ARTICLE NO 23

13th. March, 2015

Season 2014-15 is a season the Club would rather forget in its 22nd year, finishing with just 6 wins for the season and 14th. on the ladder of 18 teams, being the equal lowest number of victories with 6 also in its maiden season of 1993-94 and 2006-07 and compares to 9 triumphs last season.

Off the bat (excluding extras), its batsmen averaged 20.9 runs per compared to 32.3 the previous season whilst its bowlers didn’t fare any better, yielding 32.3 runs per wicket compared to 21.7 in 2013-14. Although leg-spinner Jeremy Hart was a welcome return to top the aggregate, it clearly missed the firepower of Jake Reed who was injured or unavailable with State duties (3 @ 54.0 compared to 46 scalps @ 12.2 the previous season) plus the absence of Marc Carson to Newtown & Chilwell with 22 wickets last season.

A positive was the ranking of the Geelong Cricket Ground at number 4 for pitch and outfield conditions (Albert Ground heading the list) whilst West won the award for the second consecutive season.

Damian Shanahan will be missed as he went “beyond the call of duty” in an attempt to lift the club to a flag, coaching the club for 8 seasons which has only been bettered by Ian Redpath with 6 seasons in the job. His 147 matches yielded a winning ratio of 49%, marginally ahead of the 1st.X1 average when he arrived with 48% wins.

Following are the stats comparisons for the last two seasons re home-and-away matches.

Ben Fletcher from University won the aggregate with 877 runs @ 62.6 with Vines in 11th. position whilst Ian Holland from Ringwood collected the most wickets of 42 @ 15.5 with Hart in 19th.position.

SEASON SEASON 2014-15 2013-14

BATSMAN RUNS AVE RUNS AVE

E.Vines 610 43.6 385 35.0 H.Butterworth 460 24.2 576 41.1 M.Harrison 422 32.5 363 33.0 J.McDonald 394 20.7 150 15.0 C.Sandri 365 20.3 C.Ogle 188 14.5 T.Treble 183 16.6 M.Buchanan 155 77.5 J.Sheppard 151 12.6 12 6.0 D.McGlinchey 90 15.0 M.Reid 86 17.2 M.Gunther 79 9.9 42 10.5 J.McPhee 49 8.2 82 10.3 J.Hart 45 7.5 J.Reed 42 14.0 70 17.5 L.Ibbs 36 12.0 5 2.5 L.Ford 24 12.0 0 0.0 D.Shanahan 9 A.Hewet 14 4.0 A.Finch 1 1.0 211 105.5 J.Harrison 0 J.Crosthwaite 614 38.4 K.Sawas 572 31.8 L.Muller 144 14.4 A.Cairns 85 21.3 M.Condy 67 16.8 M.Carson 49 49.0 A.Hodson 29 29.0 J.Westhorpe 16 C.Williams 0 0.0

SEASON SEASON 2014-15 2013-14

BOWLER WICKETS AVE WICKETS AVE

J.Hart 28 32.2 J.Sheppard 23 24.0 3 26.3 C.Sandri 14 36.5 C.Ogle 12 36.3 1 22.0 J.McPhee 10 19.8 30 17.4 D.McGlinchey 6 41.3 H.Butterworth 5 28.4 4 66.3 J.Reed 3 54.0 46 12.2 M.Gunther 3 65.7 6 40.5 S.Condy 2 19.5 M.Reid 1 1.0 T.Treble 1 18.0 L.Ford 1 46.0 4 26.5 A.Finch 1 49.0 E.Vines 0 J.McDonald 0 J.Harrison 0 A.Hewet 0 L.Muller 28 25.6 M.Carson 22 22.9 A.Cairns 4 24.5 A.Finch 3 15.7 M.Condy 1 12.0 A.DiGiacomo 1 53.0 C.Williams 1 67.0 J.Westhorpe 0

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The business end of the season commences this weekend with the Qualifying Finals, perennial 1st.X1 finalists in recent years in South Barwon, East-Belmont, Grovedale, North Geelong and St. Josephs taking part plus the “newcomer on the block” of Geelong City which last played finals cricket in 2006-07 It plays South Barwon, the two sides having not played each other this season as the scheduled round 9 match was abandoned. Geelong City last won the top prize in 1985-86.

St. Josephs won the premiership last season, East-Belmont in 2012-13, Grovedale in 2011-12 and North Geelong in 2006-07. South Barwon enters its 4th. consecutive season in the finals but its last flag was way back in 1976-77.

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East-Belmont wicketkeeper-batsman, Mark Hanley will celebrate his 150th 1st XI match this weekend against Grovedale. Already a triple premiership player at East he is in career-best form this season with two centuries lifting his career tons to four and is averaging 51.5 compared to his career average pre this season of 33.1.

Grovedale skipper Barry Tsitas needs just 3 wickets to reach four hundred career wickets to reach the milestone of 400 victims and with 5 bags of 3 wickets exactly this season he is in line to do so and took 3/25 in the opening round against East-Belmont. A travelled cricketer he began his career at East, then had stints at Manifold Heights and Newtown & Chilwell before moving to Grovedale in 2007-08.

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ON THIS ROUND 25 YEARS AGO – 1990

(As Qualifying Finals were not introduced until 2004-05, On This Round 25 years ago is shelved for this week).

ON THIS ROUND 10 YEARS AGO – 2005

As a result of the most radical change in the GCA’s 1st.X1 history since 1896-97, the competition comprised of 20 clubs, 10 in the North-West section and a further 10 in the South-East section.In the North-West section, St.Peters clashed with Geelong West and Bell Post Hill played Lara whilst in the South-East section, Newcomb & District was pitted against Geelong City and East-Belmont played Grovedale.

Geelong West, which managed just 82 & 92 against St.Peters in the clubs two home-and-away matches compiled a match winning 8/234 with good hands from Glen Talarico (62), Michael Bright (49) and Tony Spence (30). Clayton Nelson returned the excellent figures of 5/82 but St. Peters lost with 212, Andrew Spengler (40), Marcus Stow (33) and Damian Hester (32) all getting good starts.

Bell Post Hill accounted for Lara by a slender 26 runs, big occasion players Brad Stacey(70) and Darren Kiddle (4/55) leading The Hill to victory, Danny Hughes gallant in defeat with an unbeaten 88.

Drew Allen, with 407 home-and-away runs at the Bradman like average of 81.4 continued his great form with an unbeaten 76 and with Beau Carroll (38) guided East-Belmont to victory with 7/205 against Grovedale, Graeme Harper (3/61) and Clinton Ford (3/66) bowling 50 overs between them. Reigning premier Grovedale collapsed for 145, Mathew Caulfield 3/23 off 18 lively overs.

When an opening bowler claims 6/36 it would normally be expected that his side would win the game but this was not the case in the Geelong City-Newcomb & District match. Chris Jones season best 6/36 restricted City to 162, Adam Pitts (40) and Travis Agg (31) standing tall but Newcomb collapsed for a lowly 130, Agg again to the fore with 3/32. Jason Murray (35no) and keeper Simon Anderson (30) the only batsmen to get a start, a disappointed Newcomb thus eliminated from the finals after losing just 2 home-and- away matches for the season.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Forty eight clubs have played GCA 1st.X1 (Division One) cricket since 1896-97 and the club to play the most seasons not to win the flag is North Shore-Norlane which played 19 seasons between 1966-67 to 1984-85. The twenty three other clubs not to win the premiership to date are Alexander-Thomson (one season played), Belmont (1), Marshall (1), Newtown & Chilwell “B” (1), Excelsior Mill (2), Magpies (2), Murgheboluc (2), Yarra Street Wesleyans (2), Bell Park (3), Capulets (3), Geelong West Pre WW1 (3), Kardinia (3), Valley Mill (3), Torquay (4), Bellarine (4), CYMS (4), International Harvester (5), Newcomb & District (6), Chanel College (7), St. Peters (8), Manifold Heights/Geelong Cement (10), Ford Motor Company (10), and Highton (14).

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ARTICLE NO 22

6th. March, 2015

Its 50 years since the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association was born and at this year's Presentation Night, the Association will announce the BPCA Team of 50 years (1964-65-2014-15).

The Association emerged from the Bellarine Sub-Section in GCA cricket in 1951-52. In those days the GCA consisted of District 1sts to 4ths, Section 2 to 7, the Bellarine Sub-Section, Corio Sub-Section, South Barwon Sub-Section, Urban Sub-Section, Hedley Shield, Solomon Shield & Gowty Shield.

The Bellarine Subsection was played between Wallington, Ocean Grove, Breakwater, Queenscliff, St.Leonards, Drysdale, St. Albans, Thomson, Newcomb, Australian Legion, Leopold & Portarlington. The competition lasted 13 seasons with Wallington dominating with 5 flags. Norm Kelly compiled the highest score with an even 200 for Australian Legion against Leopold in 1952-53. Only 3 batsmen scored a in a grand final , B.Wilton (169 for Wallington) B.Whelan (130 for Queenscliff) and M. Sutcliffe (100 for Wallington).

