North Albury opening batsman Ben Paddle will celebrate his birthday in the grand final against Lavington.
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Paddle turns 18 on Saturday and will face the best attack in the association’s modern-era.
“It’s going to be really surreal to face a quality opposition and, hopefully, we can come out on top,” he said.
“It’s a really good feeling, he’s (former New Zealand international Daryl Tuffey) been at the highest level, so to be able to face someone as good as him will be great.”
Paddle’s story is what clubs pride themselves on.
He batted anywhere between number three and 11 in his debut season, making 48 runs at 12.
But this year he’s blossomed, making 325 runs with a maiden provincial century – 104 not out – against premiers Wodonga in round 16.
He feels he arrived as a first-grade player that day.
“Yeah I did … the coaching staff at North Albury have backed me in all year, it’s finally good to get in some form and repay them back,” he said.
“Just walking off the ground and everyone was showing emotion, it’s not every day you make an A grade hundred.
“It was great with everyone being appreciative and getting lots of well dones.”
Interestingly, Paddle could easily be playing for Wodonga, or at least one of the city’s other two clubs.
He lives and attends school in the city.
“Rodney Barton (North Albury stalwart) used to coach my dad (Dale) in football a few years ago and because North Albury was short of junior numbers, he called dad to see if my brother and I would like to come across,” he said.
“And we’ve played for North Albury ever since then.”
Paddle and fellow opener, captain Ash Borella, are the ideal foil.
It’s Ash the Dash, as the left-hander blazes from early on, taking him to yet another association batting aggregate award.
Paddle, meantime, is the accumulator.
“My role’s just to bat as long as I can with the top order guys and get them on strike and rotate that strike,” he said.
When he made his ton, the right-hander faced 269 balls and backed it up with another 129 in the semi-final knock of 36 against Tallangatta.
He also boasts two half-centuries, 52 and 54, against New City in rounds five and 10.
Paddle will be the only schoolboy in the game and the baby-faced opener will face the greatest examination of his career at Tallangatta’s Rowan Park.