The reasons why Darwin or Southern Districts can win the Premier Grade grand final

There are 10 reasons why either Darwin or Southern Districts can win the Premier Grade grand final. Read our deep dive ANALYSIS into the Eagles and Crocs teams.

Ben Cameron and Nathaniel Chambers

5 min read

September 9, 2022 - 7:42PM

Sport

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THERE will be no shortage of motivation for Darwin in the Premier Grade grand final this Saturday at DXC Arena, after enduring a “Doomsday” week at the hands of the reigning premier mid-season.

Over seven days in late May and early June, Southern Districts dispatched the Eagles three times in the Darwin & District Cricket Competition — three years after Crocs also got the better of them in the 2019 two-day decider.

This year, Southern Districts, who are chasing back-to-back two-day flags, have been the pace setters all season with a team stacked with premium talent.

With the likes of former SA Redbacks Sam Kerber and Corey Kelly, Victorian contracted leg spinner Tom O’Connell and Melbourne Star Xavier Crone, plus the addition of PINT’s Tim Garner, the squad has not had one absolute standout performer in 2022 — just two made the top ten for batting and bowling: Kerber and captain Matt Hammond.

Meanwhile, Darwin’s gun middle order of Dylan Brasher, Matt Calder and Anthony Adlam have underperformed against the Crocs and are due for innings of substance.

THE REASONS WHY EITHER TEAM CAN WIN

WHY DARWIN CAN WIN

Return of the captain

The Eagles will welcome back skipper Connor Hawkins, who has taken 19 wickets at 30.84 in Premier Grade this year with his spinners.

Hawkins was rubbed out through suspension for several games following the match against Waratah in round 12.

Darwin captain Connor Hawkins returns to the fold after suspension. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Darwin are due

The Crocs have had the better of the Eagles this year, winning three games in a week from late May to early June.

However, Darwin have experienced some success against the competition’s benchmark with a round one, 31-run victory at Cazalys Arena, with Hawkins claiming 2/28 on a slow, low wicket.

Strong recent form

Coach Jake Reed has reserved some of his best performances for this Crocs, with bags of 3/29, 4/42 and 3/59 from their three meetings.

And after a Round 8 loss to Southern Districts, the Eagles have a 5-1 win/loss record since, including a confidence-building semi-final win over Waratah — the only team they had lost to over the past six games.

Gun bat Dylan Brasher said it was one of the most special wins of his career, pulling itself off the canvas after slumping to 7/109 batting first at Kahlin Oval.

Darwin coach Jake Reed has performed well against Southern District this season. Picture: NT Cricket.

The Brasher factor

The Eagles’ boast one of the competition’s best bats in Ralph Wiese medallist Brasher.

The classy left hander, who has stroked 850 runs at 65.38 this season, has produced just 77 from three hits against the reigning premier, so he’s due.

Dylan Brasher won the Ralph Wiese Medal in 2022. Picture: Roz Lavercombe

Crocs without gun spinner

Victorian contracted Tom O’Connell did not play in the semi-final against Nightcliff and will also miss the big dance due to state commitments.

O’Connell was one of the Crocs most prolific wicket takers in Premier Grade, with 15 at 26.73.

Tom O'Connell has returned to Victoria for state duties. Picture: NT Cricket.

WHY SOUTHERN DISTRICTS CAN WIN

Crocs have the edge over the Eagles

The Crocs have the Eagles’ measure this season, including three wins in seven days back in late May and early June.

In its 50-over grand final triumph, gun all-rounder Corey Kelly showed his best is a class or two above, smashing 59 from 37 balls, including several monster sixes.

Corey Kelly smashed a brutal 59 off 37 balls against Darwin the 50-over grand final. Picture: NT Cricket.

Depleted Crocs in round one loss

The Eagles claimed an early win against the defending champions, but the Crocs were without big names in Sam Kerber, Xavier Crone, Tom O’Connell and Corey Kelly.

