A look at the Cec Hopper Medal front runners after seven rounds

There are still eight rounds to be played, rain and COVID-19 permitting of course, but the Wimmera Mail-Times has compiled an early look at some of the candidates for the prestigious award.

Tony Caccaviello

Easily the competitions best bowler, there is no doubt Caccaviello will be in the votes come season's end.

The Victoria Country representative has contributed with both bat and ball this year, but there is no surprises that it's with ball in hand that he has done most of his damage.

Caccaviello leads the competition wickets tally with 22 wickets from just five games at an unbelievable average of 5.23.

The next best bowler is Homers' Chaminda Gamage with 13 wickets.

Caccaviello also has the incredible season-best figures of 8-11 which he took against Homers in round four.

With the bat he has also made 70 valuable runs at an average of 17.5.

Justtin Combe

Caccaviello's teammate has also been in sublime form and another one of the reasons why the Bullants are undefeated at this point of the season.

Combe, who opens the batting, has bordered on unstoppable with the willow.

From five innings, the classy right hander has amassed 287 runs at a Bradmanesque average of 95.67, to lead the competition in both categories.

Combe has passed fifty on four occasions and has a high score of 91 not out.

If that weren't enough, Combe has also bowled some handy overs for his side and claimed 2-12 against Jung in round three.

Grant Connelly

You can just about pencil in Jung's Grant Connelly as the recruit of the season after his performances for the Tigers over the first seven rounds.

Connolly came to the club with an astounding record in Bendigo A Grade cricket over many years and has lived up to the hype.

So far Connolly has scored 245 runs from six innings at an average of 61.25, second only to Combe on both fronts.

He has two fifties, with a top score of 95* and hasn't been afraid to clear the fence.

With ball in hand he has also chimed in, picking up five wickets for the season.

Chaminda Gamage

The Homers all-rounder has been bowling his tweakers well, capturing 13 wickets (second overall) at an average of 6.46.

He has taken multiple wickets in all five games and has the best figures of 4-21 against Rup-Minyip in round one.

With the bat Gamage hasn't quite been at his best yet with just the one score over 20, but if he can contribute a little more in the second half of the season he could be in with a chance for the Medal.

Mitch Dahlenburg

West Wimmera's captain had a slow start to the year before coming good in the last three rounds.

After three rounds the proven star had just 23 runs to his name at 11.5.

That all changed however when he added scores of 89, 68* and 25 over the course of his next three innings.

Dahlenburg now has 205 runs for the season at the hefty average of 51.3 and is third overall in both categories.

Dahlenburg also picked up a wicket in his side's round six match against Rup-Minyip.

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