In that Bellarine Sub-Section, T. Hall achieved the feat of 105no & 7/36 in the same match against Breakwater in 1959-60 , being one of only 17 players to compile that double in all forms of GCA cricket.

The best bowling performance in an in Bellarine-Sub Section was by Les Kelly with 8/81 for Australian Legion against Breakwater in 1952-53.. Thee most 7 wicket hauls in a career in Bellarine Sub-Section, R.Evans from Breakwater did the dead on 7 occasions for Portarlington.

The most wickets in a match is held by K.Oliver for Ocean Grove in 1955-56 against powerhouse Wallington with 15/29 (8/11 & 7/29), being one of only 10 bowlers ever in all forms of GCA cricket to perform the dead.

T.Hall took the first hat-trick for Breakwater against Wallington in 1951-52 with 7/36.

For further information on this event, contact Ian Caldwell, the BPCA President on 03 5244 3813

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Leopold is celebrating its 20th. year reunion this weekend of its last premiership in 1st.X1 with ex Test opening bowler Rodney Hogg in attendance..

By chance one of Leopold's favourite sons contacted this column recently although far away so to speak in Queensland.

He is Michael Venes. After playing seasons as an opening bat in the GCA with Bellarine and then Leopold ,Mike moved away from Geelong with his young family in 1962 after playing with Footscray, Balwyn, Adelaide and Wanders CC.

His GCA 1st.X1 stats were 84 matches, 1,888 runs @ 20.7 with his "bat-ridden-hi" of 103 against Newtown & Chilwell.

However to this always curiosity , Mike is only one of six bats to being out "Handling the Ball" in GCA 1st. X1 cricket.

It was on this round in1957-58.

His dismissal on 25 is the "highest score" in GCA cricket to be told to walk in this fashion .

I have had a number of most friendly discussions with Mike in recent weeks on that dismissal and these are his reflections…

"South Barwon batted first and made 9/289, Roy Brown taking 5/34, Brown instrumental in establishing the Leopold Club. When I was on 25 I defended a good ball from Gordon Russell that dropped to the wicket in front of Gordon. There seemed to be little interest on the South Barwon players to field it, the ball lying on the wicket about 2m in front of me, so I stepped forward, picked up the ball and returned it to the bowler. The ball would never have come back and hit the stumps.

After Gordon Russells, "appeal" the two umpires looked at each-other for inspiration, never been in a situation before , whilst several "exchanges" ensued between players on both sides of the fence. The umpires adjudicated in favour of the bowler.

Michael Venes although in Queensland is still a keen follow of our GCA cricket.

For the record, the other 5 bats given out "Handling The Ball" are G.Fitzgerald (Leopold v South Barwon for 12, 1956-57), G.Pulchlenco (GWC&FC for a v Geelong City 1959-60), Gavin McKay (North Geelong v Geelong City , 1975-76 for a duck), J.Hayes (St.Josephs v East-Belmont for 3 in 1975-76 and J.Farrell for North Geelong in the 1992-93 semi sinal against St.Josephs for 9.

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ON THIS ROUND 25 YEARS AGO - 1990

East-Belmont won its 10th. match with a spirited 5/236 against Geelong City, Peter Korth leading the charge with 79, Purcell gallant for City with 60no & 3/65. David Dudson's 101no for Geelong West plus 45 from Terry Bright deposied their side at 3/200, Leopold responding with 157, Darren Kiddle the best of the batsmen with 45. David Lanyon was the prime reason Grovedale compiled 201 with his gritty 57 but North Geelong took the points , Neil Alford (76) and Brett Allen (67) the foundation of the Magpies 6/291.

St.Josephs marched into the finals with a 5/209 to Lara's 200 courtesy of Graeme Beaumont's chanceless 120 no and Dennis Davie's 5/83, Newtown also won its 10th. match with 3/112 to Thomson's 105Chris Fayers taking 3/12.

ON THIS ROUND 10 YEARS AGO - 2005

Jason Cranny celebrated the round with his maiden century, a defiant 102no for Alexander-Thomson against St. Josephs, his previous best a 46. St.Peter's stormed into the finals with a commanding outright win Bell Park, Jamie McDonald (48), Marcus Stow (3/12) and Clayton Nelson (3/22) prominent. Lara lowered its colours to BPH, Danny Hughes 4/65 clinching his 200th. career wicket. Although it was Manifold Height's final match, Mark Zimmer hit a pulsating 100no after 8 previous occasions passing 50. Newcomb & Districts charged into the finals with their best effort for the season of 5/338 against a gallant Marshall with 9/218. Jason Harrison clouted his maiden century of 121no.

Clinging to 6th. spot, Geelong was pitted against 14th. placed Prahran and needed a win in the final home- and-away match to play in the finals. Prahran was removed for a modest 161 thanks to Grant Lindsay (3/38) and Luke Muller (3/16) but Geelong began the run chase in disastrous fashion, reeling at 4/9 after openers (2), Shaun Dean (0) plus Damian Koliba (1) and skipper Clinton Peake (5) collapsed at the front line. Geelong went on to record its lowest score for the season of 65 and was devastated with the loss to abruptly be out of the finals by one point and a fraction of percentage.

DID YOU KNOW ?

Although this week pasted Afghanistan with a world record 6/417 then removed the opposition for 142 in 37.3 overs, one should marvel at the progress of the ACB (not our old ACB ( Australian Cricket Board ) but the Afghanistan Cricket Board.

Cricket has been played in Afghanistan since the mid 19th. century but in recent years that the national team has become successful. The ACB was formed in just 1995 as an Affiliate Member of International Cricket. It was in Division 5.

Within that short period of time it has "rocked" to play with the "top boys".

Due to the ravages of war in Afghanistan , the team plays its first class matches in .

Its captain and coach, Andy Moles should be very proud of their side. The squad does not have a fielding coach, a fitness trainer, Head Physiotherapist, Masseur, Performance Analyst or dare I say it, a "Mental Conditioning Coach" !.

All other Test Nations have the luxury of the "off-field" support staff.

Good luck to them after beating Scotland last week to win their first Match.

ARTICLE NO 21

27th. February, 2015

The scribes suggest East Belmont is “hot favourites” to win the GCA 1st. X1 flag this season, being on top of the ladder and with a power laden batting attack. But a “quiet achiever” at East is David Lineen. His 4/36 last saturday was the catalyst for victory against a determined Grovedale in a low scoring scorecard by Grovedale with 175, East passing with 4/176.

David Lineen commenced his GCA 1st.X1 career at Manifold Heights in 2010-11 for the one season, collecting a modest 7 wickets for the season.

He then moved to East-Belmont and was a premiership player in 2012-13 but his 75 career wickets @ 22.0 until this season did not reflect his true ability.

This season he has taken 27 wickets @ 13.6 to head the GCA 1st. X1 bowling aggregates. His previous best in a season was 22 wickets @ 17.3 in a home

-and-away season.

He was the match-winner in East-Belmont’s T20 grand final win over Grovedale this season with 4/21 which included the scalps of Hogg, Patton & Yelland for ducks !

A determined player the 28 year-old has travelled 3 times a week from Colac for all those years where he works at the Hush Nightclub, at a tree nursery and a bottle shop . He gets Red Rooster every night after training then gets chicken strips from BP at Winchelsea!

With a wedding this year to Sheree he still thinks he can play for Melbourne Renegades because he has Aaron Finch’s old cricket bag !

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Brilliant all-round sportsman Sam Loftus will walk out to bat on saturday for Geelong West against East- Belmont in his 150th. match. With 4,704 runs @ 37.6, his standing still held on high regards with 412 runs this season @ yes 37.6, Sam made his debut in GCA 1st.X1 cricket in 1993-94 against Leopold, his modest 79 runs in 11 games not to be a true reflection on his outstanding career. A ten year stint in VCA cricket for Geelong, his finest moment was playing for St.Josephs in 2003-04 with the spectacular double of 158 & 7/44. A twice premiership player at Geelong West in 2008-09 & 2010-11 well done Sam.

ON THIS ROUND 25 YEARS AGO -1990

Bell Post Hill was flogged by Grovedale, with humiliating scores of 37 & 93, David Crosby with ten match figures of 10/46 and Peter Caulfied (10/53).

Geelong West won outright due to Randall Whitens brilliant double of 28no & a ferocious 90 over Lara Ross Aylmer gallant with 40, Craig Scott unplayable with 5/24 off 19 overs

Newtown & Chilwell marched onto the finals with a win over North Geelong Stephen Wells a commanding 98 but Brett Allen defiant with 112.

