Gannon and Graham claim top honours at WA Cricket Awards

Graham capped a successful return to Western Australia with a third Zoë Goss Medal, having spent the previous four seasons with Tasmania. 

The allrounder’s experience proved invaluable through the course of the season, helping the side to seven straight wins through the middle and back end of the season. 

The 29-year-old scored 289 runs at 36.12 from 10 matches, highlighted by a brilliant 90 against eventual champions Queensland early in the season. 

It wasn’t just with the bat where Graham contributed, taking 15 wickets at 27.40, including an economical 3-23 off 10 overs against Tasmania.
 
Graham joins an exclusive club of Nicole Bolton and Amy Edgar in winning the award at least three times, stamping herself as one of the state’s preeminent players. 

Meantime, Gannon, who moved from Queensland ahead of the 2020-2021 season, franked his best season in WA with a maiden Laurie Sawle Medal. 

The 37-year-old was one of just four players to feature in every Sheffield Shield match for WA this summer, taking 42 wickets at 24.38 apiece.
 
Gannon stood up for his side on countless occasions throughout the campaign, highlighted by his first innings 5-47 against the ladder-leading Victoria. 

The right-armer finished the Sheffield Shield season as the competition’s second-highest wicket-taker, two wickets behind New South Wales’ Liam Hatcher. 

Unsurprisingly, Gannon’s efforts also saw him recognised as the Four-Day Player of the Year. 

Finn Allen’s stunning second season for the Perth Scorchers in the KFC BBL saw him named the Simon Katich Medallist.

The explosive opening batter clubbed a competition high 466 runs at 42.36 this season, including a BBL record 38 sixes, to help his side to a record sixth title. 

Such was Allen’s dominance at the top of the order, six of the eight Head Coaches across the competition voted him into the BBL|15 Team of the Tournament. 

Just like the BBL, the Weber WBBL Player of the Year award was also reserved for an opening batter with Beth Mooney winning the award for a second time. 

One of the competitions greatest ever players, Mooney was a pillar of strength at the top of the order for her side through WBBL|11, scoring 549 runs at 45.75.

The elegant left-hander was one of just three players in the competition to make a century through its duration, belting 105 against Brisbane at Allan Border Field. 

Mooney was one of two Scorchers players named in the WBBL Team of the Tournament, alongside Captain Sophie Devine.

As well as recognition for a stellar WBBL campaign, Mooney was also determined WA’s most influential player on the international stage in the eyes of local media, winning the prestigious Gold Cup. 

Mooney scored three centuries in 13 One-Day International matches during the voting period, helping Australia reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in India. 

Fellow wicketkeeper-batter Joel Curtis was recognised for a breakout campaign in the 50-over format, named the One-Day Player of the Year.

Curtis played a starring role in the opening game of the season against Queensland, scoring a scintillating 116.

The Perth product would go on to score half-centuries in the final three games of WA’s One-Day Cup campaign. 

As was the case in season 2024-2025, the Rising Star awards were reserved for bowlers.

Twenty-year-old leg-spinner Shay Manolini’s 15 wickets from nine outings in the WNCL saw her named the Female Rising Star.

Up and coming quick Albert Esterhuysen was awarded the Male Rising Star award, having made his debut in both the One-Day Cup and Sheffield Shield this season. 

The 19-year-old showed his competitive instincts in both formats, taking seven wickets in five One-Day Cup games and a further seven wickets in two Shield outings.

Experienced pair Chloe Piparo (Legacy Award) and Joel Paris (Excalibur Award) were recognised for living by team values and making exceptionally positive contributions to squad culture.

William Farley and Adam Voges were formally inducted into the WA Cricket Gallery of Greats, acknowledged for their unique and significant contributions to cricket in Western Australia.

2025-26 WA Cricket Awards

Laurie Sawle Medal
1 – Cameron Gannon (96 votes)
2 – Corey Rocchiccioli (88 votes)
3 – Matt Kelly (77 votes)

Zoë Goss Medal
1st – Heather Graham (176 votes)
2 – Chloe Piparo (160 votes)
3 – Maddy Darke (125 votes)

Perth Scorchers WBBL Player of the Year – Beth Mooney
Simon Katich Medal – Finn Allen
Gold Cup – Beth Mooney
WA Domestic One-Day Player of The Year – Joel Curtis 
WA Domestic Four-Day Player of the Year – Cameron Gannon
Male Rising Star – Albert Esterhuysen
Female Rising Star – Shay Manolini
Excalibur Award – Joel Paris
Legacy Award – Chloe Piparo
Gallery of Greats Inductees – William Farley, Adam Voges