BDCA finals: Star Eaton all-rounder Julian Crudeli, Marist’s Brayden Clarke Goodwin-Dehring medal favourites

Eaton superstar Julian Crudeli is a raging hot favourite to take out the Goodwin-Dehring Medal in his first full season in the Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association.

The country cricket legend, who steered Bunbury to a drought-breaking country week premiership earlier this year, is the competition’s leading wicket-taker and sits third behind only to Marist’s Ben Clarke and Brayden Clarke in the run-scoring charts.

Crudeli was one of several high-profile signings in the competition ahead of this season, joining the reigning premiers having last played for Wanderers in Geraldton.

The Country XI star has posted 453 runs this summer from 10 innings, scoring 50s in half of those knocks.

He has batted six less times than Ben Clarke, four less times than Brayden Clarke and less times than 22 of the top 25 run-scorers.

The all-rounder finished the regular season three wickets clear of Blues seamer Jack Wilson with 28 wickets at 9.32.

His all-round performance in a side that could be on its way to back-to-back premierships has him as the clear favourite for the award, while both Clarkes, Wilson and Colts’ Josh Topliss are also in contention.

Last year’s winner Adam Bilston could also go back-to-back, sitting third on champion player points with 330 runs at 33 and 15 wickets to his name.

Bilston won the award while captaining Dalyellup last summer, before shifting to Donnybrook this season.

Earlier this season Crudeli, who missed Eaton’s semifinal win over Marist but is expected to return for the grand final, told the South Western Times “old age” and “patience” were at the forefront of his stellar year.

“I knew coming down here it was going to be a challenge, Bunbury is a strong competition with a lot of grades and a lot of good cricketers,” he said at the time.

“Sometimes you just get a bit lucky, I have been dropped a few times, and sometimes that’s all you need to really get through an innings.

The BDCA has scrapped plans for a presentation ceremony this season, with awards to be presented after Sunday’s grand final day two at Crudeli’s home ground in Eaton.