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ON THIS ROUND 10 YEARS AGO – 2005

Alexander-Thomson recorded its season’s best of 6/208 due to ’s 91 but was overtaken by North Geelong, Alf Clark’s 97 bringing up his 8,000 career runs. Bell Post Hill won its 10th. match for the season, Darren Kiddle a duck courtesy of a & by his brother Rod for Newtown & Chilwell.

Gary Kelson’s even 100no against Geelong City registered his 9th. career century to equal Jason Bakker’s centuries tally, Highton’s 100th match in GCA Division One was a loss against Thomson despite captain Shane Wilson’s 43, Leopold won its first game for the season against Marshall whilst Simon Anderson’s 74 was the catalyst for Newcomb & Districts win over Torquay.

At Geelong Cricket Club, Ben Cust was selected in the Australian Country Cricket team whilst a bowler finally achieved a century – paceman Trent Walerys playing his 100th. 1st.X1 game for the Cats.

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DID YOU KNOW ?

The deplorable effort by Sunshine CC to force the abandonment of the thursday match in Country Week last week was a disgrace and the Club should be ashamed.

It is reflected in their on field performance last saturday with a “schoolboy” score of 38 against Altona in Sub-District cricket.

“Sunshine” reflects bright blue weather but the club does not.

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ARTICLE 19

13TH.FEBRUARY, 2015

Geelong has participated in VCCL Country Week Cricket since 1930 and Thursday’s unforgivable situation whereby Sunshine CC failed to produce a wicket was the most farcical in Country Week history. It is simply not acceptable for the VCCL to blame either or both Cricket or the VSDCA. As the tournament it is controlled by the VCCL and it should have “dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s” at least a week before the tournament commenced.

To treat our players in this fashion is deplorable. Maybe it’s time for the GCA to withdraw from Country Week permanently. Country Week was established in 1921, the object of the week-long Carnival to invite country teams to Melbourne, under the watchful eyes of Melbourne District Clubs scouts to identify potential players whom they may recruit such players and give them an opportunity of a “career path” to represent Victoria and possibly their Country.

In the 1930’s to !990’s the “cream” of GCA 1st.X1 players played at Country Week with the basic 12 players plus a reserve player in case of injury. In the recent 6 years around 17 players average have flown “in and out” for games when available, many from Division GCA Division Two & Three.

So again what is the point of playing Country Week?

Melbourne Club’s selectors do not attend matches these days and Geelong has the vehicle for local players to progress to District Cricket via the Geelong CC.

The players take a week’s annual leave and the cost to the GCA is considerable so the insanity of last Thursday is a bitter pill to swallow. In hindsight the upset loss to Traralgon in the opening round probably cost Geelong a place in the final, Traralgon having only defeated Geelong once before in their now 7 clashes, their score of 7/225 this year their highest against Geelong.

However there were some highlights –

• Sam Hall’s 110 against Traralgon was his maiden Country Week century.

• Brad Hauenstein has now played in 13 Carnivals and joins Frank Pike and Rod Kidddle, the list headed by Glen Ward with 15.

• Chris Bambury compiled precisely 200 runs, being only the 22nd. Occasion a Geelong bat has achieved the feat, legendary Len Metherell “light year ahead” with 445 runs in the 1935 Carnival.

• Leigh Kentishs’ hat-trick (4/33) against Traralgon was just the 4th. hat-trick by a Geelong bowler, joining George Schofield with 8/17 against Ballarat in 1939, John Ross with 6/29 against Horsham in 1965 and more recently, Trent Walery’s 4/27 against Murray Valley in the final.

• Ben Spencer captured 4/16 against South-West in his second match but it was the first occasion he bowled.

Averages as generated by the VCCL website are as follows –

PLAYER RUNS AVE WKTS AVE C.Bambury 200 100.0 S.Hall 117 39.0 G.Talarico 104 34.7 1 48.0 J.Hicks 71 17.8 4 18.3 A.Fergusson 59 29.5 J.Smith 47 23.5 L.Kentish 41 20.5 6 9.8 D.Weigh 39 39.0 R.Burke 26 26.0 1 44.0 B.Spencer 17 8.5 4 4.0 B.Hauenstein 13 6.5 4 20.0 M.Lineker 6 6.0 Z.Thorne 4 2 27.0 D.Lineen 2 48.0 T.Wight 1 35.0

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“You cannot keep a good man down” is the age-old saying and it applies to Newcomb & District. The Dinos are currently 6th in Division Two 1st.X1 company and are hunting a finals berth. With intense competition from neighbouring clubs Thomson, Geelong City & Leopold the club still has aspirations of returning to Division One status. The pinnacle of the club was in season 2003-04 when it was elevated to Division One status. Although it only played 6 seasons, its ratio of wins/losses was 53% wins and is only headed since World War 1 by North Geelong with a 56% winning ratio .With a reunion from March 6-8 (contact Gerard Cummins 0412 727 248), players will reflect on its highest score of 7/401 against Thomson in 2005-06 (Damian Koliba 155 – the clubs highest sore in Division One and Clinton Ford’s 8/52 and 12/87 for the match against Geelong West in 2007-08.

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ON THIS ROUND 25 YEARS AGO – 1990

The undisputed “surprise packet of the season” to date was Geelong West medium-pacer, Gary Finnemore. With 5/56 & 5/32 in the last two rounds, he routed Lara (all out 45) with 5/24 to have 35 wickets for the season to date at the slick average of 13.2. Captain-Coach Neil Petrie was delighted, taking his One-Day Pyramid Cup form into premiership points.

Grovedale speedsters David Crosby (3/26) and Peter Caulfield (7/16) removed winless Bell Post Hill for 37 to set-up outright points, Paul Brennan was the anchor for East-Belmont with a determined 31 in East’s lowly 9/146 against Thomson, Larry Greagen unplayable with 4/30 off 20 lethal overs, Newtown hit the highest score with 8/307, Stephen Wells again dominant with 98 with support from Tony Jeffries (56) against North Geelong.

Damian DeGrandi was the toast of the club, not with the ball but with the bat with an unlikely 31 against South Barwon, Peter Appleford a brilliant 111 unbeaten.

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ON THIS ROUND 10 YEARS AGO – 2005

Bell Park was blown out of the park with 56 against St.Josephs, Welsh (3/16) and Tim (3/26) the destroyers, East-Belmont was humiliated with just 83 against neighbours Grovedale, captain-coach Grant Dew top scoring for the Lions with 20 in his 100th game, Colin Millard the best for Grove with 3/26.

Andrew Fergusson was the backbone of Lara’s 150 with 73, veteran Michael Brown a modest 5 in his 150th match, 16 year old Magpie Nathan Peoples taking 4/24 in just his 3rd. match. Newcomb & District was well poised to win its 9th match of the season courtesy of Ben Smiljanic’s 57 against Leopold.

DID YOU KNOW?

How times have changed!

In season 1912-13 the GCA season started a week later than scheduled owing to a tie in the local football league grand final between East-Geelong and Geelong West. With a dispute arising, the Mayor adjudicated that the be at Kardinia Park and cricket would have to wait another week to commence its season. In that same season the GCA played the Ballarat Cricket Association on Christmas Day at and the return match was played on Good Friday!

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ARTICLE 18

6TH.FEBRUARY, 2015

The current match between Leopold and South Barwon at Leopold Memorial Park sees South Barwon in the box seat at 0/38 chasing down the locals modest 147. Leopold has struggled this season with 3 wins and topping 200 only twice with a best of 235 against the strong Grovedale attack in round 5 with 235.

However, although cricket is a “Team Game”, this match marks a significant milestone for brilliant South Barwon all-rounder in Brad Hauenstein.

He has re-written the South record books.

This match is his 200th GCA 1st. X1 match. He made his debut on 12 December, 1993 against North Geelong, playing just 6 matches for as modest return of 92 runs @ 23.0 and DID NOT BOWL A BALL for his short season!

Today he has amassed 6218 runs @ 37.7 (his current season yielding 380 runs @ 42.2) and has sent 351 bats back to the pavilion @ 19.2. He has accumulated 7 centuries with a best of 134 against Geelong West in 2006-07 and his best with the ball is to date 7/26 against Marshall in 2004-05.

Returning to the South Barwon records, in GCA 1st. X1 Division One (South does not separate its 1st.X1 records between Division 1 & 2), Brad has played the most games, scored the most runs but is still shy of the most wickets only with legendary spinner John Ross the greatest wicket-taker with 422 scalps @ a trim 17.9.

He took 5/20 & 5/10 in the same match in 2001-02 but a GCA Division One Flag is still to add to his impressive VC despite 6 finals campaigns.

Countless offers have been made to Brad Hauenstein to move to another club as captain/coach but he has been faithful beyond believe to stay at Reynolds Reserve.

