VSDCA 2023-24: Croydon’s Tom McQuinn opens up on career-best season

Croydon’s Tom McQuinn capped off a leading season with the ball on Saturday night, taking home the club’s champion player award, the Critchley Medal – his first nod for the top honour in his nine years at the Cockies.

The former coach finished first for wickets in the South-East comp’s home-and-away season, hauling in 44 scalps at an average of 10.82 – five clear of the next best.

Records tumbled for the ex-Premier cricketer, sailing past 200 First XI wickets for the Cockies in a campaign highlighted by a 9-27 haul in an innings against Endeavour Hills.

The feat broke the club record for most wickets in an innings, while his 12 for the match ranks second in club history. And his nine-fa threatened to unearth a five-decade first, with the 1972-73 season being the last time a Subbies player took 10 scalps in an innings.

“Individually it’s my best season and it’s nice to contribute to the team and find consistent form,” McQuinn said, as Croydon finished its campaign in ninth spot with six wins.

“It’s not always easy to find consistent form at our level … and to perform more times than not is always nice.

“From a team point of view, we didn’t quite nail that early-season form … if you turn around at the end of the year and say you only got 10 wickets but finished on top of the ladder, you would take it.

“But it has been nice from a personal point of view.”

The paceman stepped away from the playing-coach role ahead of this season after three years at the helm, but says the shift provided a breath of fresh air.

“Absolutely it has,” McQuinn said, who coached the First XI to the finals in 2021-22.

“Especially from a preparation point of view, you don’t have the club to look after and all the issues that come along with that – you can concentrate on just yourself, your game and your preparation.

“I loved my time coaching the club, it’s not something that’s better or worse, but as far as time and focus, you’ve got a lot more time to settle in on your own game.”

The honour of a maiden club champion award certainly isn’t lost on McQuinn, with any Cockies player across the grades eligible to win.

“It’s certainly a special thing to win from a club point of view and it’s regarded highly within our walls,” McQuinn said.

“I don’t reckon I’d even finished top-five before, I’ve been absolutely nowhere near it, so to win one is one of those things that you don’t play for, but it is nice to get recognised by your peers.

“It’s a little bit overwhelming to be honest, but it is really nice to, I suppose, put your name down with the other great players that have come before you at the club.”

There could be another career-first on the way for McQuinn, with the Subbies Team of the Year yet to be announced.

McQuinn says there are no guarantees.

“You never assume you’re going to get picked because there are a lot of great players in the competition and a lot of guys who have had fantastic years,” he said.

“Who knows who gets picked, but if I was lucky enough to land a spot, that would be a huge honour.

“It’s one of those things where if it happens, it happens, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”

Originally published as VSDCA 2023-24: Croydon’s Tom McQuinn opens up on career-best season