It came as no surprise to some who had witnessed the Queenslander's ability with the bat and ball throughout his debut season.

However many were amazed that it was the first time the award was claimed by a Creeks player since 2013.

So which club has dominated the first grade player of the year title count this century?

We looked back over the past 20 years:

Surprisingly, only one PCH player has taken out the association's top individual award.

However what the reigning premiers have lacked in quantity they have more than made up for in quality.

Stalwart Daniel Oldknow has featured in both of his club's most recent major premierships; which were separated by a memorable 17-year drought.

Throughout his side's tenure in the wilderness he proved to be the shining light when taking out back to back SDCA first grade player of the year awards in 2014 and 2015.

Winners:

Daniel Oldknow (2013/14), (2014/15)

Glendon held the early lead this century when teammates Darren Hobden and Jason Burley took out back to back titles in 2001 and 2002.

Sadly, no Glendon player has taken the top individual award since.

Perhaps this will spur on current skipper Cael Smith and Scott Griffths in the near future.

The duo have both been nominated for this season's Singleton Argus top ten first grade players list to be released this Wednesday.

Winners:

Darren Hobden (2000/01)

Jason Burley (2001/02)

Amazingly PCH, Glendon and JPC have only claimed two of these coveted titles apiece since the year 2000.

While both PCH and Glendon had back to back titles, JPC's two crowns were separated by a 15-year-drought.

That came to an end last year when first year recruit Shane Givney held off PCH wicket-keeper Brad Cox for season 2018/19's top nod.

Givney has proven to be a shining light in the team since taking out the award.

Winners:

Darren Thomson (2003/04)

Shane Givney (2018/19)

Six first grade player of the year awards have been shared between four Creeks players this century.

The local powerhouse showcased dominance from 2005 when appearing in 12 of the following 13 first grade grand finals.

Two men stand out on this list.

After captaining PCH to glory in 2002, Warren Gillespie made the move to Creeks and started laying the foundations for a club dynasty.

By the time the South Australian collected his second player of the year title in 2006 the club had gone from a first grade cellar dweller to a top tier force eyeing back to back major premierships.

Later down the track Mark Unicomb would also claim two titles.

Both would coincide in premiership years for Creeks while his opposing Glendon captain Anthony Bailey described the talent as 'Singleton's best bowler by far" in an interview in 2019.

Winners:

Rod Young (1999/00)

Warren Gillespie (2002/03), (2005/06)

Mark Unicomb (2009/10), (2012/13)

Owen Daley (2019/20)

Finally, we enter Valley.

Similarly to PCH last year, Valley was able to end a long 17-year premiership in the top grade when defeating Glendon in the SDCA 2002/03 decider.

Since then, Valley has featured in 11 of the past 17 first grade grand finals and, remarkably, claimed nine player of the year crowns in that time.

Take nothing away from Chris Skilton, Malcolm Davis, Ben Lapham and current captain Jacob Carey who all proved worthy winners in their respective seasons.

However up until last week, five time recipient Brendan Nichols had single-handley equaled the tally of Creeks.

He had also matched the tally shared by the association's remaining three clubs (PCH, Glendon and JPC) prior to Givney's victory last year.

It is an achievement we may never see again.

Winners:

Chris Skilton (2004/05)

Brendan Nichols (2006/07), (2007/08), (2010/11), (2015/16), (2016/17)

Malcolm Davis (2008/09)

Ben Lapham (2011/12)

Jacob Carey (2017/18)