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The Hughes family has dominated Lara cricket for 30 seasons since John Hughes hit 176no on debut against St.Josephs in 1985-86. However current captain Andrew Hughes is making his own mark at the club. With 285 runs @ 28.5 this season, he recently passed 3000 GCA 1st.X1 career runs at a very heathy 26.2 but the ton is still elusive to him , his 93 this season preceded by scores of 94, 93, 92 in the winning grand final in 2009-110 against Geelong West.

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Back to South Barwon, the Club is holding its Biennial Sportsman’s day on 1st.March, 2015 at 12.30pm at the Captain’s Room at , tickets going fast at $100 a head which includes a two course meal, 3 hours of drinks and of course the one-and-only Kerry! It has secured Kerry O’Keefe as its guest speaker who follows in the footsteps of previous South Barwon star attractions in Sir Viv Richards, Rodney Hogg, Sir Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh. Tickets are available via Glenn Hauenstein (0439 311 833), Darren Hauenstein (0411 055 941) or Simon Breuer (0430 711 975).

Tickets are strictly limited to 220 guests so be quick!!!

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Geelong CC is having a season it would rather forget. Its 143 & 123 last round against Ringwood reflects 6 scores of less than 150 for the season as at round 15. This equates to an average team score off the bat of 130 per match on the first innings for 5 wins. Last year wasn’t much better with 6 wins and a tie at this point of the season.

Although both front-line batsmen and bowlers are all to blame, the frustrations of cricket are reflected upon our star batsman in Hayden Butterworth,. Having passed 50 only twice this season, his aggregate runs of 317 runs @ 21.1 contrasts sharply with 2283 Premier Cricket runs @ 35.1 as at the end of last season and 504 runs as at this round last season @ 42.0.

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ON THIS ROUND 25 YEARS AGO – 1990

Although inclement weather frustrated most GCA turf cricketers last round with both days being washed out, the round was re-scheduled with a one-day fixture and Geelong City stalwart Ian Trezise was delighted with the unpredictable weather patterns. It contributed to him achieving a life-long ambition – to play a competitive sporting event on the wonderful turf of Kardinia Park, being the scene of many past glories of his famous father, Neil.

The scenario was set for Ian, a regular 3rd. X1 player. Firstly City’s ground at Richmond Crescent was waterlogged and the club’s 1st.X1 games were transferred to Kardinia Park. Secondly, Ian was unavailable for his regular 3rd. X1 match due to illness. But the plot further unfolded when weather reduced turf matches to a one-day game and Billy Brownless was injured in a GFC practice match on the Friday evening. So Ian, who had recovered from illness, was capitulated into the 1st. X1 and a life-long ambition had been realised. With stubborn resistance for 45 minutes at the crease, and a creditable 14 runs against the firepower of Larry Greagan, his fairy tale Kardinia Park dream had materialised.

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ON THIS ROUND- 10 YEARS AGO – 2005

Hamish McDonald was a proud captain-coach with a maximum points win over Alexander-Thomson, Damian Hester a career best 73no. Bell Park went perilously close to the upset of the season, finally lowering its colours to powerful North Geelong, Mitchell Troy a polished 53 on debut for the Magpies. Newcomb & District brought to an end East-Belmont’s unbeaten streak for the season, Jason Harrison the star with 6/19.

Torquay won its fourth match in the last 5 rounds this time over reigning Premiers, Grovedale, Matt DeJong a classic 126.

On this round where ’s Chairman, Bob Merriman’s nephew, Bennett was appointed vice- captain of Geelong’s prestigious U18 Dowling Shield, paceman Trent Walerys played his 100th game for Geelong against South Melbourne. However Geelong’s horror run of two-day losses continued despite a usually winning score of 5/300 with Matthew Harrison (119 and Luke Muller (50) enjoying an 119 run opening stand, up and coming Aaron Finch blasting 49. However the 14th placed Swans passed the target with 4/301, Grant Lindsay the only multiple wicket-taker with 2/47.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Clinton Peake is the only Premier Cricket /VCA 1st.X1 player to hit two unbeaten centuries in the same match when he flogged Essendon in 2007-08 with 162no & 102no. This columnist was thrilled to be there at Windy Hill covering the match on radio.

Only 3 other players have hit a century in each innings of the same VCA match, Test players with 254 & 126 for Fitzroy against Richmond in 1951-52, Ken Eastwood with 109 & 108no for Footscray against Richmond in 1966-67 and “our own” Brian Salmon (who opened the batting for Thomson between 1980-1988 with 2397 runs @ 41.3) who recorded 104 & 131 for Essendon against North Melbourne in season 1989-90.

So Clinton Peake still holds the record, his twin centuries unbeaten.

ARTICLE 17 30th. JANUARY 2015

Whilst on holidays, this column read a very interesting cricket book titled “The Trundlers”, published in Great Britain in 2013 and written by Harry Pearson. In one of his chapters he states that left-handed English bowlers tend to focus on spin but in Australia left-armers are usually speed bowlers. He cites the recently retired Nathan Bracken, plus current fast bowlers “with International experience in , , James Faulkner and AARON FINCH” – Unless my eyes are deceiving me last time I watched Finchy he was a slow left-arm orthodox part-timer!

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It may be timely with the Australia Day honours announced this week to reflect on the severe lack of cricketers Knighted in Australia as compared to the rest of the cricket-playing nations. Sir Donald Bradman in 1949 is the sole Australian to be Knighted whilst has 10 in this category and the West Indies boasts 9 cricketers to be knighted by their respective countries. New Zealand also stands alone with Sir Richard Hadlee Knighted in 1990.

England’s 10 are Sir George Oswald Browning “Gubby” Allen (1986), Sir Alec Bedser (1996), Sir John Cardus (1967), The Rt. Hon. The Lord Cowdrey of Tonbridge (1992), Sir John “Jack” Hobbs (1953), Sir Leonard Hutton (1956), Sir Francis Lacey, the first to be Knighted in 1926, Sir Henry Leveson-Gower (1953), Sir Frederick Toone (1929) and Sir Pelham “Plum” Warner (1937).

Of course we cannot forget the insanity of the entire English team that played in the 2005 Ashes series being awarded MBE’s for regaining with captain and coach being awarded OBE’s.

So England’s 10 Knighted players compares starkly with our “Don”, yet we have produced more successful players than the poms, having won 362 Test matches to Englands 339 since the first ever Test between England and Australia in 1877.

Without delving through all Australian Test cricketers statistics, a clearly obvious man to be knighted is Richie Benaud. He was a much respected Australian captain, his 63 Tests capturing 248 wickets (a Test record when he retired) with his legbreak googly bowling. Upon retirement he has been again a much respected commentator, journalist and author, his broadcasting over 50 years never with a shred of controversy, rather commonsensical, mellow and authoritative. I believe he is the most influential cricketer and cricket personality since the Second World War, so come on Prime Minister Abbott, forget about The Duke with a Knighthood (The Hawke Government scrapped Knighthoods in 1986) and as you appear to have the power to re-introduce Knighthoods then honour our 84 year old Richie Benaud with one!

Note, Australian captain Bill Woodfull was offered a Knighthood in 1934 for services to cricket but turned it down.

The 9 West Indians to be Knighted include Sir Curtly Ambrose, , Conrad Hunte, Viv Richards, Richard Richardson & Garfield Sobers, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Round 10 in GCA 1st. X1 cricket belonged to the “tailenders” with Newtown & Chilwell, Geelong City and South Barwon all taking the points courtesy of determined late-order batting. Newtown celebrated its first win after slumping from 3/97 overnight to 4/97 due to the oddity of captain Marc Carson retiring on his overnight score of eleven and not available due to a family commitment but at 9/127 chasing Geelong West’s 148, the last pair of Mitchell Davis (15no) and Harry Christie (8) joined forces for a nail-biting final wicket stand of 26 to bring home the bacon for the Queens Park boys. At Richmond Crescent, City staggered to 7/86, then 9/104 in persuit of the reigning premiers modest 106 but Kent Agg (24) and coach Mark Worthington (29no) took their side over the line then celebrated to deposit their side at 148.

Phil Lang was the key wicket and Lara could not remove him until he guided South Barwon to victory. South at 6/68 overnight chasing a lowly 108, was led by Lang (25), Andrew Ross’ even 50 significant in a low scoring match.

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ON THIS ROUND 25 YEARS AGO – 1990

For the second consecutive week, rain washed out play so the entire round did not see a ball bowled

ON THIS ROUND 10 YEARS AGO – 2005

East-Belmont marched on to its 8th. straight win of the season with 8/261 against neighbour Grovedale, Mathew Spencer in his first game for 4 years top scoring with 54, Drew Allen recording his fourth consecutive 50 with 53, following previous scores of 110no, 112no and 56no.

Highton’s roller-coaster season continued with a win over South Barwon, Daniel Klaus following up his round seven 59no on debut with another unbeaten hand of 36 whilst Paul Read was damaging with 5/43.

