PREMIERSHIP RACE IS GOING TO BE HOT
With Bell Post Hill and Murgheboluc dropping into the competition under a new-look four-tier turf division, the power-packed GCA2 has only got stronger. The captains believe the premiership race is wide open, with last season’s grand finalists St Peter’s and Leopold among the teams backed to give the flag a serious shake. Ahead of the new season, Addy sports editor ALEX OATES casts his eye over all eight clubs. BELL POST HILL
Coach: Matthew Reid
Captain: Matthew Reid
Arrivals: Jack Trubshaw (Eastbourne CC, England), Dylan Walsh (Lara), Tyler O’Neill (Geelong).
Departures: Nil.
Captain-coach Matthew Reid says: We did selection last week and our side was very strong, one of the strongest we have selected for a long time. We are shaping up very well, but pre-season has gone forever. We’re definitely looking forward to starting. Our best team will definitely give it (premiership) a good nudge.
Barry McMahon Medal tip: Jack Driver (Geelong City). He has to be right up there. He’s clearly the best player in the competition.
Team to beat: The obvious ones are St Peter’s and Torquay, but it’s an incredibly even competition. You’d have to go with Torquay. On paper they are very strong, but you could say that about every team in the comp.
Addy says: With no departures to speak of, and a trio of solid inclusions, the relegated Panthers immediately start as one of the flag favourites. Led supremely by damaging bat and gloveman Matthew Reid, Bell Post Hill has depth with the bat and a stack of quality bowlers, none better than quick Lachie Horan. Expect the Panthers to be at the pointy end when the whips are cracking.
GEELONG CITY
Coach: Scott Lindsay
Captain: Jack Driver
Arrivals: Nick Walpole (returning), Josh Chislett (South Barwon), Will Tait (Geelong College), Amud Pandian (Melbourne).
Departures: Jack Parrot (injured), Mat Elliot (season off), Chris Bambury (retired).
Captain Jack Driver says: It’s shaping up well for us. We’ve got a very similar list to last season and the improvement internally is already showing and we hope it will be enough to get that elusive premiership.
Barry McMahon Medal tip: Corey Ogle (Leopold). He’s a super star of our competition. His brute strength and power, he can turn a game and I think he’ll win it.
Team to beat: I think probably Leopold. With the addition of Tom Treble, who is a class player, they will be dangerous. And the teams coming down from GCA1 — Bell Post Hill and Murghe — will be hard to beat. Addy says: Any team that boasts the class and run-making prowess of Jack Driver must be mentioned in premiership calculations. The reigning Barry McMahon Medal winner carried the Sharks on his back last season with 717 runs at an average of 89.63, and with the addition of polished left-hander Tom Treble, City possesses enough firepower to travel deep into the finals.
GEELONG WEST
Coach: Justin McPhee
Captain: Alex Buckwell
Arrivals: Billy Hoye (Brown Hill), Ollie Rogoff (Herefordshire, England), Ryan Taylor (Murgheboluc). Departures: Sam Allen (Camperdown). Coach Justin McPhee says: It’s been really good, our pre-season. We’re tracking as well as we could have hoped and we’ve laid the foundation for a good season ahead.
Barry McMahon Medal tip: Jack Driver (Geelong City). He had a really good season last year and he’s a very good cricketer. He knows his game well and plays to his strengths.
Team to beat: It was a pretty tough competition last year. There wasn’t a great deal between the teams and Leopold have recruited well, so they might be the pick for me. Last season Torquay was the team to beat, but they didn’t even make it (grand final) in the end.
Addy says: The departure of gun allrounder Sam Allen stings, but the Rams remain firmly in the flag race. With the experience of Tony and Ken Spence at the top, and the power of coach McPhee in the middle order, West has enough power with the bat to cause problems. There’s no shortage of bowling options either, headlined by Daniel Reed Sharry and skipper Buckwell, to make the Rams a dangerous proposition.
LEOPOLD
Coach: Corey Ogle
Captain: Corey Ogle
Arrivals: Jasper Male (Derbyshire), Tom Treble (Geelong City), Abhinav Sagar Merupula (Indigos, Mercantile Cricket Association), Michael Kenneady (Ocean Grove).
Departures: Nil.
Captain-coach Corey Ogle says: We’re looking really good. Last season our deficiency was with the bat, so we’ve brought in three top-order bats and that trickles down through the club, so we’re really happy with our depth. From a bowling point of view, we’ve got the same list, so we’re very confident with our team.
Barry McMahon Medal tip: Jack Driver (Geelong City). He can’t stop making runs. He makes runs for fun. Team to beat: Murgheboluc, I reckon. They have come down from GCA1 and they will be strong, but I think the competition is wide open this season. Anyone on their day could win it, but I’d go with Murghe.
Addy says: After covering all bases with an off-season of savvy recruiting, Leopold again looms large in season 2022-23. Tom Treble fills the void in the batting order, while Englishman Jasper Male will provide extra depth in the top-six that the Lions craved last season. With a supreme attack led by Ben Horne, Leopold is more than capable of going one better this season and snaring the premiership cup.
