EVERY CLUB RATED
GCA1 REPORT CARD
Premier, 61 points
Star influences: Tom Mathieson 33 wickets @ 12.58 and Layton McCann 415 runs @ 46.11
X-factor: Alistair McCann 275 runs @ 45.8 and 19 wickets @ 20.5
Addy says: Benefiting handsomely from the addition of Alistair McCann and Brayden McGregor, the return of Mitch Troy and a full season from Damian
Vassiliou, the Magpies leapt from ninth to premier under the guidance of inspirational skipper Tom Mathieson. The development of new-ball speedster Lachie Hayes (19 wickets @ 14) complemented the artillery of Mathieson and Shaun Kingwell.
Club says: “It’s been the most bizarre season I’ve seen, but it’s really pleasing for our boys to get the reward for their hard work. Every single time we needed someone to stand up Alistair McCann did, whether it was with wickets or runs. His brother, Layton, put in so much hard work, so for him to average 46 with the bat was massive as well,” captain Tom Mathieson said.
2. SOUTH BARWON
51 points
Star influences: Joel Davies 417 runs @ 59.57 and
Kyle Bienefelt 302 runs @ 37.75 and 18 wickets @ 13.8
X-factor: Ryan Gibson 316 runs @ 28.7 and 16 wickets @ 20.1
Addy says: Unquestionably one of the form sides heading into the aborted finals series, the Swans profited from a bowling attack of Bienefelt (18 wickets), Nick Lynch (18), Terry Hill (18) and Ryan Gibson (16) prepared to share the workload. Bienefelt’s 302 runs was a superb complement to Joel Davies’ outstanding 417-run season, while cameos of 112 not out, 84 and 51 underpinned Jayden Hicks’s worth to the Swans’ campaign.
Club says: “We didn’t lose a two-day game and our long-form game was really tight, so that was what really excited me heading into finals. Kyle Bienefelt’s all-round performances, taking wickets and making runs, particularly at the top of the order, was a big factor in taking South Barwon’s season to the next level. Joel Davies was another to have an outstanding summer,” captain Terry Hill said.
3. LARA
48 points
Star influences: Danny Hughes 30 wickets @ 12.8 and Andy Hughes 417 runs @ 49.44
X-factor: Sam Purdy (15 wickets @ 17.9)
Addy says: The competition pacesetter for much of the summer, the Cats rectified their white-ball woes early in the season only to get the wobbles on the eve of finals. The bowling of evergreen Danny Hughes was outstanding, while brother Andy was his typically imperious self. The continued improvement of Sam Purdy and young all-rounder Jordan Stone — with scores of 36 and 46 — stamps the Cats as a future threat.
Club says: “It was disappointing how it finished, but we set out to make finals and that was a goal achieved. Danny Hughes’s performance defies logic, while Jordan Stone may well be the person to take the most out of this season. Jordan is a serious talent with bat and ball. Our players are entering an age demographic that places us in a real sweet spot, ” captain Daniel Weigl said.
4. GROVEDALE
48 points
Star influences: Jordan Moran 644 runs @ 92 and Gareth Yelland 21 wickets @ 11.6
X-factor: Jake Alsop 297 runs @ 42.4
Addy says: Bursting into contention with four post-Christmas wins, the Tigers looked threatening on the back of Moran’s imperious form. Jake Alsop’s stability at the top of the order served to provide a platform, while the return of Gareth Yelland to the bowling crease accompanied the sound work of Chris Young, Dev Foott and rising star Lachie Hornibrook.
Club says: “We strive to play finals and from where we were at the start of the season, losing a coach the first night of pre-season, it was a great summer. It was great that we got to see the real Jordan Moran this season, while we knew that Jake Alsop had talent. Lachie Hornibrook (11 wickets) showed healthy progress,” captain Luke Ford said.
5. EAST BELMONT
45 points
Star influences: Hayden McMahon 310 runs @ 44.29 and Tom Elliot 322 runs @ 40.25
X-factor: Dylan McMahon
20 wickets @ 19.4 and 100 runs @ 25
Addy says: The Lions suffered for the absence of run-machine Sean O’Neill for the first part of the summer, along with the competition’s leading spinner, Chris Williams (19 wickets), for key games. Hayden McMahon and Tom Elliot stepped up to shoulder the run-making responsibility, with Lachie Inglis (273 runs) revealing his worth with bat and behind the stumps.
Club says: “We’re disappointed not to have made finals because we showed that our best cricket would have stood up in March. We had opportunities to put points up earlier in the season, but just didn’t do it. The impact of unavailability of players through injury and holidays was exacerbated with such a strange, weather-affected season. At full strength, I believe we had a side as good, if not better, than last summer,” coach Chris Williams said.
