Star trio the toast of WA Cricket Awards

Rocchiccioli celebrated his maiden Laurie Sawle medal after an outstanding individual campaign which saw him finish as WA’s leading wicket-taker in the Sheffield Shield, while also impressing in his two Marsh One-Day Cup appearances. 

The hardworking 27-year-old was a constant source of wickets for his team, claiming 38 scalps at 27.71 including two five-wicket hauls in the Shield. This tally, which also featured career-best innings figures of 7-52 against Queensland, saw him finish third on the competition’s wicket-taking chart.  

In a momentous evening, WA Cricket named dual Zoë Goss medallists with the state’s top honour for female cricketers for the first time in history.

Star opener Maddy Darke capped off a remarkably consistent summer with her maiden Zoë Goss Medal, which rewards performances in the Women’s National Cricket League and Weber Women’s Big Bash League to crown WA’s most influential female player of the season.

Darke was also named WA’s WNCL Player of the Year, leading from the front with 543 runs at 49.36 in 12 matches. This tally included five half-centuries and a season-best score of 86 against South Australia, while Darke was also dependable behind the stumps (13 catches, three stumpings).

Meantime, 27-year-old Edgar stamped herself as one of the state’s most decorated players, winning her second consecutive Zoë Goss Medal and third in four seasons. 

First crowned in 2021-22 before celebrating again in 2023-24 and 2024-25, Edgar is just the second player to claim at least three Zoë Goss medals after five-time winner and WA great Nicole Bolton. 

The right-armer enjoyed her best WNCL season with the ball, tallying 21 wickets at 15.71 in nine matches as well as eight scalps in WBBL appearances for the Scorchers. 

Once regarded as a batting allrounder, Edgar has evolved into one of the most destructive spin bowlers in Australian domestic cricket. 

Superstar leg-spinner Alana King was named WBBL Player of the Year after an outstanding season with the ball, winning the BKT Golden Arm as the leading wicket-taker for WBBL|10. 

King was also picked in the WBBL Team of the Tournament by Head Coaches from each franchise, capturing 20 wickets at 13.30 while enjoying several batting cameos.

Cooper Connolly earned due recognition for his best BBL campaign to date, named Simon Katich medallist after stamping himself as a rising star of Australian cricket. 

The stylish left-hander thrived on the added responsibility of batting in the Scorchers’ top-order, notching up 351 runs at 50.14 and claiming six wickets at 29.66 with his left-arm orthodox spin. 

Central to many of the Scorchers’ better performances, Connolly was named BBL|14 Player of the Tournament and selected by every Head Coach in the Team of the Tournament. 

Experienced batter Hilton Cartwright claimed the Four-Day Player of the Year Award after notching up his best tally of runs in the Sheffield Shield. 

Often the anchor of a young batting lineup, Cartwright amassed 861 runs at 57.40 including his highest First Class score of 171 not-out against New South Wales. 

Star quick Jhye Richardson (One-Day Player of the Year) was recognised for a productive 50-over campaign, taking nine wickets at 15.88 in four games including his first List A five-wicket haul versus New South Wales. 

Exciting teenaged quicks Chloe Ainsworth (Female Rising Star) and Mahli Beardman (Male Rising Star) were recognised as stars of the future. 

Ainsworth, another member of the WBBL Team of the Tournament, starred for the Scorchers and WA with new ball and old. 

Blessed with raw pace and an appetite for the contest, Beardman finished his BBL campaign with a three-wicket haul against Adelaide Strikers, before taking six wickets in two One-Day Cup appearances for WA. 
  
Experienced pair Piepa Cleary (Legacy Award) and Joel Paris (Excalibur Award) were recognised for living by team values and making exceptionally positive contributions to squad culture.

Journalists determined King to be WA’s most influential player on the international stage, awarding her the prestigious Gold Cup following numerous match-winning performances for the Australian Test, ODI and T20I teams.  

King took 33 wickets at 12.51 across all formats during the 12-month voting period, which included a record-breaking 23 scalps during Australia’s whitewash Ashes triumph which saw her named Player of the Series. 

Peter McConnell and Michael Veletta were formally inducted into the WA Cricket Gallery of Greats, acknowledged for their unique and significant contributions to cricket in Western Australia.

 2024-25 WA Cricket Awards

Laurie Sawle Medal
1 – Corey Rocchiccioli (114 votes)
2 – Hilton Cartwright (102 votes)
3 – Joel Paris (86 votes)

Zoë Goss Medal
Equal 1st – Maddy Darke and Amy Edgar (170 votes)
2 – Chloe Ainsworth (167 votes)
3 – Alana King (159 votes)

Perth Scorchers WBBL Player of the Year – Alana King
Simon Katich Medal – Cooper Connolly
Gold Cup – Alana King
WA Domestic One-Day Player of The Year – Jhye Richardson 
WA Domestic Four-Day Player of the Year – Hilton Cartwright
WA WNCL Player of the Year – Maddy Darke
Male Rising Star – Mahli Beardman
Female Rising Star – Chloe Ainsworth
Excalibur Award – Joel Paris
Legacy Award –Piepa Cleary
Gallery of Greats Inductees – Michael Veletta, Peter McConnell