Wily veterans and young guns named in our Premier Cricket Team of the Week

Experienced veterans and young guns share the spoils in the final Premier Cricket Team of the Week for the season. See who makes the cut.

The final round of the Premier Cricket season is in the books.

So for the final time this season, we’ve named the Team of the Week and it’s chock full of stars.

Career-best knocks with the bat and spells with the ball.

Plus, some important contributions that saw teams pick up critical points.

Check out the team below.

James Bracey in action for the England Lions against Australia A.

1. JACKSON FREEMAN (Ringwood)

Broke through for a maiden First XI century a few weeks ago and he backed it up on the weekend. Desperately unlucky to be out for 99 off 208 deliveries, Freeman hit 13 boundaries as the Rams tied with Prahran, adding to his 259 run-total for the season to go with 10 wickets from 13 appearances.

2. HARRY DIXON (St Kilda)

Earns a spot in the Team of the Week for his blistering 111 off just 144 deliveries. The left-hander’s maiden Premier Cricket ton placed the Saints’ season back on track.

3. JAMES BRACEY (Greenvale Kangaroos)

The England international wicketkeeper-bat scored a brilliant century of 113 off 152 deliveries to get his side to a respectable total of 191. While wickets fell around Bracey, he kept the runs coming for the Kangaroos until he was dismissed at 9-184. His knock featured 15 fours and proved to be the difference with his side later bowling out Kingston Hawthorn for 186.

Jono Merlo (left) and Harry Dixon after their respective knocks last weekend.

4. JONO MERLO (St Kilda)

Like Dixon, Merlo guided St Kilda to a mammoth total against Footscray. His 107 not out against the Dogs comes after a big hundred against the same opposition last summer.

5. JOSH McDONALD (Geelong)

The Geelong skipper compiled his highest ever Premier Cricket score, a masterful 145 off 117 balls against Casey-South Melbourne. It’s bettered only by a 182 in the Second XI in his career. Coming in at No. 6 he smashed 16 boundaries and six sixes as the Cats racked up a massive 423 in a draw with the Swans.

6. MAX DELANEY (Prahran)

In just his second Premier Cricket appearance, Delaney produced a team-high 72 in a draw against Ringwood. Coming in at No. 7, the youngster combined with Nick Blaich (69) for a 100-run partnership that helped set up the True Blues’ 9-315. Took a catch as well to round out a promising performance.

⁦@GreenvaleRoosCC⁩ have defeated ⁦@HawksKH⁩ today by 5 runs
Michael Archer has taken 7/63 from a marathon 27 overs

Well done Arch
⁦@vicpremcricket⁩ ⁦@taramurray339⁩ ⁦@PaulAmy375⁩ pic.twitter.com/VNBD3ZLyIN

— Greenvale Kangaroos (@GreenvaleRoosCC) March 4, 2023

7. MICHAEL ARCHER (Greenvale Kangaroos)

A spell of 7-63 off 27 overs featuring seven maidens was a masterful performance by Archer. His seven-for led Greenvale to its second win of the season after defending 191. Archer also claimed the top five of Kingston Hawks in his excellent bowling performance.

8. CAM STEVENSON (Carlton)

The USA international showed his class, cracking 53 at No. 9 to guide Carlton to 277 against Richmond. He then nabbed 2-26 with the ball, including the prized scalp of Tigers gun Yash Pednekar (17) as the Blues secured the minor premiership.

9. MATT FOTIA (Ringwood)

Continued to put Prahan’s batting order to the sword on Saturday, finishing with a career-best 7-54 off 23 overs as he picked up from the previous week’s 4-46 effort, ripping through four of Prahran’s top five. The 28-year-old was crowned the Rams’ First XI player of the year on Saturday night, following a competition-leading 39 wickets at an average of 13.87 this season.

Jackson Freeman and Matthew Fotia. Picture: George Salpigtidis

10. BRENDAN ROSE (Richmond)

The Tigers paceman captured 6-78 off 26.5 overs — career-best figures in Premier Cricket — against flag favourites Carlton. His haul included Blues big guns Harry Smyth, Evan Gulbis and Nick Ross.

11. MICK EDWARDS (Northcote)

With a final spot on the line, the Dragons paceman ripped Essendon apart, capturing 4-13. Returned to the First XI just before Christmas and started with a bang, taking 5-18, and finishes with 13 wickets in six matches.

12. RUWANTHA KELLAPOTHA (Casey South Melbourne)

A complete performance for Kellapotha under trying conditions. After rain finally disappeared in Geelong, the talented all-rounder finished with 2-82 and 45 not out.