City sweats on Frogs’ decision
MURGHEBOLUC has been given until Friday to decide whether it will accept the Geelong Cricket Association’s offer to be elevated back to Division 1.
The Frogs won the minor premiership in GCA2 before being bundled out of finals after an upset semi-final loss to Marshall.
But they still earned the right to promotion after being the highest-ranked GCA2 team based on the association’s two-year rolling average club assessment system.
Geelong City sits in the gun for relegation from Division 1 as the lowest-ranked GCA1 club, but it is believed the Frogs are leaning towards staying in the second division, reluctant to become a yoyo between the competitions.
“Clubs were sent the final results (Sunday) night,” GCA president Barry McFarlane said yesterday.
“They (Murgheboluc) have been given until this Friday. They’ve got to let us know officially what their situation is … and City have been advised of that.”
Despite having strong aspirations to return to GCA1, the Frogs recently told the Geelong Advertiser they believe they need another season in GCA2 to ensure all grades were at Division 1 standard.
But while Murgheboluc weighs its options, Modewarre has accepted promotion back to GCA2.
The Warriors yesterday announced import Jake Hooson would return next summer as captain-coach to lead Modewarre into GCA2, replacing Thomson.
The Division 3 premiers spent two years on the third tier after falling victim to the competition restructure, but successive grand final appearances helped the Warriors come out on top in the club assessment.
“It’s where we think we should be,” Warriors president Peter Edwards said.
“It just took it two years to prove it. The proof will be in the pudding of course, we’re not getting ahead of ourselves, but we want to prove ourselves against good Division 2 clubs and I’m confident we can give a good account of that.
“We’re genuinely happy about it.”
Hooson claimed the GCA3 league medal this season after belting 915 runs at 65.36 across all formats, as well as taking 35 wickets, across all forms of cricket, and will replace Luke Davidson at the helm, who “achieved what he set out to” in leading the club to a flag.
“Having him come back will help us in Division 2 for sure. He’s a class act,” Edwards said of Hooson.
“He sees this as another challenge, so he’s pretty excited by it.”