Victorian Premier Cricket

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Victorian Premier Cricket
Victorian Premier Cricket Logo.jpg
Administrator Cricket Victoria
Format2-day matches, 1-day matches, Twenty20
First edition1906–07
Tournament formathome and away, finals
Number of teams18
Current champion St Kilda (2024/25)
Most successful22 Melbourne
Most runs Flag of Australia (converted).svg Warren Ayres (15,277) [1]
Most wickets Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bert Ironmonger (862) [2]

Victorian Premier Cricket is the highest level club cricket competition in the state of Victoria, administered by Cricket Victoria. Each club fields four teams (firsts through to fourths) of adult players and usually play on Saturdays and public holidays. Matches are played on turf wickets. The competition commenced in the 1906–07 season when it was known as "district cricket" with players allocated to their clubs based on residential qualifications. The district qualification has since been removed and competition was renamed in 1990.

Contents

Throughout the majority of its history, the competition was played under two-day, two-innings-per-side rules, with most results being decided on a first-innings basis. In the early 21st century, separate competitions under the premier cricket banner were established for one-day matches (2002–03 to 2017–18) and Twenty20 (2005–06 to 2013–14). These have since been combined, and there is now a single premier cricket competition which features a combination of fixtures in all three formats across the season.

Outstanding players in the competition are selected to play for the Victorian Cricket Team at first-class and List A level, in the Sheffield Shield and Marsh One Day Cup competitions respectively.

History

Inter-club cricket in Melbourne had its beginnings during the 1850s, with matches arranged on an informal basis. The newspapers usually decided the season's best team via the consensus of journalists. In 1870, the Challenge Cup was introduced, beginning an era of more structured competition.

For the 1889–90 season, a program of pennant matches was devised over eight rounds, which began the era of club competition recognisable today. The original competing teams were Carlton, Essendon, East Melbourne, Fitzroy, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Port Melbourne, Richmond, St Kilda, South Melbourne, University and Williamstown. There were no restrictions on the recruitment of players and the stronger clubs (such as East Melbourne, Melbourne and South Melbourne) attracted the leading players, and other teams remained very weak, and the unevenness of the competition resulted in a lack of public support. In 1892–93, the competition split into two divisions; and in 1895–96, it split outright into two competitions when the stronger teams seceded. [3] However, unevenness persisted.

The solution was found in a district cricket scheme, under which players needed a residential qualification to play for their club. In 1903, a VCA sub-committee recommended the implementation of the system. Due to many differences of opinion (most notably, the powerful Melbourne Cricket Club dissented), district cricket did not commence until 1906–07. The eleven inaugural district teams were Carlton, Collingwood (a newly formed club), East Melbourne, Essendon, Fitzroy, Hawksburn (which became Prahran the following year), North Melbourne, Richmond, St Kilda, South Melbourne and University – with Melbourne notably absent, maintaining a senior playing presence under non-district rules, but not part of the premiership. A promotion and relegation system between an A Grade and B Grade was originally envisioned but dispensed with; and the premier club of second grade, Northcote, was promoted for 1907–08, bringing the competition's size to twelve clubs. Melbourne finally joined the competition in 1914–15, under special rules allowing it to draw players from anywhere but with a limit on how many could be drawn from any single other club's district. [4]

The uneven number of teams necessitated a bye, which remained until 1929/30 when the VCA Colts team comprising under-22s across all districts was included. [5] The Colts team competed for eleven seasons but disbanded during World War II. Matches continued through the war (although they were not for points) and Footscray was admitted for 1948–49, which again eliminated the bye.

From the 1970s onwards, there was consistent expansion of the competition into the outer suburbs. This first occurred with the promotion of two clubs representing outer-suburban areas, Ringwood and Waverley, from Sub-District in 1974–75. Eighteen sides have participated since 1993–94 when teams from Geelong and Frankston Peninsula were admitted. Through this period, there were also relocations of almost half of the existing clubs from their original inner-suburban grounds to new outer-suburban homes.

Since 1909–10, the premiership has been decided on the basis of a finals series played after the regular season. This comprised four teams throughout most of its history, before being increased to a final six in 1997–98 season, and later to a final eight.

