HAMILTON and District Cricket Association will mark the end of another season with the P.F. Christie Medal dinner tonight, where the best player of the 2022-23 summer will be named.

Reigning P.F. Christie Medallist, Simon Close, had another stellar season for Pigeon Ponds, opening not only the batting, but the bowling as well.

He made a mountain of runs and was the only player to breach the 500-run barrier, while also picking up 11 wickets.

His brother, Anthony Close, should also feature in the final vote tally after season form that must have caught the umpires’ eyes, as he made runs and took many wickets.

A dark horse for Pigeon Ponds supporters to barrack for is Jack Beaton, who many good judges believe is the best fast bowler in the competition, and who made career best scores with the bat this summer too.

Grampians will be looking towards two players to lead the way in gaining votes, with Harrison Wood and Carl Joyce both having very good returns with the ball in hand and in Joyce’s case - valuable runs to boot.

The Pumas can also look to their skipper, Will Collins, to gain votes as well after a good season at the top of the order.

College has a new shining star on the rise in Henry Bensch, who may not win the medal this season, but no doubt will feature in the years to come, but this summer the Eagles will look to former medallist, Hamish Bailey, to lead the charge.

Another former winner, Michael Brilley, may well gain most of the votes earned by Macarthurplayers after the veteran regained his bowling role within the team, collecting the most wickets for the Demons, while also making his usual big contribution with the bat.

Brendan Huf should lead the vote getters for St Andrew’s, but James Guthrig and Latham Wishart deserve to garner votes too after good performances this season.

Casterton District again will look to Rick Killey to lead its vote getters, but new players, Carey Megaw and Jacob Edwards, should poll well.

Hamilton did not have the season the club hoped for at the start of the summer, as the Blues collected the wooden spoon, but captain, Simon Sharrock, led from the front and should be the highest vote getter for the team.

Hamish Cook also showed good form with bat and ball that would have caught the attention of the umpires.

Our prediction for the top five is Close, Brilley, Wood, Killey and Joyce, with Bensch as a dark horse.