Simon Dart Wins Jack Ryder Medal
27 year-old Simon Dart is the 2004/05 Jack Ryder Medallist. Dart had a fantastic season, becoming only the fourth Jack Ryder Medallist - Simon Dart player in 98 years of District/Premier Cricket to top 1,000 runs. He scored centuries against Melbourne Uni, Geelong and Carlton as well as 6 half-centuries in the home and away series, which saw him total 1003 runs @ 77.15. He also took 14 wickets @ 29.29 with his medium-pacers.
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Simon Dart
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Dart polled 43 votes in 11 rounds to win by two votes from South Melbourne all-rounder Steven Spoljaric, who scored 753 runs and took 30 wickets and polled in 10 rounds. Also 27 years of age, Spoljaric's 41 votes is the highest ever registered by a runner-up and would have won in any other season except Ian Wrigglesworth's record 52 votes in 1996/97. Spoljaric led the count for most of season and was 14 votes in front of Dart after Round 13, but Dart polled 20 votes in the last 4 rounds with 56* against the Lions, 49 & 3/11 against the Magpies, 135 against the Cats and 100* against the Blues.
Going into the final round, Spoljaric led Dart by one vote. Dart scored the maximum six for his unbeaten century against Carlton, whilst Spoljaric scored three for his 74 and 1/37 against the Bulldogs.
Melbourne University skipper Brendan Joseland finished third with 35 votes. |
