By ROY WARD
PARKFIELD all-rounder Steve Spoljaric wants more than a third-straight Wookey Medal next season.
He wants to take his club to a Dandenong District Cricket Association Turf 1 premiership.
Spoljaric won his second-straight Wookey and a second-straight Fred Noblet Honour Board and G.Knight sportsgoods award as best all-rounder at the DDCA presentation evening last night.
Spoljaric said he was proud of the honour although he felt he was expected to take out such honours following his previous experience at higher levels of the game.
After the club missed the finals this season Spoljaric said his young side needed to move into the finals in 2012-2013.
‘‘We blooded four or five young blokes this season,’’ he said.
‘‘These were proper young blokes too, 16 year olds, so they should be better for the experience.
‘‘The good thing about kids that age is they can improve 25 or 30 per cent over an off-season because they learn so quickly where as older players can only improve eight or 10 per cent max.’’
Spoljaric, who confirmed he would return to Parkfield next season, said he also hoped to recruit an express fast bowler and develop or find more batsmen to fill out the top-order.
‘‘Results wise it was a frustrating season,’’ he said.
‘‘We made good scores but then dropped catches and those batsmen went on to beat us.
‘‘Hopefully we can get some more young blokes who want to come and learn from players like myself.’’
Springvale South’s Jackson Sketcher won the most improved cricketer award, Sketcher also plays football at Victorian Football League club Frankston Dolphins.
Berwick batsman Josh Holden won the Des Nolan Honour Board as best under-21 player.
St Mary’s Nick McKay won the Charles Gartside Medal as best and fairest player in Turf 2 while Carman Mapatuna from Lyndale claimed the Stephen Wearne Honour Board for best Turf 2 all-rounder.