In a shock result, Leopold enjoyed its first win of the season in a low scoring encounter, 131 to 117 against premiership aspirant Newcomb & District. Tom Sutherland top scored for Leopold with 32 and celebrated with the ball taking 3/19. Thomson’s second win of the season with 6/218 against Marshall’s 110 was constructed courtesy of Stuart Timms 96 with paceman Scott Hucker lending support with a dogged 53no.

Geelong continued its unbeaten one-day record with a comprehensive win over struggling Footscray- Edgewater at Geelong Cricket Ground. At this point of time Geelong had secured 7 one-day wins but was yet to register a two-day match victory. The win pushed the Cats into 4th. spot, its 5/208 set up by promising opener Aaron Finch’s to-be season best 70, spinner Luke Muller repeating his round 7 figures exactly of 3/15 to lead Geelong to victory.

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DID YOU KNOW?

With Geelong skittled last Saturday for 146 against Prahran, being the 5th. time this season it has failed for less than 150, it must look on with envy at scores such as the Camberwell Magpies 2/377 last Saturday against Northcote. A magnificent of 307 for the second wicket with career bests of 208no by Simon Hill and Jake Martin with 114 was an “out of the box” performance but the record in Premier cricket for the second wicket was left unscathed when in 1926-27, Bill Ponsford (295) & Frank Yeomans (186) smashed South Melbourne to all corners of the park with an epic stand of 472.

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ARTICLE 16

24th. JANUARY 2015

Precisely 40 years ago two young blokes, Tom Buchanan and John Washington walked unannounced into Winters Reserve on a Thursday and asked if they could play on Saturday for East-Belmont. They both trained well and I as captain of East-Belmont 3rds selected both of them, Colac bred. Buchanan took 7 wickets and Washington who said he “kept a bit” caught the lot plus one more, his 8 dismissals behind the stumps a record to this day in all grades of GCA cricket.

A month later both were gone, again unannounced.

Tom is Meyrick Buchanan’s dad. Meyrick seems to have also the nomadic instinct of his father. Torn between a possible AFL career and Cricket at potentially the highest level, the superbly gifted all-round sportsman after peeling off a classic 128 in his last match for Geelong in Premier Cricket following a 3no has opted to sensationally turn his back on cricket and snub the GCC to not just drop a grade in local cricket but two grades to play for Highton, a club on the continual “merry-go-round” being promoted and relegated more times than it would wish.

With Buchanan’s departure it adds to the disappointing release of James Crosthwaite at seasons start to Footscray-Edgewater.

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East-Belmont captain, Chris Bambury hit the ground running last Saturday and did not register his fifth consecutive duck with only Len Jones for Geelong Footballers in 1903-04 and Bernie Morgan for Newtown & Chilwell in 1985-86 to do so. To the contrary, Bambury hit his ninth career hundred in his 100th game Mark Hanley enjoying the party with his fourth career ton, a career best 123no against Leopold. The Lions 4/357 went close to its highest score ever of 6/372 against Newtown & Chilwell in 1995-96.

Three potential “upsets” are on the cards when play resumes this Saturday – Newtown & Chilwell, winless for the season to date removed Geelong West for a moderate 148 with only evergreen Sam Loftus (61) showing any fight and the two-blues in reply are sitting at a comfortable 3/97. Although Lara posted its lowest score for the year with 108, it has the strong South Barwon team on the ropes, reeling at 6/68 with heavyweights Clinton Peake (20), Joel Davies (10) and Brad Hauenstein (7) all back in the pavilion. St. Josephs was blitzed by Geelong City for its lowest score to date in 2014-15 of 105 but City although shaky at 2/22 has star batsmen Ritchie Oliver (6no) and Tom Elliot (7) at the crease.

North Geelong at 3/25, then 8/149 “got out of jail” with two fighting knocks with Tom Mathieson and a previous best of 26no last year enjoying a memorable day with an unconquered 79 and well supported by fellow paceman Cam Alford (67), Murgheboluc now chasing a sizable 287. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

ON THIS ROUND 25 YEARS AGO – 1990

All Turf cricket was washed out on this round, day one.

ON THIS ROUND 10 YEARS AGO – 2005

Brad Stacey scored his maiden century with 121 for BPH against Alexander-Thomson. However almost at the same time, another captain-coach, Danny Hughes of Lara hit 114 against North Geelong. After match consultations with the scorers at both games revealed Hughes was the first to his century, raising his bat in triumph just 3 minutes before Stacey’s milestone, hence Hughes became the GCA’s 1000th 1st.X1 centurian.

Two spinners opening the bowling may be commonplace in India but not in Geelong but the occurrence became a reality when Rod Kiddle and Barry Tsitas did just that for Newtown & Chilwell against St. Peters, the ploy a successful with the pair taking 3/41 & 3/78 respectively. North Geelong greats, Ross Aylmer and Alf Clark both scored 31 against Lara but in doing so, Aylmer passed 8000 career runs and Clark 9000 runs.

Darren Milburn had it. Peter Riccardi had it. Mark Thomson was not ashamed he “never had it” – cricketing ability. Geelong’s best footballers took to the Geelong Cricket Ground in the name of charity. Pitched against Geelong Cricket Club’s President’s XI the 2000 strong crowd enjoyed a match with all profits donated to the Tsunami Appeal.

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DID YOU KNOW?

The most ducks in a GCA 1st.XI career is 28 by Wayne Fulton who played between 1965-1984. He is followed by Noel Mullen with 27 (1964-1988), Geoff Walker also 27 (1945-1980), Roy Brown with 26 (1939-1960), Peter Harrison with 25 (1971-1989) and Robert Agg with 24 (1968-1992).

ARTICLE 15

17th. JANUARY 2015

Whilst this column was enjoying the mid-season break, Shaun Marsh was tragically for 99 in the Melbourne Test match. This deed heads one into the GCA record books and look at 99’s and some curiosities. There have been 36 scores of 99, the first by Harry Nettle for Corio against Geelong in 1903-04, the last by East-Belmont’s Andrew Baars in the 2012-13 grand final against South Barwon. Eric Battye is the only batsman to be run out for Geelong B against Geelong in 1907-08, that score to be his career best.

Other batsmen to score 99 and that to be a career best are Milton Lamb for Geelong Footballers against South Geelong in 1930-31, Len Ridgeway for Leopold against South Barwon in 1970-71 (Ridgeway to also play 99 matches), Brian Phelan for St. Josephs against Geelong City in 1975-76 (requiring 7 off the last over and then four off the last ball he finished on 99no) and Leigh Finch for Leopold against Thomson in 1987- 88.

Terry Bright and Rod Kiddle are the only batsmen to score multiple 99’s, Bright with 3 and Kiddle with two. Len Price (1933-34), Bill Anderson (1935-36) and Rod Kiddle (1997-98) are the only batsmen to be given out lbw on 99.

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At the mid-season break, leading run makers and wicket takers per club are…

CLUB BATSMAN RUN AVE BOWLER WKTS AVE

BPH M.Sampson-Barnes 202 25.3 A.Foord 15 13.7 EB M.Lineker 405 57.9 D.Lineen 17 15.8 GLG CITY R.Oliver 445 55.6 K.Agg 16 17.2 GLG WEST D.Vassiliou 372 62.0 T.Wight 21 15.1 GROVE T.Hogg 256 32.0 B.Tsitas 18 23.3 LARA A.Hughes 272 34.0 B.Scown 15 19.9 LEOPOLD S.Kalyanaraman 198 33.0 T.Marshall 19 14.7 MURGE G.Talarico 457 114.3 J.Brown 10 24.0 N & C D.Lawrence 396 44.0 J.Davis 10 23.9 NTH. GLG J.Thorne 375 75.0 C.Alford 18 11.9 ST.JOSEPHS L.Kentish 327 81.8 T.Walerys 18 17.9 STH BAR B.Hauenstein 373 46.6 B.Hauenstein 15 15.7

One or two stats which have “gone thru to the keeper” in the first half of the season…

• East-Belmont captain, Chris Bambury in his first 97 games had just three ducks to his name but in the last four matches to Christmas has contributed four consecutive blobs which is totally out-of- character for the eight times centurian with 3511 career runs at the outstanding average of 54.0. Another duck in his next innings would see him “top-of-the-tree” as only Len Jones for Geelong Footballers in 1939-40 and Bernie Morgan for Newtown & Chilwell in 1985-86 have 5 consecutive ducks (Bernie Morgan was appointed captain-coach of Newtown that season and didn’t trouble the scorers with 3 ducks and a pair in his first 5 innings with his new club).

