Tara Murray
It was a bittersweet moment for Corey Altis claiming the North Metro Cricket Association Bill McFarlane Medal.
Altis was crowned the NMCA’s best player at the recent awards ceremony, winning the McFarlane Medal which recognises the best player in the Jika Shield.
Altis said it was a pretty special moment to receive that honour.
“It’s very satisfying,” he said. “Obviously there were a couple of us up there competing for it, Jarrod Bannister, Jack McSwain and Matt Perri.
“We all had pretty good seasons.
“In a personal respect it was nice to get the personal achievement, but not going on and playing in the grand final was a big disappointment.”
Bannister and Perri, weren’t at the awards night, but Altis said it was still pretty rowdy with a few players collecting awards from other grades.
Altis said he thought personally he had a good season. Altis finished with 435 at and average of 48.33 while also taking 18 wickets.
“I moved to the top of the order in the batting, especially the one day stuff,” he said. “Matt allowed me to play my game and play aggressively.
“I then got on a bit of a roll with the ball.”
Altis continues a growing club at the Kookas to have claimed the top honour.
Since the 2018-19 season, Perri has won the medal three times, Bannister has won one and now Altis joins them.
Both Bannister and Perri were named in the team of the year alongside Altis this season.
Altis said it was a fair effort to have three players from the one team claim the top order.
While happy with the medal, Altis and the rest of the Kookas are keen on getting some redemption.
After playing off in 11 straight Jika Shield grand finals, the Kookas have missed the last two despite finishing in the top two after the regular season on both occasions.
“We’ve been in the mix the last couple of seasons and had a good chance,” he said.
“Last season we just fell short in the preliminary final by one wicket.
“In the first semi this year we didn’t make enough runs and then it was a close game going out against Camrea.
We didn’t get the start that we would have liked. We didn’t make the required runs. It was a disappointing day.”
Altis said the group was keen to come back next season and seek redemption and hinted there could be a couple of players who didn’t play this season that could be looking at returning
“We want to make finals and win them,” he said. “Our teams Rivergum has won a few and it was a bitter feeling not making the grand final.