MARSHALL
Coach: James Menzies, Tom Beasley Captain: Corey Walter
Arrivals: Matthew Adamson (Durham, England), Lindon Giuffrida (Ocean Grove).
Departures: Brad Greenwood (Barrabool), Jake Dubbeldam (season off), Kal Duddeldam (work commitments), Taylor Cameron (Thomson). Captain Corey Walter says: I think we say the same thing every season, but it’s going to be an even competition. I think our bowling is going to be good enough, but I hope our young blokes with the bat can take the next step. I’m not expecting too much (from the team). I just hope the young players can continue to develop. Barry McMahon Medal tip: Jack Driver (Geelong City). I just think he’s quality. He times his innings and gives himself a chance to make a big score. City rely on him and he thrives on that.
Team to beat: Torquay will be thereabouts and Leopold will be pretty decent. I think it will be really close and any of the top six could win it.
Addy says: It could be a tough season for the usually ever-reliable Bears. The loss of key talent leaves holes that will test Marshall’s depth in a competition that is bursting with a number of flag contenders. Jake Dubbeldam is taking a break from cricket in a major blow for the club, while brother Kal is likely to miss “90 per cent” of the season due to work and study commitments. Brad Greenwood absence with the new ball will also be felt as the Bears brace for a bottom-two finish.
MURGHEBOLUC
Coach: Dan Grozdanovski
Captain: Luke Brown and Luke Webb Arrivals: Inam Ullah (Wynyard Tigers, Tasmania).
Departures: Jake Brown (Bell Park). Captain Dan Grozdanovski says: It’s hard to tell who will be competitive but consistency is going to be the key in terms of where we sit.
Barry McMahon Medal tip: Luke Webb (Murgheboluc). He does a bit with the bat and he does a bit with the ball. Luke Ford from St Peter’s is another one. He’s a very good player. Team to beat: I’m going with last year’s premiers, St Peter’s. The clubs coming down from Division 1 will be competitive, so Bell Post Hill will be hard to beat. So too will Leopold. Addy says: A settled list and a stack of talent means Murgheboluc will be a major threat. Luke Webb shapes as a key player, and with the explosive allround talent of the Grozdanovski brothers, the Frogs are well placed to give the premiership a serious nudge.
ST PETER’S
Coach: Luke Ford
Captain: Luke Ford
Arrivals: Tom West (Brierly Christ Church, Warrnambool), Ricci Sauni (Winchelsea), James Peterson (Point Cook).
Departures: Brodie Craig (Geelong), Steve Illingworth (retired).
Captain-coach Luke Ford says: We’ll be strong again, so we should be right in the mix. We’ve still got frontline bats and really good variation with the ball and we’ve got all the attributes to challenge again.
Barry McMahon Medal tip: Luke Webb (Murgheboluc). He can bat and bowl. Watching him in Division 1, he was a quality bat and he can do it all. He’ll go a long way in the count. Team to beat: Leopold will be the team to beat. They’ve got a nice recruit in Tom Treble and they were in the grand final last season. They won’t want to lose again, so Corey will have his team ready to go.
Addy says: The reigning premiers are without doubt in contention to snare back-to-back flags. The retirement of veteran all-rounder Steve Illingworth poses a problem of two, but the question remains if he will have itchy feet, given he came out of retirement last season to help spearhead an upset grand final victory. The Ford brothers — Luke, Billy and Mitch — will all be
crucial to the Saints hopes of more success in 2022-23.
TORQUAY
Coach: Leigh Kentish
Captain: Terry Hill
Arrivals: Leigh Kentish (Anglesea), Kieran Mawson (Grappenhall), Matthew Ward (Mount Clear, Ballarat CA), Riley Wood (returning), Darcy Thomson (East Belmont). Departures: James Fisher (Barrabool), Tyson Windus (Newtown & Chilwell), Josh Windus (Grovedale). Captain Terry Hill says: I believe the side is shaping pretty well. We’ve got some great ins and some experienced players Matthew Ward and Leigh Kentish. We’ve got some depth to our side this year, which is nice.
Barry McMahon Medal tip: Luke Webb (Murgheboluc). He’s an allround player and being a Division 1 player, he’ll be one of the best players in the comp. He’s underrated in terms of his performances.
Team to beat: Murgheboluc. They have dropped down from Division 1 and they will be a strong team in this division. It’s going to be bloody tough to pick.
Addy says: This will be a season of redemption for Torquay. Suffering their only defeat in the semi-final, the Tigers will be desperate to make amends for what loomed as a premiership-winning season. With that in mind, Torquay has recruited perfectly, luring hard-hitting and prolific rungetter Leigh Kentish from just down the road in Anglesea, while adding more batting experience in Matthew Ward from Mount Clear. The Tigers will pose a real threat.