The Noorat all-rounder was on Monday unveiled as the South West Cricket Association's top player, edging out Heytesbury Rebels coach Simon Harkness, Bookaar's Fraser Lucas and Pomborneit's Lahiru Fernando by one vote.

Bourke's 17-vote haul came from a season which yielded 418 runs and 23 wickets. He helped his side to a semi-final but the Steamrollers suffered a 128-run loss to Pomborneit on Saturday.

Bourke said he'd worked on batting more sensibly and felt his efforts with the stick were the sealing factor in winning the association's top individual honour.

"I think my batting improved that little bit. I'm not playing anywhere near as many stupid shots," he quipped.

"I feel like I'm taking the time until I'm in before I start (playing riskier shots).

"My dad (William) and I would go out to the nets on a Tuesday or Wednesday and set up the bowling machine. He's always sort of been my coach like that.

"He was saying 'you need to work on your defence. You have too many attacking shots straight away'."

Bourke said Noorat had a bright future on the back of an emerging bowling unit.

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Harkness claimed the batting aggregate award, blasting 524 runs, while Fernando's 36 wickets were enough to be recognised as the association's most prolific bowler.

In other grades, Woorndoo's Grant Cameron took out the division two cricketer of the year in a season which yielded 585 runs. He also took out the division's batting aggregate.

Heytesbury Rebels' Simon Illingworth was the division's leading wicket-taker, grabbing 26.

Pomborneit's Stephen Hill, meanwhile, was voted division three's most valuable player.

South West Cricket Association

Bushman Tanks Division One Cricketer of the Year

Gus Bourke (Noorat) 17 votes

Bushman Tanks Division One Batting Aggregate

Simon Harkness (Heytesbury Rebels) 524 runs

Bushman Tanks Division One Bowling Aggregate

Lahiru Fernando (Pomborneit) 36 wickets

WD News Division Two Cricketer of the Year

Grant Cameron (Woorndoo) 16 votes

WD News Division Two Batting Aggregate

Grant Cameron (Woorndoo) 585 runs

WD News Division Two Bowling Aggregate

Simon Illingworth (Heytesbury Rebels) 26 wickets

Camperdown Compost Company Division Three Cricketer of the Year

Stephen Hill (Pomborneit) 24 votes

Camperdown Compost Company Division Three Batting Aggregate

Stephen Hill (Pomborneit) 570 runs

Camperdown Compost Company Division Three Bowling Aggregate

Greg Teal (Bookaar) 30 wickets

Terang Co-Op MyCricket Player of the Year

Stephen Hill (Pomborneit) 930 points

South West Cricket

Season 2020/21 Team of the Year

Simon Harkness (Heytesbury Rebels)

Tommy Moloney (Terang)

Isaac Wareham (Mortlake)

Johno Benallack (Cobden)

Tom Place (Pomborneit)

Gus Bourke (Noorat) (capt)

Eddie Lucas (Bookaar)

Lahiru Fernando (Pomborneit)

Jack Lehmann (Mortlake)

Sam Munro (Terang)

James Moloney (Noorat)

Tim Fitzgerald (Bookaar) (vice capt)

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