THE Hamilton and District Cricket Association (HDCA) celebrates its 2023-24 summer with the annual P.F. Christie Medal dinner tonight, etching another name into local cricket history.

All 12 A grade clubs have players within their ranks who have a chance of claiming the medal, but it all depends on which players caught the umpire’s eye each game.

Newly crowned A grade premier, Tyrendarra, will have a host of players who may claim the top gong, with all-rounder Ben Menzel, batsman Jordi Withers, and bowler, Darren Killmister, all in contention.

Runner-up, St Andrew’s, will look to its veterans in Brendan Huf (the only three-time medal winner), Michael Fitzpatrick, and Darryl Fry to fly the flag for the Drews after each performed consistently all summer.

Reigning P.F. Christie Medallist, Carl Joyce, will be at the head of the Grampians vote getters again after another stellar season with the ball in hand, while former winner, Will Collins, should also poll well.

Casterton District had its best season in the top grade since joining the HDCA, finishing second on the premiership ladder with Logan Giggs, Jacob Edwards, Rick Killey, and Kaden Humphries expected to be near the top of the votes.

Hamilton will look to opening batsman, Nic Cullinane, to lead the way for the Blues, but Anthony Read, Cameron Templeton and Xavier Stevens also expected to have caught the umpires’ attention.

Portland Colts have Luke Evans who is expected to poll highly after being the only player to score more than 600 runs for the season, while also grabbing 23 wickets, to be among the favourites to win going into the night.

Portland Tigers will have Ben Atwell feature for the club along with Joel Hollis, who performed with the ball in hand.

Gorae-Portland had a great summer that saw them play finals in its first season in the association, and Stephen O’Brien should be the highest pollster after doing the double of 300 runs and 30 wickets, while Nic Wills will also do well.

Pigeon Ponds didn’t produce the summer it would have expected, and Jack Beaton, Hamish McCrae, and Peter Staude will be the highest vote getters for the club.

Macarthur was on the verge of playing finals at the Christmas break, but the team failed to carry that form into the new year, and another former medallist in Michael Brilley will be the best player for the Demons, along with Charlie Summers, Kyle Smitten, and Jeremy Sheehan.

South Portland is a team full of youngsters and Tighe Warburton and his brother Lachlan Warburton are expected to poll the most votes for the Demons tonight along with Karsen Edwards.

Last season College completed back-to back premierships but missed the finals this summer despite the form with bat and ball of Adrian Burn, who starred for the Eagles, while Jordy Anthony was excellent with the new ball.

So, the winner is hard to pick, but should come from a may come from the following players, Ben Menzel (Tyrendarra, Luke Evans (Portland Colts), Logan Gibbs (Casterton District), Adrian Burn (College), Carl Joyce (Grampians), Stephen O’Brien (Gorae-Portland), and Michael Brilley (Macarthur).