Redbacks in hot form

After a slowish start by his standards, Kerber has enjoyed a strong few weeks with an unbeaten 44 in the semi-final against Nightcliff, and 168 in a 308-run, sixth wicket partnership with fellow South Australian Kelly (140) against PINT in the final round.

Kelly has also made back-to-back hundreds from his last two stays at the crease, with 107 against Palmerston in round 13.

Sam Kerber celebrates a wicket for Southern Districts against Tracy Village. Picture: NT Cricket.

Finals IQ

The Crocs simply know how to get the job done in finals cricket, having won the 50-over grand final in May with ease over Darwin, after beating the Eagles in last season’s two-day semi-final.

It is also chasing back-to-back two-day flags, with the core group of Dean Fry, Brodie Symons, Matt Hammond and Daniel Mylius remaining from last year’s triumph.

Hammond, Fry, Mylius and the returning Corey Kelly were all premiership players in 2019 when they beat the Eagles.

Dean Fry has won several Premier Grade premierships with Southern Districts. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

Keeping the guns quiet

Darwin boast three of the best batters in the competition, with Brasher, Anthony Adlam and Matt Calder having campaigns which have underpinned the Eagles’ strong season, producing just under 2000 runs total in Premier Grade.

However, the trio’s output drops to 77 runs at 26.3, 53 runs at 17.6, 58 runs at 19.3 respectively from three games against the Crocs.

Darwin’s Anthony Adlam is due for a big score against Southern Districts. Picture: Che Chorley.

Dylan Brasher and Ash Chandrasinghe share Ralph Wiese Medal

Dual batting sensations and friendly rivals Ash Chandrasinghe and Dylan Brasher have shared the season’s prestigious Ralph Wiese Medal.

Chandrasinghe, who compiled five consecutive Premier Grade hundreds in 2022, was a standout for Waratah in the Darwin & District Cricket Competition’s top flight with 702 runs at an average of 100.29.

The Casey South Melbourne southpaw was a chance of equalling Don Bradman’s record of six consecutive first grade hundreds against Palmerston in the final round, but had to settle for a nine not out as he was only available for the first Saturday of the two-day game.

Both topped the NT News’ First XI of the best players from the 2022 season.

Meanwhile, Brasher, also a left-handed Victorian import who enjoyed a wonderful season with the blade – plus 14 wickets at 20 apiece – was a joint winner on 15 votes on Wednesday night.

Brasher, who also topped the Premier Grade batting aggregate and took home the Club Cricketer of the Year award, told the NT News a friendly rivalry had grown between the two young stars.

Dylan Brasher during his 136 against Waratah earlier in the season. Picture: NT Cricket.

“We’ve always been compared to one another,” Brasher said.

“Without ever speaking to each other, we’ve had that rivalry. He had an unbelievable season as well.

“Without realising it, he’s probably pushed me a bit further than he even knows.

“He’s been a massive part in driving me forward and wanting to train harder and get better.”

Brasher sent Chandrasinghe a congratulatory text during the awards show on Wednesday night, to which the Tahs bat replied it was nice to play with his adversary on the same Strike League, the City Cyclones.

Meanwhile, Brasher also said a more relaxed approach in 2022 had paid dividends, admitting he had been “pretty tense” during other recent seasons.

“I just wanted to relax a little bit,” he said.

“I was enjoying it still but it wasn’t as much as I probably could have.

“It’s been amazing fun the last six months, I’m pretty sad to be going home to be honest.”

The pair were followed by Southern Districts all-rounder Corey Kelly (10 votes) for the Wiese Medal, then Darwin’s Anthony Adlam and Palmerston pair Connor Carroll and Alex Bleakley further back on nine votes each.

All six were included in the NT News/Sunday Territorian team of the year.

Palmerston master spinner Hamish Martin took home both the Premier Grade bowling average and aggregate, with 40 wickets at just 16.6.

The Women’s Cricketer of the Year prize was awarded to Waratah’s Lauren Gooden, who made 260 runs for the season and was only dismissed once, while claiming seven wickets at 13.14.