Big John wins the comp bowling award

John wins the MMVCA bowling award

Moonee Valley teen John O'Brien trounced the field to win the Moreland Moonee Valley Cricket Association's C Turf bowling award.

John trounced the field all season in our Thirds, and with the benefit of Peter Golding behind the stumps his off-breaks returned him 24 wickets @ 12.13 during the home and away season to easily win the award.

He was also equal runner-up in the best player award for the grade.

John attended the MMVCA presentations on April 25 with a group of his team-mates to receive his award. Pictured here are (L-R) Peter Golding, Dino Sapuppo, Mark Cini and John O'Brien.

And the stats on the MMVCA trophy - 24 wickets @ 12.13 - don't fully reflect John's season.

On top of that he took three further wickets in the finals as Moonee Valley fell agonisingly short in the C Turf Grand Final, and combined with a couple of one-day games and two games in the Fifths, his return was an amazing 39 wickets @ 13.3.

This includes two six-wicket hauls, including a commanding 6/28 off 26.1 overs against Pascoe Vale. In that innings he bowled 16 overs, including six on the trot.

John is still just 17 and has already been earmarked to move up the grades next season. He started his cricket in Moonee Valley's Under 12s in 2001 - coincidentally first coached by current team-mate Mark Cini.

He was part of a youth team which almost took out the Premiership this season under skipper Dino Sapuppo. As well as John, players in the Grand Final team who have come through our juniors were Murray Walker, James Rawlinson, Chris Stafford, Bede Gannon and Sam Coventry-Poole. Our future's in good hands!