• In round 6 against Grovedale, Murgheboluc super-star Glen Talarico pounded 42no & 126no and in doing so, passed 5,000 career runs. His 5,177 runs to date are complimented by the handsome average of 45.8, his tally including eleven centuries

• Hayden Butterworth, after an outstanding season in 2013-14 and a career tally of 2,283 runs @ 35.1 including 5 centuries was at this season’s start selected in the Premier All-Stars team to face Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades in December, but a dreadful first 7 matches saw the gifted batsman compile just 135 runs @ 16.9 including a pair in round 7 against Footscray- Edgewater, clean bowled in both innings. He became thus the 4th. Geelong Batsman to record a pair, Damian Koliba the first against Camberwell in 2002-03, Andre Borevec against St.Kilda in 2007-08, Trent Walerys in the same match. However after his bad trot the selectors thru “caution to the wind” and opened with him and he responded with 75 & 48 to set-up a brighter 2015.

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ON THIS ROUND 25 YEARS AGO – 1990

The Hynes brothers and the North Geelong CC have been synonymous for 5 decades. Eldest brother, 1963 Geelong Football Club Premiership player, Gordon tormented opposition teams in the 1960’s, collecting seven wickets in an innings three times, Jack performed similar outstanding deeds in 2nds & 3rds company with two seven wicket hauls but on this round, “baby” Hynes, Dennis raised his bat in triumph with 109 against Thomson 1st. X1, a century that his brothers never experienced.

Another centurian was East-Belmont’s Peter Korth with 104no against St.Josephs, 15 year old Scott Lindsay hit a brilliant 78 on debut for South Barwon against Leopold whilst Garry Finnemore ripped Newtown & Chilwell apart with 6/70 off 25 overs.

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ON THIS ROUND 10 YEARS AGO – 2005

Torquay blazed away with a GCA 1st.X1 best of 5/306 against South Barwon with Matt DeJong enjoying a phenomenal season with a powerhouse 134 whilst ex St.Josephs player John Connoley chipped in with 14 in his 150th match. Lively and promising 17 year old quick, Adam Marsland in game just number 8, snared his first 3 wicket haul for Geelong City against Thomson. Undefeated Grovedale suffered its first loss of the season at the hands of Newcomb & District in a match dominated by the bowlers, Chris Jones (5/30) & Justin Miller (3/28) the wreckers for Newcomb. Highton enjoyed a runs spree with 284 to Marshall’s 162, Daniel Klaus, a debutant teenager the hero with an unconquered 59 for the winning side.

Geelong put the Premier Cricket competition on notice after inflicting Carlton’s first loss for the season with a nail-biting 3 wicket win. Geelong needed two runs from the last two balls to take the points and did so with one ball remaining. With Aaron Finch gone for one, Mathew Harrison (30), Clinton Peake (43) and Sean Dean (44) led their side to an emphatic victory.

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DID YOU KNOW?

In today’s modern age of cricket, the batting helmet has all but eliminated the possibility of serious head injuries to batsmen or worse, albeit it the freak injury to Philip Hughes.

But in the early days, the hurling of a cricket ball at the unprotected head, either intentionally or accidentally, possessed grave dangers. Cricket’s most notable casualty remains Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, son of George 11. A keen patron of the game he died in March 1751 on the lawns of his Buckinghamshire residence after playing cricket which cost him his life after the impact of a cricket ball burst an internal abscess on his neck. George Summers in 1870 became the first player to be killed in a first class match whilst batting for Notts against MCC at Lords. Summers “reeled like a teetotum and fell”, W.G. Grace who had made a century and a duck in the match rendered what assistance he could but to no avail.

ARTICLE 13

19TH. DECEMBER, 2014

The Geelong cricket hierarchy have appointed 42 year old Brad Stacey as its Country Week coach for next season. The leg-break googly bowler played 8 first-class games for Victoria between 1995-97 with 117 runs and a best of 32 whilst collecting 16 wickets in a time that another leg-spin bloke called was dominating, hence his first-class career was stifled.

He played in 3 Country Week Carnivals , 2003-2005 with 14 matches with 304 runs and a best of 83 with the bat against Murray Valley and his 21 wickets at a trim 19.3 included a best of 5/35 against Mornington Peninsula. Strangely in Country Week only on one occasion has a player from Geelong since 1930 achieved “the double” of 50 & 5 wickets in an innings in the same match – Stan Young with 51 & 6/38 against Dandenong-Berwick in 1952 but Brad Stacey is one of only 21 players to capture 3 wickets & make 30 runs in an innings with 48no & 3/40 against his “favourite” Mornington Peninsula in 2003.

The Geelong born player enjoined a distinguished Premier Cricket career at Geelong Cricket debuting in the Clubs debut season as number 14 against Frankston Peninsula in 1993-94, his debut match a modest 2/30 and not required to bat. However his to-be 130 wickets included a brilliant 8/70, still the best figures at the club in 1st.X1 against Footscray in 1995-96.

At Geelong Cricket Association level his 254 wickets @ 19.9 for Newtown & Chilwell and Bell Post Hill were accumulated between 1987-2011

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Josh Hazlewood’s spectacular 5/68 on Test debut at Brisbane this week joins a unique list of Australian bowlers to achieve the feat since Billy Midwinter claimed 5/78 against England in the inaugural Test at the MCG in 1877.

I therefore reflect on the top 10 bowlers in GCA 1st.X1 players to claim 5 or more wickets on GCA 1st.X1 debut.

WKTS BOWLER CLUB AGAINST SEASON

9/39 K.Nicholson N & C Ford Motor Co. 1941-42 8/27 A.McGlynn *1 Belmont Corio (PreWW1) 1902-03 8/38 M.Beacom *2 South Barwon Chanel College 1970-71 8/43 W.Griffen N & C St.Josephs 1964-65 8/61 G.Andrews *3 N & C Corio (Nth.Glg) 1963-64 8/61 P.Smith East-Belmont Grovedale 1988-89 7/31 J.Fisher *1 Capulets Yarra St.Wesleyans 1896-97 7/33 A.Connolly *5 South Barwon GWC&FC 1956-57 7/45 T.Jaensch North Shore Leopold 1970-71 7/57 T.Smith Geelong City Thomson 1977-78

*1 – McGlynn achieved the feat in Belmonts debut match. So did J.Fisher for Capulets.

*2 – Beacom’s 8 wickets included 6 batsmen “clean bowled”

*3 Gareth Andrews , the to-be VFL (AFL) star centre half forward for Geelong Football Club played just 9 matches for Newtown & Chilwell.

*5 – Test cricketer to-be A.Connolly’s wickets included a hat-trick.

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ON THIS ROUND – 25 YEARS AGO – DECEMBER 1989

Leopold chose Geelong Footballer, Spior Malekellis for his first match (to play just 5 matches with 20 runs but 10 wickets) but prominising Geelong Footballer Bill Brownless hit a sparkling 134 for Geelong City.

ON THIS ROUND- 10 YEARS AGO – DECEMBER 2004

Leopold in tatters at 7/7 welcomed Guy Ridgeway at number 9, the veteran hitting 89, Mathew Wright on debut adding support with 35.

North Geelong, devoid of winning points since round one were the victors over St. Josephs 6/149 to 113. New all-time record wicketkeeper Peter Kenyon celebrated the moment with his second 5 dismissals in the last two first innings matches, a confident and to-be seasons best 32no.

DID YOU KNOW?

The played in 1977 between Australia and England at the MCG saw Australia win by 45 runs, being the precise 45 run win by Australia all those years ago in 1877. That was “weird” to win by the same margin.

The truly sad death of Phillip Hughes as Test Number 408 was equalled “eeiry” in total by India in its first innings this week with 408.

No GCA score has registered 408. The closest were 409 by Corio (Pre WW1) in 1900-01 when both opening batsmen in H.J.DeLitttle (135) and Frank Fairburn (148) both retired whilst Leopold registered 8/407 in 1964-65.

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This column as with our cricketers will take a mid-season break so best wishes to all for Christmas and a Happy New Year.

ARTICLE NO 11

12th December, 2014

This column writes from the for the first 3 days.

The tears and emotions follow following the passing of Phillip Hughes.

The numbers “408” (his Test number) and 63 , ( his last Sheffield Innings ) reverted correctly by Cricket Australia as “not out” rather than “retired hurt” will leave lasting memories of Aussie cricket fans for many a long time to come.

In the Geelong Cricket Association 1st XI, the 408th player was wonderful Bill Eason who played 220 games for Geelong Football Club between 1902-15 but in GCA his record was remarkable. They say records can be broken but Eason’s 547 wickets @ 10.7 only sits behind Greg Wells all-time record of 574 wickets @ 14.8. However Eason’s wickets included an incredible 20 times he captured 10 wickets in a match for Belmont, Geelong “B”, East-Geelong (PreWW1) and current North Geelong CC.

No player since 1971 in the modern era has come close with St. Josephs Adrian Kelly achieving the feat just 3 times.