Clubs

ColoursClubEmblemFormedHome ground1st XI titlesFirst competedNote
Surrey Park Football Club.jpg
Camberwell Magpies1906 Camberwell Sports Ground, Camberwell 41906–07Inaugural club (Collingwood);
amalgamated with Camberwell (Sub-District) in 1996–97
Old Melburnians Football Club colours.jpg
Carlton Blues1864 Princes Park, Carlton North 111906–07Inaugural club
Mordialloc Football Club colours.jpg
Casey-South Melbourne Swans1862 Casey Fields, Cranbourne East 31906–07Inaugural club (South Melbourne),
relocated and renamed Casey-South Melbourne in 2005–06
Alexandra Hills Football Club colours.jpg
Dandenong Panthers1908 Shepley Oval, Dandenong 31974–75Promoted from Sub-District in 1974–75 as Waverley;
amalgamated with and moved to Dandenong (Sub-District) in 1989–90 as Waverley-Dandenong;
renamed Dandenong-Waverley in 1992–93;
renamed Dandenong in 1994–95
Blackburn Football Club.jpg
Essendon Bombers1872 Windy Hill, Essendon 21906–07Inaugural club
Monbulk Football Club colours.jpg
Fitzroy Doncaster Lions1861Schramm's Reserve, Doncaster101906–07Inaugural club (Fitzroy);
amalgamated with Doncaster (Sub-District) in 1986–87
Phillip island icon.png
Footscray Bulldogs1883Merv Hughes Oval, Footscray 21948–49Promoted from Sub-District in 1948;
known as Footscray-Victoria University from 2000-01 until 2003–04, then as Footscray-Edgewater from 2004–05 until 2016–17
Morphettville Park Football Club colours.jpg
Frankston Peninsula Heat1880AH Butler Oval, Frankston 01993–94Promoted from Sub-District in 1993–94
AFL Geelong Icon.jpg
Geelong Cats1993 Kardinia Park, Geelong 01993–94Promoted from Sub-District in 1993–94
AFL North Melbourne Icon.jpg
Greenvale KangaroosGreenvale Recreation Reserve, Greenvale 01906–07Inaugural club (North Melbourne);
temporarily amalgamated with Geelong (sub-district) as North Melbourne–Geelong from 1985 to 1986 until 1987–88; amalgamated with and moved to Greenvale in 2013–14 [6]
Kingston Hawthorn Hawks1860Walter Galt Reserve, Parkdale 91906–07Inaugural club (East Melbourne); amalgamated with and moved to Hawthorn (Sub-District) in 1921–22 as Hawthorn-East Melbourne;
moved to Waverley in 1989-90 and renamed Hawthorn-Waverley in 1994–95;
amalgamated with Monash University (Sub-District) in 2001–02 as Hawthorn-Monash University and moved to the Monash University Sports Complex in Clayton in 2004;
amalgamated with Kingston Saints (Sub-District) in 2015–16 and moved to Parkdale as Kingston Hawthorn.
Albert Park football club colors.jpg
Melbourne Demons1838 Albert Cricket Ground, Melbourne221906–07Inaugural club,
but ineligible for the premiership until 1914–15
NorthcoteColours.png
Northcote DragonsBill Lawry Oval, Northcote 51907–08Promoted from Sub-District 1907–08
Wattle Park Amateurs Football Club colours.jpg
Prahran True Blues Toorak Park, Armadale 81906–07Inaugural club (Hawksburn);
renamed Prahran in 1907–08.
Upwey Tecoma Football Club colours.jpg
Richmond Tigers1854 Central Reserve, Glen Waverley 61906–07Inaugural club (Richmond);
relocated to Glen Waverley in 2010–11, and changed its trading name to Monash Tigers from 2013–14 until 2019-20 (although the club was legally still known as Richmond). The 2020/21 season saw the club return to the "Richmond Cricket Club" name
BendigoGoldColours.png
Ringwood RamsJubilee Park, Ringwood 31974–75Promoted from Sub-District 1974
St Kilda Saints1855 Junction Oval, St Kilda 191906–07Inaugural club
Strathbogie Football Club colours.jpg
University Students1856 University of Melbourne campus, Parkville 31906–07Inaugural club, also known as University

Premierships correct to the end of 2024/25 season. [7]

First XI premierships

Two-day/All forms

Source [8]

One-day/White-ball

Source [8]

Twenty-20/White-ball

Source [8]

Ryder Medal

First presented in 1972–73, the award for the best player of the season is named after Jack Ryder, the former Australian captain who had a long and distinguished career with Collingwood.

