Deni Rhinos were recognised for successful seasons at the annual MVCA seniors presentation evening at Club Tocumwal on Wednesday, March 5.

With awards across best-and-fairest, life membership, and teams of the year in A, B and C-grades announced, it was an evening jam-packed with achievements.

For the Rhinos, Brodie Bennett took the league’s highest batting honour, winning the batting average with 441 runs at an average of 88.20.

Andrew Hogan for the Rhinos finished fifth in this award with 405 runs at a batting average of 50.63.

Two other Rhinos players were recognised in the A-grade presentations, with Griegan French and Matt Taylor joining Bennett and Hogan in the MVCA A-grade team of the year.

French took the first spot in the team of the year having scored 589 runs at an average of 49.08 while Taylor rounded out the team with his 30 wickets at a bowling average of 13.80.

Bennett took the fourth spot with his batting record along with 20 wickets at 13.70 while Hogan was honoured with the vice captain role a and fifth position with 19 wickets at a bowling average of 17.53.

In the C-grade, Lachlan Marshall was named as wicketkeeper at number seven as a part of the MVCA C-grade team of the year, the only Rhinos C-grade team member to make the team of the year.

Katamatite left-arm spinner Kepler Lukies took out the best-and-fairest, MVP, and the highly regarded Guthrie Medal on 19 votes.

In the count for the Guthrie, Lukies was followed by Brodie Bennett (Deniliquin, 15 votes), Griegan French (Deniliquin, 14 votes), Shaun Downie (Cobram, 13 votes) and Andrew Hogan (Deniliquin, 12 votes).

The 2025 MVCA Rising Star award also went to Lukies for his effort of 336 runs, 36 wickets and 11 catches across the season.

Cobram’s Bryan Eddy and Travis Thompson of Katamatite shared the Gemmill Award for B-grade best-and-fairest.

Col Smith, who was inducted into the MVCA Hall of Fame in November 2023, was made a life member of the association.

Cobram Cricket Club Secretary Alison Brooks and co-coach Lachlan Hyde accepted on behalf of their club the Pat Barrett Club Championship award.

The ceremony was held just days before Cobram faced Deniliquin in the A-grade grand final.

A-grade Team of the Year: Griegan French (Deniliquin), Tyler Green (Katamatite), Riyaad Henry (Barooga), Brodie Bennett (Deniliquin), Andrew Hogan (Deniliquin), Matthew Ross (Berrigan), Kepler Lukies (Katamatite), Harry Wilkinson (Finley), Jacob Bartlett (Berrigan), Dylan Cunningham (Nathalia), Matt Taylor (Deniliquin) and Jeremy Baden (Cobram).

B-grade Team of the Year: Bryan Eddy (Cobram), Rohan Allport (Katamatite), Andrew Erickson (Katamatite), Mark Wilson (Nathalia), Hunter Hardwidge (Cobram), Daniel Henderson (Katunga), Darcy Edis (Katamatite), Braydon Kearns (Nathalia), Travis Thompson (Katamatite), Jawid Iqbal Anwar (Katamatite) and Shaun McAllister (Katunga).

C-grade Team of the Year: Brandon Meloury (Tocumwal), Luke Bauer (Cobram), Scott Bray (Katamatite), Darby Salter (Katunga), Zander Quinn (Nathalia), Indika Deshapriya De Zoysa (Strathmerton), Lachlan Marshall (Deniliquin), Lachlan McDonald (Tocumwal), Greg Vallender (Nathalia), Samuel Stokes (Strathmerton) and James Bray (Katamatite).

Photos courtesy of the MVCA.

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Wednesday, 5th March 2025

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