Girls’ cricket on rise
GEELONG female cricket leaders have a new trump card to fuel the buzz for the new junior girls season on the back of two new clubs signing on for 2019/20.
Manifold Heights and Newtown & Chilwell have entered the fourth season, starting in late October, while Torquay will return for another crack at the Geelong Renegades Girls League in a bid to connect juniors to a pathway to their senior women’s team.
Geelong Junior Cricket Association’s Geelong Renegades Girls League co-ordinator Nikki Tonkin has also engaged cross-code superstar Abbey Chapman as a liaison between players and sub-committee in a bid to take girls cricket to the next level.
Chapman will also use her social media presence to promote the fun times and big hits — a move that could coerce more young footy players to add cricket to their annual sporting regimen.
Tonkin said momentum was building behind the dream to eventually have every club hosting junior girls teams “a few years down the track”.
Fourteen clubs will participate in the 2019/20 season, but Tonkin hopes numbers could rise to 20 next season.
“Each club, to drive it, really needs a female participation coordinator, someone to really drive it. This year, for example, Torquay has got Sarah Boak on board and she’s also involved with footy, and sometimes the girls who play footy are also open to playing cricket,” Tonkin said.
“In Geelong, we’ve also got the competition starting for the women, so that compliments our girls’ competition so our girls now have somewhere to go.”
Tonkin said a carnival atmosphere reflecting the Big Bash added to the lure every Sunday, for what will be a 12-week competition.
More girls will have the opportunity to pursue cricket at a higher level this season with the league planning to offer more personalised coaching. Representative cricket will also be on the agenda.
But Tonkin said the focus was as much about making sure players of all levels could enjoy the game.
To find a club or for more information, contact Nikki Tonkin gjca.girls@gmail.com