GCA, BPCA bosses begin merger talks
GCA president Barry McFarlane has revealed grand plans for the future of Geelong cricket, with a proposed merger of the GCA and BPCA to improve the standard of the game.
After a tumultuous two years on and off the field after a competition-wide restructure, McFarlane has spoken of his desire to bring the neighbouring associations under the one umbrella in coming seasons.
Under McFarlane’s proposal, hard-wicket clubs in the GCA and BPCA would merge to strengthen hard- wicket cricket in the region.
It comes as the GCA continues to work out its hardwicket structure for next season, with disgruntled clubs Bannockburn and Teesdale likely to be integrated into the Division 3 turf competition.
“There’s options, and I’ve got a particular option in mind, but it’s a matter of trying to convince people that it’s the way to go about things,” McFarlane said.
“Whatever decision is made, it’s a band-aid treatment for this season, because I think as a region we’ve got to get together and look at the options for turf and hardwicket and try and get something in place for the following season.
“We need to lock in a three, four or five-year plan because it’s not good to be in these predicaments, it creates problems each year and it’s not good for anyone.”
McFarlane, the president of the Barwon Region, met BPCA president Ian Caldwell and Barwon Region cricket manager Dom McGlinchey on Thursday night.
The trio thrashed out plans for the future, with McFarlane eager to progress talks of an alliance.
“I’ve spoken to Ian about whether his executive will have a heart-to-heart chat with our executive about where cricket is heading in the next 12 months,” McFarlane said. “We need to discuss what cricket will look like moving forward.
“He’s going back to talk to his executive to see if they will have a meeting with us.
“My own personal belief is somewhere down the track there needs to be a plan for cricket, where turf and hardwicket cricket needs to be separate.
“There should be an overall competition for hardwicket clubs in the region, whether that comes under the Bellarine umbrella, I don’t know.
“It won’t be happening this season, but we should look at it for the 2019-20 season.
“What’s holding us back is shires, councils and Cricket Victoria are involved in a cricket-wide review, so we don’t know where it’s all at.
“There may be a blueprint for cricket in the region, but that has been delayed. The report is supposed to be looking at the health of cricket in the Barwon Region and that would be a very helpful document.”
McFarlane is adamant a hard-wicket competition comprising teams from the Geelong, Bellarine and the Surf Coast would improve the standard across the board.