It was truly a 2024-25 season worth remembering for Old Students young gun Sam O’Brien, who became the youngest player named in Cricket Shepparton’s Haisman Shield Team of the Year in quite some time for his stellar exploits.
The 17-year-old was rewarded with a spot among some of the district’s premier names, many with extremely well-established credentials here and beyond, opening alongside Karramomus skipper Mitch McGrath.
It was apt recognition for his A-grade breakthroughs, capped with a pair of back-to-back half-centuries late in the season as his side set about affirming itself as one to watch in 2025-26.
Oh, and just quietly, the first of those came against then-reigning premier Kyabram in a stunning upset win.
Naturally, O’Brien deferred most of his praise to the Students as a whole when first asked about his numbers.
“It was a good season,” O’Brien said.
“The second half of the season was a lot better than our first half and it was good beating three sides above us.
“It gave us confidence finishing off the season strong and we’re building something really good, so hopefully we can build on that to finish our work next year.”
O’Brien was happy to pick a favourite moment along the way in a strong season, though, and there was really only one way it could go.
“Definitely, my first 50 in A-grade against Kyabram was a stepping stone for the season,” O’Brien said.
“From there, I could go on and make a 50 down in Melbourne as well, and then another the following week against Numurkah.
“That game was probably the highlight of my season.”
To that point, regarding Melbourne exploits, there was plenty to like suiting up in the Victorian Premier framework as well.
Though it’s felt somewhat like a rite of passage for our talented up-and-comers to ply their trade at Greenvale for a period, he’s gotten involved at Camberwell — and then some.
The bat-raise O’Brien speaks of came in his final under-18 outing against Prahran, but he also earned his senior bow playing in the Magpies’ fourths along the way.
He reaffirms that the bulk of his learning remains right here at home, though.
That includes lessons from within his own club and by taking in the region’s best at work.
“With Vince (Gagliardi) coming back, he coached us all through juniors and he was influential in making us the cricketers we’ve turned into,” O’Brien said.
“To be able to play A-grade alongside guys like Oscar Lambourn and Noah Muir is really good since we’ve been at it so long.
“The club is an environment where we can express our talents and play to our strengths, which is what turned our season around.
“When you’ve got a few cricketers sitting around Cricket Shepparton as some of the best, it’s challenging when you’re young and trying to find your way against guys like Kyle Mueller.
“Trying to watch him and other great players around the league bat is a really good learning curve.”
