holten Medal hopes.

7. Nilan Fernando (Taylor Lakes) (WK)

Selected as our wicketkeeper. After crossing from Grand United in the VTCA, Fernando scored several half-centuries throughout the season. At season’s end he had 547 runs. Also took 18 catches and completed seven stumpings.

8. Jack Carroll (Kew)

Arguably the breakout player of 2023-24 in the North-West group. The Kew spinner finished the season with 36 wickets and an elite average of 9.42 – third most in the competition. More than a few handy contributions with the bat too, scoring 271 runs with back-to-back scores of 42 to finish the season and a high score of 66 against Brunswick.

Jack Carroll celebrates a wicket for Kew. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Matthew Doric appeals for a wicket for Brunswick. Picture: Andy Brownbill

9. Matt Doric (Brunswick)

The veteran quick pips Ameya Gharat to a spot in the XI due to balance, taking one less wicket but at a better average. Doric finished the season with 34 scalps. Had a huge outing against Coburg taking 6-52 before scoring a match-winning 47 not out. Finished strong with 18 wickets in the last six matches. Added some handy runs too with 215 at 30.71.

10. Sean Sturrock (Williamstown)

The Seagulls captain-coach was the second leading wicket taker with 39 at 11.79. Stormed home with 25 wickets in the last five games.

11. Fawad Ahmed (Hoppers Crossing)

His return to the Cats couldn’t have gone better. Ahmed finished with 53 wickets at just 8.53 and looms as a key in his side’s finals hopes.

12. Ameya Gharat (Preston)

Returned to the VSDCA with a bang, taking a bag of wickets for the Bullants. The gun spinner finished with the fifth most wickets in the North-West group – 35 at 15.69. Started the season on fire, taking 16 wickets in the opening four matches. Just misses out on a spot in the XI on balance behind fellow tweakers Fawad Ahmed and Jack Carroll.