Liam began playing senior cricket for the WCC in the 2006/07 season as a 14 year old before breaking out at age 15, when he won the C Grade Batting trophy for the 2007/08 season, scoring 379 runs @ 25.27 featuring 2 50’s.
Moving on to B Grade, he scored over 200 runs the following season in a solid debut campaign before taking the next step in the 2009/10 season, winning the B Grade Batting Average at 36.86 (258 runs) including his only century – an outstanding 138* from approx. 80 balls against Echunga featuring 17 4’s and 6 6’s and in which he put on a 213 run 3rd wicket partnership with Tommy Scott, who made 126.
Interestingly, that was not Liam’s best career partnership as he also had a 244 run partnership (also for the 3rd wicket) with Simon Nunan the previous season, in which Liam played the supporting role, scoring 49.
Liam’s best season, however, came in the 2012/13 season which culminated in the Echidnas’ first B Grade Premiership in 15 seasons. Despite playing 6 games in A’s, Liam cemented himself as an attacking opening bat, scoring 396 runs @ 30.46 with a strike rate of 81 in B’s and whilst he only made two half-centuries, he scored at least 30 in 8 of his 13 innings.
He was also undoubtedly best on ground on Premiership night – Liam may or may not have been found bathing in the Rundle Mall fountain at 3am the next morning!
Playing 29 matches in A Grade, Liam was never quite able to hit his straps, scoring 207 runs @ 8.63 with a highest score of 39. In B Grade, however, he was equally good as an opening batter or as a No. 3 or 4, scoring 1,003 runs @ 26.39 in 41 matches with 4 50’s and 1 century.
An intelligent and thoughtful cricketer, all up Liam played 113 senior matches for the Echidnas, scoring 1,969 runs @ 19.30 with 6 50’s and the 1 century. An excellent fielder and occasional wicketkeeper, Liam also took 66 catches and when given the opportunity to bowl, collected 24 wickets at a very respectable average of 19.50. He is also the youngest ever winner of the Blight Perpetual Trophy for Club Person of the Year, having won the prestigious award in 2008/09 as a 16 year old.
Heavily involved in AFL field umpiring from a young age, Liam has lived and umpired all around Australia including regular trips up to the top end where he is currently employed by the AFL as an umpire co-ordinator and he recently umpired the NTFL Men’s Division 1 GF in March 2023.
Well done Liam!