SeasonPlayer/sTeam/sBiography link
1972–73Ron BirdCollingwood
1973–74 John Grant Essendon
1974–75John GrantEssendon
1975–76 Keith Stackpole Carlton
1976–77 John Shepherd Footscray
1977–78Keith StackpoleCarlton
1978–79Keith StackpoleCarlton
1979–80Barry WatsonFootscray
1980–81 Gary Cosier Northcote
1981–82 Mick Taylor South Melbourne
1982–83 John Douglas Carlton
1983–84 Trevor Laughlin Collingwood
1984–85Andrew WildsmithNorthcote
1985–86Michael EphraimsPrahran
1986–87 Warren Whiteside St Kilda
1987–88 Wayne N. Phillips South Melbourne
1988–89Richard McCarthyNorth Melbourne
1989–90Warren WhitesideSt Kilda
1990–91Warren WhitesideSt Kilda
1991–92 Mark Ridgway Fitzroy/Doncaster
1992–93Mark LeehaneEssendon
1993–94 Gary Watts Fitzroy/Doncaster
1994–95 Warren Ayres Melbourne
1995–96Brendan JoyceFitzroy/Doncaster
1996–97 Ian Wrigglesworth Carlton
1997–98PQ HarperUniversity
1998–99 Abdul Qadir Carlton
1999–2000 Carl Hooper Carlton
2000–01 (tied) Paul Collingwood, DM DempseyRichmond, Ringwood
2001–02Warren AyresMelbourne
2002–03CBD StreetFitzroy/Doncaster
2003–04 (tied)RA Bartlett, Adam Dale Northcote, North Melbourne
2004–05Simon DartHawthorn/Monash Uni.
2005–06 (tied)MD Allen, Graeme Rummans Carlton, St Kilda
2006–07Graeme RummansSt Kilda
2007–08Steven SpoljaricHawthorn/Monash Uni.
2008–09 Gareth Cross St Kilda
2009–10Graeme RummansSt Kilda
2010–11 Theo Doropoulos Northcote
2011–12 Clive Rose Casey-South Melbourne
2012–13Brenton McDonaldMelbourne
2013–14James MillerPrahran
2014–15Ian HollandRingwood
2015–16Steve TaylorNorthcote
2016–17 Brendan Drew Camberwell
2017–18 Trent Lawford Fitzroy Doncaster
2018–19 Brett Forsyth Dandenong
2019-20 (tied)David King, James SeymourRingwood, Essendon
2020-21 Scott Edwards [9] Richmond
2021-22Dean RussFootscray
2022-23Harrison SmythCarlton
2023-24Brett ForsythDandenong
2024-25David KingRingwood


John Scholes Medal

Presented in season 2001–02 under the name of Cricket Victoria Medal, the John Scholes medal is awarded to the best player in the Victorian Premier Cricket 1st XI final. The name was changed for the 2003–04 season. [10]

SeasonPlayerTeam
2001–02JL TravagliaFitzroy Doncaster
2002–03 GC Rummans St Kilda
2003–04 GC Rummans St Kilda
2004–05TDB O'SullivanSt Kilda
2005–06 M Klinger St Kilda
2006–07PM BorastonDandenong
2007–08MR KingRingwood
2008–09ST GilmourRingwood
2009–10RJ CooperMelbourne
2010–11 JL Pattinson Dandenong
2011–12 WD Sheridan Richmond
2012–13 Matthew Begbie Melbourne CC
2013–14S DissanayakaFootscray-Edgewater
2014–15Ian HollandRingwood
2015–16Peter DicksonFitzroy Doncaster
2016–17Matthew BrownMelbourne
2017–18 Peter Siddle [11] Dandenong
2018–19Evan GulbisCarlton
2019–20Final not contested due to COVID-19Final not contested due to COVID-19
2020-21Damon EganPrahran
2021-22Thomas SmythCarlton

See also

References

  1. "Ayres chasing Premier record in the game – Cricket". The Age. 22 January 2005. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  2. "Victorian Premier Cricket". Premier.cricketvictoria.com.au. Archived from the original on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  3. "Victorian Cricket Council: A senior clubs' league". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. 31 August 1895. p. 9.
  4. "District cricket: agreement with M.C.C.". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 7 July 1914. p. 13.
  5. E. H. M. Baillie (28 August 1929). "The Colts Team". The Sporting Globe. p. 1.
  6. Liam McAleer (31 December 2013). "Hume Leader looks back on the biggest stories of 2013". Hume Leader. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  7. "Our Clubs | Victorian Premier Cricket". Vic Prem Cricket. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 "Premierships - Men". Cricket Victoria. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  9. "Cricket Victoria celebrates 2020-21 Premier Cricket award winners". Cricket Victoria. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  10. "Victorian Premier Cricket". Premier.cricketvictoria.com.au. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  11. Toby Prime (2 April 2018). "Premier Cricket final: Dandenong crushes Fitzroy-Doncaster in decider with Test quick Peter Siddle man of the match". Greater Dandenong Leader. Retrieved 10 September 2018.