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Last week this columnist was proud to be invited to the world premier of “The Art of Bradman” artworks created by artist Brian Clinton (who painted all AFL clubs Team of the Century paintings) at the National Wool Museum in Geelong. Cricket Victoria, Geelong Cricket Club and Geelong Cricket Association Life Member, former Cricket Australia Chairman, Bob Merriman opened the exhibition

The wonderful 52 paintings by Brian Clinton are simply magnificent.

Apart from Clinton’s superb works, this column was requested to supply not just personal memorabilia from “The Don” but also local GCA & GCC memorabilia which includes the bat first used by (his dads bat, Edward which he won in 1900 playing for Fynsford CC for winning the batting average), Jack Baker’s 1913-14 silver one foot tall coffee jug and many other GCA & GCC items.

The exhibition is open daily at the National Wool Museum until 15 February 2015.

The owner of the exhibition, Mr. Russell Allen plans after Geelong to transport the collection world-wide so cricket fans you must find space to see the exhibition ASAP!

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ON THIS ROUND – 25 YEARS AGO -1989

History was made on this round when hosted its first Test match with Australia playing Sri Lanka. Few people would be aware that the Apple Isle was the historic setting for a cricket match when the first first-class match played in Australia was between Victoria and Tasmania at Launceston on February 11, 1851.

On the home front, Mark Browning (41) set up Geelong City’s possibly first win of the season, Peter Korth pounded 104 for East-Belmont, David Crosby (4/25) and Peter Caulfield (3/20) placed Grovedale in a winning position but Dennis Hynes was the man of the moment with his maiden and only ever to-be ton with 109 for North Geelong against Thomson.

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ON THIS ROUND – 10 YEARS AGO – 2004

Lively and promising Geelong City 17 year old blonde quick Adam Marsland in just game number eight snared 3/22 against Thomson but teammate Alex Crellin took the bowling awards with 3/14. Glen Talarico lodged his maiden century with 118 for Geelong West whilst English import, Matt Linaker hit 72 for East- Belmont.

Torquay blazed away with 5/306 against a stunned South Barwon Matt DeJong with a brilliant 134.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Stephen Wells, the wonderful recruiting boss at GFC was a most talented cricketer also. He played 137 GCA 1st XI games for Newtown & Chilwell accumulating 4627 runs at an average of 33.3. He hit 5 centuries his best a GCA all-time record of 237 for Newtown & Chilwell against East-Belmont in 1986-87.

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ARTICLE NO 9

28th.NOVEMBER, 2014

Cricketers around the world are quite frankly tired of the term “ a Funny Game” but Bell Post Hill can relate to that statement as it is in a perilous position at 6/25 against Geelong City, Kent Agg damaging with 4/6 off 9 overs to date.

Bell Post Hill, reinstated to top local cricket this season yet again have conquered heavyweights North Geelong and South Barwon in the last 3 rounds but their first challenge is to overcome their lowest team score of 37 against Grovedale in 1989-90.

The lowest team score is 10 by Geelong against Geelong “B” in 1906-07 but the Geelong team batted with only 6 men, the other 5 batsmen arrived too late at Corio Oval as their horse and cart broke down as a wheel fell off the cart. The lowest score off all time in a totally completed innings is 13 by GWC&FC against Newtown & Chilwell, the powerful GWC&FC side including GCA Legends Jack Sing & Frank Pike.

The lowest scores by current GCA 1st. teams follow…

CLUB SCORE AGAINST SEASON

Bell Post Hill 37 Grovedale 1989-90 East-Belmont 41 Geelong City 1966-67 Geelong City 25 N & C 1978-79 Geelong West 26 GWC&FC 1949-50 Grovedale 48 Thomson 1986-87 Lara 24 CYMS 1950-51 Leopold 24 North Shore-Norlane 1978-79 Murgheboluc 86 Grovedale 2014-15 N & C 22 Geelong West 1940-41 Nth. Geelong 40 Geelong West 1951-52 40 Chanel College 1964-65 South Barwon 21 GWC&FC 1954-55 St.Josephs 35 East-Belmont 1978-79

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Highlights on day one of the sixth round included Tim Wight’s second 5 wicket haul with 5/48 for Geelong West this season , Jake Thorne with 138no with his sixth century for North Geelong in just 21 games, Ben O’Brien passing 2000 career runs at Leopold,Marc Carson still wicketless for Newtown & Chilwell excluding 2 wickets for 58 in round 3, George Chisholm, son of legendary dad Graeme with 700 plus club wickets, taking 4/56 in just his second season at “Supertown” and East-Belmont in superb form with 9/317 (were 2/0, captain Chris Banbury failing to trouble the scorers with back-to-back ducks) against reigning premiers St.Josephs to follow up the sides 345 last round, undefeated to date. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ON THIS ROUND - 25 YEARS AGO – OCTOBER 1989

Cricketer-of-The Year Damian DeGrandi crunched Leopold with a baptism of fire with 12 match wickets the best ever for a Saint. Surprisingly Damian’s match-winning performance was the first occasion he had collected 10 wickets in a match.

Paul Brennan, noted for his opening batting for East-Belmont was the man with 4/44 off 29 overs of spin to win the match, Randall Whitten took 5/70 for Geelong West, Rod Alymer took career best 5 wickets for Lara , Stephen Wells continued his brilliant form with 44, to-be 6 times AFL Grand Final Brett Allen a majestic 86 for North Geelong, Graeme Beaumont a classic 50 for St.Josephs, Thomson winning their first game off the season over Bell Post Hill, 175 to 89, Owen Nicholls (35) and Peter Quick (3/16) the stars

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ON THIS ROUND – 10 YEARS AGO – 2004

Bell Park was demolished, 81 to Bell Post Hill’s 230, Richie Hassett (54) and Adam Gaylard (58no) securing victory. Lara won its 4th. match due to Andrew Fergusson’s 39 against St.Josephs ,Leopold was yet to win a game with average scores of 85, Graeme Harper superb with 3/12 and Clinton Ford 3/31,

Highton was removed for an eve 50 with not a batsman reaching double figures. Newcomb & Districts took the points, Ben Smiljanic brilliant with 25 in a low scoring match.

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DID YOU KNOW?

This columnist was fortunate to play for 50 years and over that period, many friendships developed against opposition sides. Neil and Peter Lawler were mates of mine as an East-Belmont player against North-Shore Norlane CC, Neil playing for many years, brother Peter (who won the “Sunkick” on the MCG in 1963 as a promising footballer for Geelong until a knee injury finished his career ) playing for North-Shore Norlane 1stX1 between 1968-72.

A favourite memory was playing against the pair on their home turf, poms father Alec the sole whilst mother Vicki was the scorer.

However last round, North Shore created a brand new stat to this stats minded writer – a father and son plus their grandfather PLUS A MOTHER ALL PLAYED TOGETHER IN THE SAME SIDE.

All will be disclosed next week !!!

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ARTICLE NO 8

21st NOVEMBER, 2014

The GCA season is certainly “alive and well” and is proving to be a “tipsters nightmare” with Bell Post Hill leading the charge with 3 wins after 5 rounds after defeating the strong South Barwon contingent last round (Brad Hauenstein & Joel Davies both rare ducks)and accounting for North Geelong in round 3. Equally Geelong City, with both BPH & City both perennial promotion and relegation participants in recent years, cleaned up a struggling Newtown & Chilwell last round to record its fourth win of the season whilst Grovedale was on the end of an upset loss against Leopold, Leopold winning its first match, “Grove” with just 6 points to date. Also Murgheboluc took the points over reigning premier St. Josephs. Glen Tararico is the “silent assassin” with 217 runs to date at 108.5, his last three innings unbeaten with 32, 102 & 53.

Stars in the upset wins were Bell Post Hill’s Travis Faulkhead with an even 100, his best score at Geelong being 45, Leopold’s Ben O’Brien (97), a trio of excellent performances by Murghebolucs Paul Lombardi with a career best 70 in the clubs second season, evergreen Glen Talarico (53no & 2/13) and Jason Grozdanovski (47).

Better contributions by the “losers” in round 5 were Newtown & Chilwell’s Rod Kiddle with 35no (Marc Carson again wicketless with 0/47, his only 2 wickets for the season in round 3), Brad Patton (71) for Grovedale, Danny Hughes for Lara (67and 3 wickets), Shane Dillon for North Geelong with 51 to follow up his 86 last round and 49no in the opening round and South Barwon recruit from Waurn Ponds in Matt Kennedy with 87 to compliment his 82 on debut in the opening round (despite a “pair” last round)

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Happy birthday “Finchy” as I write this article on 17 November. At 28 years young he is conquering the world. As Australian T20 captain and a member of the Aussie One-Day side, he made his debut in District Cricket for Geelong on 1st.March, 2003 against Melbourne University with a modest 13. His 14 tons in just 13 seasons are only surpassed by Clinton Peake with 21 hundreds over 17 seasons.

