Tara Murray
Melton Centrals’ Candace Hulett has capped off a premiership winning season with some individual honours.
Hulett was recently named the Cricket Victoria Community Cricket Competition shield (3) champion player at their awards ceremony.
She also claimed the batting award for that division, while she was named in the overall team of the season.
Hulett said it was nice to be recognised in that way.
“It’s really good, especially in a premiership season,” she said. ‘The premiership means a lot more but the individual recognition is nice.
“I had a pretty good season, a pretty consistent season.”
Hulett made 414 at an average of 138 in the one-day matches and she averaged 161 in the T20 matches, after going out just once.
Hulett, who is captain-coach of Centrals’ women’s program, has been the star for the Centrals for many seasons.
She said the arrival of Liz Pierce had helped her, with Pierce hitting plenty of runs including in the grand final win. Pierce finished the one-day season as the leading run getter.
The champion player award is the fourth for Hulett since she returned to Centrals to help side the women’s program.
She said despite still being able to play at a higher level, Centrals was where she wanted to be.
“I’m happy here developing the kids and helping the team come through,” she said.
“Not only the kids playing, but the mum’s and kids that haven’t played before.
“I want to help them develop them.”
One player that Hulett has helped develop is Tara Keenan. Keenan this season joined Essendon in the shield 1 competition and was named the under-18 most valuable player.
“She had a really good season,” Huett said. “ She might head to premier cricket next season. That is her plan..
“Hope to push more through the ranks and get some more award winners. I don’t want to hold them back.
“I want them to play as high as they can.”
