Joeys’ Fanning: No points in season draw

Geelong Cricket Association’s controversial new playing conditions, which allow a team to draw its way to a premiership, has a supporter in GCA1 club St Joseph’s – but with a slight tweak.

The association’s new rules, which has clubs earning three points each in drawn games during the home-and-away season, had a public critic in East Belmont, which lost the GCA1 first grade grand final to North Geelong.

The Magpies were able to win their fifth consecutive premiership after drawing the match, rewarded for finishing on top of the ladder.

Joeys coach Daniel Fanning said that he would prefer not to go back to the former rules and the new conditions should be given a season or two to see if clubs and players can adequately adjust.

He said he believed the rule had some merit, but would like to see three-day grand finals introduced to force a result. “It was unfortunate that both the division one and two grand finals were won by draw, but if you dig deeper, both games presented tense cricket and moments of proactivity that the rule produces,” Fanning said.

“East Belmont knew they had to bowl North out, so they batted with intent that might not have been always seen during the season.

“I’d say the scoreline at the end of day one was as exciting as you could ask for, on the best batting surface in Geelong. Likewise, the division two result (where St Peter’s won) was in the balance with three possibilities in play.”

However, he was not a supporter of teams sharing three points each from drawn games during the home-andaway season.

“I’m adamant that no points should be awarded for a draw,” he said. “Splitting the points has definitely created negative cricket.”