Sport
Race to the Lightfoot Medal: The News picks its current top 10 Haisman Shield players
That magical time of year has arrived when Christmas tree coves have been filled and emptied, stockings are unstuffed and barbecues are ablaze with salivating smells.
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Cricket Shepparton’s playing coterie is on a hiatus during this period, leaving it to the pros to give punters a dose of the gentlemen’s game as the spellbinding spectacle of the Boxing Day Test flickers on the TV screen.
But as our locals take leave, who in the Haisman Shield is ruling the roost right now?
Nine of the 13 home and away rounds have passed and a nucleus of the district’s top talents with bat and ball have risen to the top.
While votes won’t be revealed until the league’s night of nights, the stats give an inkling on who might be crowned the 2024-25 Lightfoot medallist come March.
And so, the sporting brainstrust at The News has combed through stats of all the players in the Haisman Shield to decide — fusing in vibes, of course — who are the best 10 at the festive break.
10. Seth Westley (Katandra)
Statistics: 18 wickets at 11.89 average
Consistent wickets have been key for Katandra this season and, with some of the Eagles’ strike bowlers missing in the early rounds, Seth Westley has picked up the phone.
The brutish right-arm quick has hit the ground running since landing down under, claiming clumps of wickets in every match he has played.
A stunning spell of 5-17 against a bat-heavy Numurkah unit demonstrated the peak of his powers and, with an average of 11.89, Westley is a captain’s dream with the new rock.
9. Rehan Bari (Shepparton Youth Club United)
Statistics: 260 runs at 43.33 average, five wickets at 36.2 average
The reigning Lightfoot medallist may not have yet hit the same dizzying heights as last season, but rest assured, the Prince of Princess Park is still doing kingly things with the blade.
Rehan Bari has 260 runs at 43.33 and a dashing knock of 108 not out to boot, arriving against premiership contender Nagambie.
Not to mention, the Shepparton Youth Club United man is an all-round specialist and few in the Haisman Shield have a deeper bag of tricks than Bari.
His five wickets complement the stack of runs nicely, ensuring him a spot on this list.
8. Tiron Fernando (Pine Lodge)
Statistics: 18 wickets at 16.78 average
Tiron Fernando has been ripping out stumps for fun this season.
The Lemnos Malinga has been the head prong on a frightening Pine Lodge bowling brigade and, though, wins haven’t fallen the Lodgers’ way, one man has made games interesting.
Fernando’s transition from B-grade in 2023 to A-grade has been seamless and, after leading the wicket-taking standings in the early rounds, the paceman has 18 poles to his name at Christmas.
7. Mark Nolan (Nagambie)
Statistics: 267 runs at 38.14 average, 12 wickets at 10.5 average
There aren’t many players with the type of aura Mark Nolan holds.
Pressure isn’t in the 2019-20 Lightfoot medallist’s vocabulary and this season is no different as he and brother Luke look to lift the Lakers towards a maiden Haisman Shield triumph.
One criticism could be his performance against the big boys compared to the lesser-lights, but you simply can’t argue with 267 runs and 12 wickets.
6. Mitch Cleeland (Waaia)
Statistics: 350 runs at 43.75 average
If you need a trusty bat, call Mitch Cleeland.
Waaia’s wiz with the willow has provided stability whenever called upon, guiding the Bombers out of murky waters on more than one occasion.
His knock of 74 against Katandra was a prime example of that and, though, Cleeland hasn’t bowled as much as last season, his run count and consistency alone warranted a spot among the current 10.
5. Billy McLay (Kyabram)
Statistics: 300 runs at 37.5 average, six wickets at 9.17 average
There is an argument to include any of the three McLays on this list — Billy, Charlie or Jackson — but the former’s steel in both facets cannot be ignored.
A stack of runs at the order has freed up a certain someone — who features lower on this list — to let rip without restraint or responsibility.
Chipping in with wickets here and there is another pressure-reliever for Kyabram’s main bowlers, making McLay the perfect Mr Fix It for any situation.
4. Blake Armstrong (Tatura)
Statistics: 322 runs at 46 average, seven wickets at 36.86 average
Blake Armstrong is batting above his average — and age —this season.
He has easily been one of the Haisman Shield’s most consistent hitters with only one score below 20 this season and, though, a massive innings hasn’t yet eventuated, Armstrong is not far off taking his game to the next level.
Does he have ice in his veins? Check — his quartet of half-centuries point to that.
Throw in a cool seven wickets and you see how important he is to Tatura.
As the Bulldogs’ barnstorming run continues, Armstrong will be called on time and time again to deliver — and given his form, don’t be surprised if he does exactly that.
3. Raguvaran Aravinthan (Numurkah)
Statistics: 357 runs at 71.4 average, nine wickets at 16 average
Opposition players have struggled to stomach “Ragu” again this season.
Cricket Shepparton’s reigning Under-23 Player of the Year has returned to Numurkah to wreak havoc, showing shades of a certain former import named Michael Eckard.
Yes, it’ll take some doing to fill Eckard’s enormous shadow, but this guy is the truth.
Aravinthan peeled off 260 runs and scalped 19 wickets last season and has already registered 357 runs thanks to a monster knock of 136, a score only bettered this year by Kyle Mueller’s 150 and Connor Hayes’ 144.
Chucking nine wickets into the mix confirms there’s little Aravinthan can’t do and, if Numurkah is to creep into finals, the Blues’ boom bat will be front and centre of the charge.
2. Jarrod Wakeling (Central Park-St Brendan’s)
Statistics: 30 wickets at 9.17 average
We’ve seen some devastating bowling displays in recent years, but Jarrod Wakeling’s 13-70 against Pine Lodge set the tone for what spin should look like.
The Tigers’ tweaker has taken a sumptuous total of 30 wickets, peerless at the top of the Haisman Shield bowling charts.
Central Park-St Brendan’s has a cohesive bowling unit that fluctuates in power season by season, but Wakeling is taking the Tigers to the top by the scruff of their neck.
Crafty in delivery and deviation, Wakeling snared 29 Haisman Shield wickets last season and has already surpassed his tally with four games to go in the home and away.
That is scary.
1. Kyle Mueller (Kyabram)
Statistics: 600 runs at 120 average
Was there ever any doubt who was going to hold the number one spot?
Kyabram’s resident master blaster has been that good, his performance nine rounds in is actually hard to summarise.
Let’s put it this way: Mueller is taking the p*ss in 2024-25.
His 600 runs have him on track to melt the 1000-run barrier this season and, at a Bradman-esque average, it’s crystal clear why he’s made the grade for the Victorian Country Cricket League squad again.
Only twice has he failed to raise the bat this season, chalking up two centuries including one in a grand final rematch against Mooroopna in round two.
Just to rub it in, he’s even got a wicket.
Honourable mentions: Mitch Winter-Irving (Nagambie), Jesse Trower (Waaia), Ed Pike (Old Students), Sam Nash (SYCU), Callan McCabe (Old Students)
Senior Sports Journalist