By David Nagel
**CRICKET SNICKS spoke to 10 of the 11 TOORADIN players after their big win over PAKENHAM on Sunday; but couldn’t tag perennial ‘interview-dodger’ Russell Lehman. ‘Goose’ is a champion cricketer, but he’s even better at avoiding media, and took his unique talent to new levels on Sunday. While interviewing Tyler Evans – the 10th player interviewed – we spotted Lehman and told him he was next, before turning away. After finishing up with Evans, Lehman was no-where to be seen – he vanished – last seen walking quickly into the Tooradin Sports Club to avoid a friendly chat. Don’t worry Russ; I’ll get you one day mate! And just to punish you…we’ve made the headline all about you!
**A couple of big names were floating around the visitors coaching box at TOORADIN on Sunday, with BEACONSFIELD, CARDINIA and KOOWEERUP premiership coach Mark Cooper in close proximity to another Cardinia premiership mentor in Jake Prosser. Both Cooper (BEACONSFIELD) and Prosser (LANGWARRIN) currently both have clubs, but rumour has it that both might be changing allegiances in the near future. Stay tuned for these ones; the rumours have been quite strong.
**It’s rather ironic that almost half of one of the deepest teams we’ve ever seen in the WGCA/CCCA didn’t bat or bowl on the weekend. Only Brad Butler, Russell Lehman, Josh Lownds, Cal O’Hare and Mick and Peter Sweeney were required at the crease for TOORADIN; leaving Ben Mantel, Ben Parrott, Dylan Sutton, Tom Hussey and Tyler Evans to sit back and enjoy the ride. Of course we’re being flippant; this Seagulls side has risen to great heights on the back of a ‘solely team focus’. It’s just funny how things work, that’s all!
**This is no knock on Tooradin at all, but the uninitiated would have had no idea a Premier Division grand final was taking place at the Tooradin Recreation Reserve on Saturday. There were no league and club logos on the ground, any flags or banners flying high; the only point of difference was a caravan doubling as a food truck. You can’t blame the Seagulls; they had several teams playing at different destinations over the weekend, so getting a full complement of helpers was almost impossible. But maybe the CCCA needs to step in and at least make the biggest stage of them all feel special for the players in particular. A couple of suggestions: pay for logos to be painted on the ground, and how about the league purchases flags of all clubs in Premier and District Division; and have them flapping around at the respective grounds on grand final day. And asking the competing clubs to pay for video and commentary of the grand final is also a little bit rich…especially when big money is being wasted in other areas.
**Big calls are made every year leading into grand finals and it was no different last week with PAKENHAM all-rounder Nick Sadler the unlucky one to miss the CCCA Premier Division decider against TOORADIN. Sadler, who played 11 games this season, made way for Tommy Tyrrell, who took two wickets in A Grade in his return from injury in round 14. For the record, Tyrrell went wicketless on Sunday and made one run as the Lions built their day-one total on Saturday.
**While on shock omissions, TOORADIN bowler Kallan Braid-Ball was wearing a smile and an A Grade premiership medal around his neck on Sunday night, after being dropped for the Seagulls round 14 Premier Division match against PAKENHAM. Braid-Ball has been a regular performer for the Seagulls in recent years, and his dropping in round 14, for youngster Kyle Parrott, was a big surprise to many at the nest! At least he has some sort of premiership medallion to add to his career haul.
**They don’t get much of a rap the umpires, but well done to Michael McMahon and David Huntington for their terrific job of umpiring the CCCA Premier Division grand final between TOORADIN and PAKENHAM. McMahon only started umpiring this season, and it’s a great effort to make it through to the biggest stage of all with only a couple of handfuls of games under your belt. When Michael Meeng retired from umpiring during the season, he was glowing in his praise for McMahon – and now we can all see why. Well done again Mick and Dave on a brilliantly consistent job!
**While on shout-outs, well done to long-time WGCA/CCCA administrator ‘LANG LANG’ Bob Taylor, who had the MC duties at the presentation ceremony at Tooradin on Sunday. Bob showed his class by first acknowledging the fine efforts of the CCCA Country Week squad, who earned promotion to the elite Provincial Division next year via a grand final appearance against BAIRNSDALE. In front of a big crowd, it was great acknowledgement for the efforts of PAKENHAM president Phil Anning and his Country Week organising team.
**While on Anning, he once again showed his class by addressing the winning TOORADIN team after their eight-wicket win over Anning’s PAKENHAM on Sunday. Anning was in good spirits with Tooradin president and Premier Division wicketkeeper Ben Parrott after his speech; with Parrott a former Pakenham player in his early days. Parrott showed humour himself when asked if he could give CRICKET SNICKS a scoop, and confirm the resigning of Mick and Pete Sweeney for next season. “We’re close to sorting that out; but we’re going to wait until after the hangover.”
**Four-leaf clovers are supposed to bring you luck, but TOORADIN has its own good-luck charm in Tyler Evans, who has now won eight premiership flags at the ripe-old age of 19! He has now won five in juniors and three in seniors, including two Premier Division flags in the last three years. We might need to give him a rub for good luck!
**Dylan Sutton’s ears might be ringing for a few days yet after carrying a booming ‘speaker’ into the winning rooms on Sunday night. ‘Sutts’ might be the only bloke strong enough to lift the speaker above his head, and keep it there, as he began the celebrations with his teammates. Sutton is a very well-built young fella; earning him the nickname ‘Stoin’, after Marcus Stoinis, at Country Week.
**Here’s a couple we’ve missed over the last two of three weeks. PAKENHAM announced a few weeks back that the well-respected Rob Elston will once again coach the club in 2024/25, although no signature has yet to be put to paper for Premier Division captain Dale Tormey. That’s not unusual for the Lions, who usually tie things up with Tormey once the dust has settled on the season.
**And a couple of congratulations to finish with; even though they’re oldish news. Travis Wheller won the coveted Webster Medal at CARDINIA, polling three votes in the final round of the season to leapfrog Morteza Ali and Chris Remy into first place. The Webster Medal is the club award presented to the player who polls the most votes across all grades at the club. And congrats also go to CARLISLE PARK’s 1st XI captain and club coach Ben Perry, who tied with Life Member, and thirds captain, Mike Chapman to win the Geoff Zealley Medal at the Vikings. Perry has made a huge impact at the Vikings, winning two MVPs in his only two seasons at the club.
