Finals

2007/08 VB PREMIER FINALS

1ST XIs
Fri 4, Sat 5, Sun 6 April (Res Mon 7 April)
RINGWOOD v GEELONG at St Kilda
Umpires: Bob Parry & Paul Reiffel
Emergency: John Ward

2ND XIs
Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 April
FITZROY DONCASTER v GEELONG at Melbourne Uni
Umpires: Phil Creek & Gordon Jones
Emergency: Brad Davies

3RD XIs
Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 April
ESSENDON v GEELONG at Princes Park #1 Oval, Carlton
Umpires: Chris Barton & Vin McKernan
Emergency: Matthew Raggatt

4TH XIs
Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 April
CARLTON v MELBOURNE UNI at the Albert Ground
Umpires: Dale Ireland & Samy Mthugounder
Emergency: ChrisWighton

Hours of Play - All XIs
Friday/Saturday (Summer Time): 11am - 5.50pm Lunch 1pm - 1.30pm, tea 3.30 - 3.50pm.
Sunday/Monday (Standard Time): 10am - 4.50pm. Lunch 12 noon - 12.30pm, tea 2.30 - 2.50pm

Playing Conditions - 1st XIs
Ordinary conditions 3-day match (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). Should a first innings result not be attained by stumps on Sunday, play will continue on Monday. If a first innings result is still not attained by stumps on Monday, the match shall be declared a draw and the higher ranked team will be declared the premiers. Minimum 100 overs per day. A new ball is available after 80 overs.

Playing Conditions - 2nd, 3rd & 4th XIs
In an uninterrupted match, the innings of the first batting team is restricted to 110 overs. Should a first innings result not be attained by stumps on Sunday, the match shall be declared a draw and the higher ranked team will be declared the premiers. Minimum 100 overs per day. A new ball is available after 80 overs.

RYDER TO SPOLJARIC

Hawthorn-Monash Uni all-rounder Steven Spoljaric, after some near misses in recent seasons, has won the Jack Ryder Medal for 2007/08. Steven polled 37 votes to win by one from Footscray Edgewater all-rounder Grant Lindsay on 36. The Cats' Aaron Finch and Hawks' skipper Simon Dart finished equal third on 33.

The 30 year-old Spoljaric has been very consistent in his five seasons in Premier Cricket since moving to Melbourne from Sydney grade club Manly. He has been runner-up twice - to Simon Dart in 2004/05 and again to Graeme Rummans last season.

Spoljaric polled votes in eight matches, taking over the lead after Round 9 and, although he only polled six further votes, he was able to hang on this season to complete a well-deserved victory. He scored 579 runs @ 34.06 and took 35 wickets @ 25.37 with a top score of 106 against Carlton and best bowling figures of 4-26 against North Melbourne.

Runner-up Grant Lindsay crossed over to the Bulldogs this season after a decade at Geelong. Lindsay polled 36 votes in ten matches, scoring 356 runs @ 18.74 and taking 51 wickets @ 14.08.

Player	Club	Votes	3s	2s	1s	Matches Polled
S Spoljaric	H-MU	37	8	6	1	8
GP Lindsay	FE	36	4	11	2	10
AJ Finch	Geel	33	7	4	4	8
SP Dart	H-MU	33	6	7	1	8
AJ Kent	Melb	31	7	4	2	8
DJ Newman	Dand	30	6	3	6	9
DM Dempsey	NM	30	8	3	0	6

Other major Premier Cricket presentations on the night included:

CV Club Championship:
Melbourne Uni

Spirit of Cricket Club Award:
Melbourne

Crusaders/Robert Rose Scholarship:
Brett Forsyth (Dandenong)

Premier Team of the Season (in batting order):
Aaron Finch (Geelong)
Evan Gulbis (Carlton)
Clinton Peake (Geelong)
Darren Dempsey (Capt - NM)
Andrew Kent (Melbourne)
David Newman (Dandenong)
Steven Spoljaric (Haw-MU)
Michael King (Ringwood)
Tim Ludeman (Carlton)
Grant Lindsay (Foot-Edge)
Trent Walerys (Geelong)
Michael Beer (St Kilda)

2nds Player of the Season:
Reid Merriman (Melb Uni) - 33 votes.

3rds Player of the Season:
Fletcher Stewart (F-Donc) - 23 votes

4ths Player of the Season:
David Bratby (Melb) - 26 votes

Premier Cricket legend, Warren Ayres, was honoured after announcing that this season is his last as a player.

A special recognition award was presented to Umpire Merv Day in appreciation of his outstanding contribution to Cricket Victoria spanning an involvement of more than 50 years in our great game.

KOOKABURRA AWARDS

View the Kookaburra Award, Player of the Semi Finals HERE

DOWNLOADS

Final Preview (68.56 KB)	Final Trivia (53.78 KB)
Playing Records (259.18 KB)	Looking Back (64.71 KB)
Final Records (62.60 KB)	Memorable Matches (56.43 KB)
VCA Finals Matches (78.58 KB)