Dual-code standout

Future football and cricket superstar Troyden Thorpe was the Busselton Freight Services Rising Sports Star for November and is ready to tackle the revised 2020 SWFL season.

The budding prodigy has performed well for the Yallingup Oddbods in the Busselton Margaret River Cricket Association and Busselton Magpies in the South West Football League.

With the SWFL season resuming in just two weeks, Magpies coach Dave Lewis is looking for a breakout season from Thorpe, one of the club’s most improved players last season.

A gun junior footballer, Thorpe was the runner-up best and fairest for the South West Junior Football league in 2018 and last year was a revelation in the league team helping Busselton snap a seven-game Toyota Cup losing streak against the Margaret River Hawks at Gloucester Park.

The talented and hard-tackling midfielder has the hallmarks of a future Magpies league captain if he refuses the inevitable approach of WAFL affiliated side East Perth.

But it is arguably cricket where Troyden has showed his most impressive form, rescuing Yobs from a few tight spots this year before they eventually fell to Margaret River in a non-event BMRCA grand final.

Thorpe hit the winning runs against an in-form Dunsborough side in the preliminary final after scoring a not-out 79 against last season’s A-grade premiers St Mary’s.

The strong right hander has represented BMRCA at country week tournaments and was a solid contributor to the WA Invitational XI.

Keep an eye out for the next rising sports star in next week’s Times.