6. MURGHEBOLUC
39 points
Star influences: Daanish Mehta 582 runs @ 44.77 and Jason Grozdanovski 262 runs @ 23.8 and 14 wickets @ 20.9
X-factor: Luke Webb 19 wickets @ 16 and 139 runs @ 11.6
Addy says: The Frogs held on to the coat-tails of Daanish Mehta as he plundered 454 runs to Christmas, setting them up for a positive assault on their return GCA1 season.
Unfortun ately as the stylish batsman’s form dipped, so too did Murghe’s chances of a topfour finish. Luke Webb proved one of the finds of the summer, while Jason Grozdanovski was typically never out of the action.
Club says: “Our aim was to be competitive and we believe that we achieved that. Winning a couple of games early, particularly with Daanish Mehta in red-hot form with the bat, set us up well. Unfortunately we couldn’t build anything for our bowlers to defend after Christmas. Luke Webb provided some matchwinning performances with both bat and ball. Five wins puts us in a decent position moving forward,” captain Dan Grozdanovski said.
7. BELL POST HILL
30 points
Star influences:
Emilio Gay 333 runs @ 47.57 and Rhys Burke 340 runs @ 30.91
X-factor: Lachie Horan 21 wickets @ 21.8 Addy says: The Panthers suffered for the late arrival — and early departure — of Emilio Gay after their initial import encountered visa issues. Moderate performances were punctuated by some outstanding displays with both bat and ball. Youngsters Aidan Barrow (321 runs), Lachie
Handley (244 runs) and Lachie Horan (21 wickets) showed the future is bright.
Club says: “We lost a couple of close games, but under Glen Talarico’s coaching we were more consistent in our batting this season. Overall we had everyone contribute at some stage. Our bowling was our strong point, with Lachie Horan the youngest winner of our first XI Player of the Year, and Tim Horan and Anthony Foord really consistent with the ball,” captain Rhys Burke said.
8. LEOPOLD
30 points
Star influences: Corey Ogle 354 runs @ 32.18 and Tommy Smith 22 wickets @ 21.7
X-factor: Ben Horne 24 wickets @ 21
Addy says: Inconsistency plagued Leopold’s batting, failing to match the quality of its bowling across summer.
A Round 5 win over Grovedale was the season highlight, with David Ford and Corey Ogle striking 104 not out apiece to demonstrate what the Lions were capable of. The emergence of spinner Reece Plumridge and rocksolid No.3 Harry James provided optimism. A lateseason return to the bowling crease by Ogle (7 wickets @ 4.4) produced immediate results.
Club says: “In a real positive we bowled consistently all season with Ben Horne exceptional, while Tom Smith hit his straps after Christmas. We had a poor hour of batting on multiple occasions, a fact that really knocked us. The good sides might have a poor 20-minute spell. Having two of our top three batters injured before Christmas didn’t help,” captain-coach Corey Ogle said.
9. NEWTOWN & CHILWELL
24 points
Star influences: Cooper Bingham 323 runs @ 29.36 and Sam Allen 14 wickets @26.5
X-factor: Isaac Hogan 170 runs @24.3
Addy says: Slated as a premiership contender pre-season, the Two Blues fell well short, scoring the fewest (1754) and conceding the most (2456) runs for the summer. Impacted by Nick McGuane’s (13 wickets) late start and a hamstring injury to Jacko Davis, the Combine was forced into a bowling reshuffle, although Sam Allen’s move to KFC Oval bore fruit as he continued to master bowling’s most difficult craft.
Club says: “It was a disappointing season where we had the perfect storm of injuries, weather and player unavailability. Despite starting the season well by winning the first two games, our form and confidence dropped off. We still have a core of a good team and they’re quite youthful,” director of coaching Dev Royce said.
10. ST JOSEPH’S
18 points
Star influences: Luke Ibbs 556 runs @ 46.33 and Matthew Tarbett 28 wickets @ 18.54
X-factor: Andrew Casey 278 runs @ 25.3
Addy says: Wins against Grovedale and Newtown & Chilwell were the positives in an otherwise under-par season for the Joeys. Ibbs was outstanding, particularly before Christmas, but had too few players going with him on a consistent basis. Matt Tarbett’s lion-hearted effort with the ball, more often than not, kept St Joseph’s in the contest.
Club says: “We lost a few early and once we lost momentum we couldn’t find a way to win. Despite that there were some positives including Andrew Casey standing up in the middle order with four fifties and the development of all-rounder Jack Mullen. When you look across the board I believe our young fast bowling group is the most exciting in the competition. Our batting development is the key to moving forward,” captain Luke Ibbs said.