WHAT does Huntly-North Epsom all-rounder Adam Ward have in common with Luke Hodge, Nick Riewoldt, Clive Waterhouse, LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal and Peyton Manning?
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Answer – they are all No.1 draft picks in their respective sports.
How does Ward fit into that mix, I hear you ask?
Answer – he was the first player selected in a Bendigo Big Bash League mock draft held in the Addy offices on Friday afternoon.
Having spent two editions of Way out West spruiking the introduction of a Big Bash style Twenty20 competition into the BDCA with teams sponsored by local businesses, why not get some idea of the star power of such a concept.
So cricket nerds Miggy Podosky, Ben DeAraugo, Ben Gunn, Linc Jacobs and myself took on the role of team managers to hold a mock draft and select five teams.
We each drafted 15 players with only three guidelines – at least three teenagers and two district league (Emu Valley or Northern United) players must be selected, and all must have played Saturday A grade cricket this season.
Jacobs Juggernauts won the rights to the coveted No.1 pick through our draft lottery (pulling a number out of a hat) and with it announced Ward as the first of the 75 players selected.
What we came up with was five franchises stacked with match-winners that highlight just what a spectacle such a competition could be, which is one of the reasons why the concept is gathering momentum among the players.
Here’s our squads:
JACOBS JUGGERNAUTS - Adam Ward (drafted No. 1), Mitch Winter-Irving (10), Shaun Knott (13), Sam Johnston (17), Liam Smith (24), Tim Wood (26), Cory Jacobs (35), Alex Collins (38, EVCA), Harry Donegan (42), Grant Connelly (49), Harry Whittle (51), Mat Christie (60), Grant Le Poidevin (63, EVCA), Brodie Hawke (67), Adrian Holland (74).
Average runs this season per player: 142.6. Wickets: 9.0.
MIGGY’S MAGIC MEN - Ben Gunn (2), Adrian Pappin (9), Linton Jacobs (15), Leigh McDermott (16), Jacob DeAraugo (23), Kyle Chant (27), Scott Woodman (34), Simon Marwood (40, EVCA), Brad Rowe (41, EVCA), Jack Neylon (48), Rhys Irwin (52), Dylan Gibson (59), Cam McGlashan (65), Ryan Grundy (66), Craig Pearce (73).
Average runs: 162.4. Wickets: 7.6.
GUNNY’S GERONIMOS - Brayden Stepien (3), Adam Burns (7), Ben Devanny (11), Richard Tibbett (19), Nick Roebuck (25), Matt Dwyer (28, EVCA), Josh Collinson (32), Matt Kile (36, EVCA), Andrew Stove (44), Josh Cruse (50), Scott Trollope (53), Bodee Scullie (57), Mark Ryan (61), Riley Treloar (69), Tim Robertson (75).
Average runs: 203.2 Wickets: 8.3.
ROOEY’S ROCK N ROLLERS - Cameron Taylor (5), Craig Howard (6), Liam Bowe (14), Andrew Smith (18), Nick Baker (22), Xavier Crone (30), Miggy Podosky (31), Jono Davidson (39), Matt Fitt (43), Nick Scullie (47), Scott Lawry (55, NUCA), Rick Ladson (56, EVCA), Anthony West (64), Charlie Garratt (67), James Ryan (72).
Average runs: 180.6. Wickets: 8.4.
WESTY’S WARRIORS - Ben DeAraugo (4), Nathan Fitzpatrick (8), Brent Hamblin (12), Heath Behrens (20), Matt Giri (21, EVCA), Alex Pearson (29), Gavin Bowles (33), Andrew Collins (37, EVCA), Lucas Hutchinson (45), Michael Hanson (46), Aaron Monro (54), Nick Crawford (58), Marcus McKern (62), Quinton Bentley (70), Anthony Dennis (71, NUCA).
Average runs: 250.0. Wickets: 7.9.
WAY OUT WEST: A BENDIGO BIG BASH?
WAY OUT WEST: A BIG BASH CAN WORK
EDITORIAL: BENDIGO BIG BASH COULD BE A WINNER
BENDIGO BIG BASH MOCK DRAFT
ROUND 1:
1 - Adam Ward (HNE)
2 - Ben Gunn (BU)
3 - Brayden Stepien (WH)
4 - Ben DeAraugo (SM)
5 - Cameron Taylor (SM)
ROUND 2:
6 - Craig Howard (Sand)
7 - Adam Burns (KF)
8 - Nathan Fitzpatrick (Bgo)
9 - Adrian Pappin (SM)
10 - Mitch Winter-Irving (WH)
ROUND 3:
11 - Ben Devanny (S'saye)
12 - Brent Hamblin (KF)
13 - Shaun Knott (Ehawk)
14 - Liam Bowe (Sand)
15 - Linton Jacobs (SM)
ROUND 4:
16 - Leigh McDermott (BU)
17 - Sam Johnston (SM)
18 - Andrew Smith (Ehawk)
19 - Richard Tibbett (Ehawk)
20 - Heath Behrens (BU)
ROUND 5:
21 - Matt Giri (Mand)
22 - Nick Baker (SM)
23 - Jacob DeAraugo (SM)
24 - Liam Smith (GS)
25 - Nick Roebuck (SM)
ROUND 6:
26 - Tim Wood (GS)
27 - Kyle Chant (Bgo)
28 - Matt Dwyer (Sedg)
29 - Alex Pearson (Bgo)
30 - Xavier Crone (S'saye)
ROUND 7:
31 - Miggy Podosky (BU)
32 - Josh Collinson (HNE)
33 - Gavin Bowles (WH)
34 - Scott Woodman (GS)
35 - Cory Jacobs (Eh)
ROUND 8:
36 - Matt Kile (G. Gully)
37 - Andrew Collins (Utd)
38 - Alex Collins (Utd)
39 - Jono Davidson (SM)
40 - Simon Marwood (Emu Ck)
ROUND 9:
41 - Brad Rowe (Emu Ck)
42 - Harry Donegan (BU)
43 - Matt Fitt (Ehawk)
44 - Andrew Stove (S'saye)
45 - Lucas Hutchinson (Sand)
ROUND 10:
46 - Michael Hanson (HNE)
47 - Nick Scullie (S'saye)
48 - Jack Neylon (SM)
49 - Grant Connelly (GS)
50 - Josh Cruse (BU)
ROUND 11:
51 - Harry Whittle (HNE)
52 - Rhys Irwin (WH)
53 - Scott Trollope (GS)
54 - Aaron Monro (Ehawk)
55 - Scott Lawry (Dingee)
ROUND 12:
56 - Rick Ladson (Sedg)
57 - Bodee Scullie (S'saye)
58 - Nick Crawford (BU)
59 - Dylan Gibson (HNE)
60 - Mat Christie (GS)
ROUND 13:
61 - Mark Ryan (Bgo)
62 - Marcus McKern (Bgo)
63 - Grant Le Poidevin (Axe Ck)
64 - Anthony West (Eh)
65 - Cam McGlashan (Eh)
ROUND 14:
66 - Ryan Grundy (WH)
67 - Brodie Hawke (Ehawk)
68 - Charlie Garratt (SM)
69 - Riley Treloar (BU)
70 - Quinton Bentley (HNE)
ROUND 15:
71 - Anthony Dennis (Calivil)
72 - James Ryan (Bgo)
73 - Craig Pearce (Bgo)
74 - Adrian Holland (WH)
75 - Tim Robertson (KF)