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ON THIS ROUND - 25 YEARS AGO – NOVEMBER 1989

Although GCA cricket was washed out, Geelong’s assault on VCA admission continued, Former Leopold champion Peter Young hitting a career best 164 for Essendon. Young’s was the highest score for the day whilst ironically, the following day in the Kleenex Shield, Young scored just 3 runs, bowled by East- Belmont’s Peter Smith playing for South Melbourne.

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ON THIS ROUND – 10 YEARS AGO – NOVEMBER- 2004

State senior honours were maybe in the waiting with five Geelong players selected to represent Victoria. Mathew Harrison, Shaun Dean and Aaron Finch were chosen in the Sate’s U19 side with Joel Davies and Marcus Crook selected in Victorian’s U17 team.

Geelong smashed its way to an electrifying eight wicket win over Ringwood in Grant Lindsay’s 100th appearance for Geelong 1sts. The triumph was sparked by Matt Barkley with his second 4 wicket haul for the season with 4/28 and impressive stands from Mathew Harrison (56) and fellow opener Aaron Finch (63.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Only 3 batsmen in GCA 1st.X1 history have compiled 3 centuries in consecutive matches, being brother of Test great Lindsay Hassett, Vin Hassett in 1938-39 for Newtown & Chilwell, Jack Sing in 1948-49 for Geelong West and Harry Heard for Geelong City in 1954-55.

Vin Hassett’s trio of tons were achieved in the opening 3 rounds of 1938-39 with 118 v Geelong West, 105 v North Geelong & 104 against South Geelong.

Hassett hit 17 career hundreds, Sing a GCA record 30 and Heard 29.

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ARTICLE NO 7

14th NOVEMBER, 2014

North Geelong has welcomed back past player in Glenn Ward to coach the club this season and with Jack Sing Medallist of last season in Jake Thorne, the duo will be a fear to most opposition sides,

Glenn Ward I believe is one of the GCA’s greatest all-rounders. His GCA 1st.X1 career spanned between 1967-1992 playing for Geelong City, North Shore-Norlane, East-Belmont and North Geelong and yielded 6220 runs @ 32.2 which included 7 centuries with a best of 147no. He also captured 286 wickets @ 17.1 with a best of 7/24.

His all-round versatility included also being a wicketkeeper with 121 victims and he won the Man-of-the Match award for Geelong against England at Kardinia Park in 1978 for his keeping skills !

At Country Week he has played in the most Carnivals (15), played the most matches (61) and was a member of 3 premiership teams.

His skills at Geelong Cricket Club were welcomed between 2000-01 to last season whereby he fulfilled many roles, including the club’s Head Coach for seasons 2002-03 to 2004-05, Specialist fielding coach for 7 seasons, 2ndX1 Team Manager and bus driver for 11 seasons, Committee Man for 4 years and Video Recorder on match days and training sessions for 5 years.

No wonder Glenn Ward was awarded GCC Life Membership last season

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ON THIS ROUND - 25 YEARS AGO – OCTOBER 1989

Glenn Ward‘s stylish 78 guided North Geelong to an innings win with 6/220 over Bell Post Hill. Glenn Weise (3/33) and Brad Cox (3/38) starring with the ball, Jason Plummer defiant with 28.

Neil Petrie (52) and Terry Bright (31) masterminded Geelong West’s win over Geelong City, Craig Scott always evasive with 4/46.

East-Belmont recorded the highest score of 3/279 courtesy of opener Paul Brennan’s 92 with support from Michael Dunn (56), Chris Duff blasting a brilliant 103 in the late order. Lara a was valiant in reply with 3/279, Ross Aylmer (86) and John Spiers (76no) almost pulling off an heroic victory.

Stephen Wells (82), Graeme Ross (46no) and Peter Kelly (45) set up a brilliant score for Newtown with 5/270 against South Barwon with 9/175, Damian Hussey with 63 and Michael Vines (52no).

St.Josephs won its 5th straight win, this time over Thomson with match scores of a lowly 164 to 155, Saints trumps Damian DeGrandi (3/54) and Dennis Davie (3/33) the stars, opening bowler Laurie Greagan top scoring with 32, Peter Quick’s marathon 38 overs yielding 4/69.

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ON THIS ROUND – 10 YEARS AGO – 2004

With the new revamped GCA system off 20 clubs, Alexander-Thomson won its first game in GCA 1st.X1 cricket with an historic win over Bell Park, 7/185 to 9/157, D.Watson (52) & J.Canny (34no) setting up the innings the Vikings A.Kearney (4/28) doing the damage.

Brad Stacey (4/14) was the match-winner over Geelong West for Bell Post Hill, Damian Port hit his second 50 for Geelong City, Highton won its second game over Torquay, Leopold collapsed for 58 against Geelong City (T.Agg 3/8), Manifold Heights posted 215 to lose by the solitary run against St.Josephs, John Dearing a brilliant 70 for Manifold.

Marshall over beating Leopold in round 1 with scores of 57 to 56, lost again to East- Belmont .

Otherwise rain marred other matches.

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DID YOU KNOW?

How times have changed! In season 1900-01 play was governed by the new GCA rule that all two day games would be equally divided timewise for both sides to bat on each of the two days (ie the first team would bat for half the first day, that was 100 minutes, then the second team would bat. The following Saturday, the first team would continue its innings for 100 minutes unless dismissed, then the other team would bat). Many teams did not appreciate this new rule and were not fully represented as players opted to “stay at home” instead. Round 5 was postponed for a week “owing to the lamented death of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria”. At a Meeting of the GCA on sat March 9th. 1901 it was decided to wind up the season immediately owing to no play the following week due to “St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations” and with Easter following and the football season then starting. So with no finals matches, Corio was deemed premiers as the side had only suffered one “reverse” (loss) for the season

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ARTICLE NO 6

7th November, 2014

Mathew Harrison’s gallant innings last Saturday was a joy to watch. Coming in at 4/76, the Cats season could have been “in tatters” but his heroic and chanceless 127no deposited Geelong at 333, its highest score against powerhouse St.Kilda since 2002-03 with 4/339.

A gifted batsman debuting with Geelong in 2002-03 and with GCC cap number 57 against Footscray- Vic University with 0/24 (and did not bat) and , the son of legendary GCA 1st.X1 all-rounder “Skinny” Harrison, Mathew played 72 senior games for The Cats until poached by Prahran in 2005 playing a further 44 games, his 91 games at Geelong yielding one century of 119 against South Melbourne @ a career average of 27.1 followed by 1281 runs at Prahran with a best of 115 including 2 hundreds and an average of 25.6, returning to Catland last season as captain he has pounded 578 runs @ 26.1 including his 4th. ton last Saturday, being his career best. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The fickle game of cricket reared its head again last Saturday with boom Newtown & Chilwell Essex recruit, Daniel Lawrence racking up his second ton in successive games with a blistering 191 against South Barwon, following his first innings duck.

His innings of 191 is the fifth score of 191 to match L.”Guv” Smith for North Geelong against Geelong West in 1932-33, Len Metherell for Geelong Footballers against East-Geelong in 1934-35, Vin Hassett for Newtown against Geelong West in 1939-40 and Alex Cairns more recently for Bell Post Hill against Manifold Heights in 2009-10.

However Lawrence also achieved the fifth highest score for Newtown, behind all-time GCA record holder Stephen Wells 237 against East-Belmont in 1986-87, followed by Russell Mitchell’s 213no against Geelong West in 1984-85 , Michael Bowtell’s 202 unbeaten against Thomson in 1979-80 and Hassetts 191.

ON THIS ROUND 25 YEARS AGO – NOVEMBER 1989

Despite welcome sunshine, 1st.X1 batsmen failed to capitalize on the favourable conditions and team scores averaged 147 with seasoned campaigners Robert Agg, Stephen Wells and David Breheny all sent back into the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Peter Caulfield also registered the dreaded duck but ten years earlier this month his flashing blade took on the fiercest quartet of fast bowlers in the world in Collis King, , Colin Croft and Malcolm Marshall in the Geelong match against the mighty West Indies at the Western Oval. 20 year-old bank clerk Caulfield hit a magnificent 68, being the highest score of the match (and the highest score of his career in GCA in all grades at that point of time)

Geelong’s assault on VCA (Premier Cricket) continued with Leopold star bat, Peter Young hitting a career best 164 for Essendon, East-Belmont sensation, Peter Smith, adopted by South Melbourne bagging 5/26 against Ringwood in just his second match.

ON THIS ROUND 10 YEARS AGO – NOVEMBER 2004

East-Belmont “creamed” Marshall in a 10 wicket victory, 0/232 to the oppositions 135 with Lions openers B.Carroll (100no) & A.Baars (113no) enjoying a day out.

Graeme Harper continued to exploit all batsmen in his path with 4/29 to take his aggregate wickets to 17 wickets in the first five games.

Newcomb & