James A. Daly Memorial Award for Player of the Year - 18 Apr

The James A. Daly Memorial Award is for the Player of the Year, based on performances in grade rounds up to the finals series. The award was instituted in the 1974-75 season to commemorate the work performed for Sutherland Shire cricket by the late Jim Daly (who died in 1974). The Club’s last connection with Jim Daly passed in December 2023 with the death of John Smythe, the Club’s first Secretary. The Management Committee feels that, after 50 years as the James A. Daly Memorial Award, it is now appropriate to rename the Player of the Year Award as the Steve Smith Medal. Steve Smith is one of our greatest cricketers, being the first Sutherland junior to captain Australia. To date, he has played 109 Tests for Australia and is our best performed Test batsman after Don Bradman. Before he started his international career, he won our Player of the Season Award four times, in 2004-05, 2006-07, 2007-08 & 2008-09. The Committee feels that it is a fitting acknowledgement of his contribution to SDCC and his wider achievements to name the award after him. This will take effect from next season.

The winner was Joel Almond. The award was presented by Tony Clark, life member and five-time winner of the award (most in club history).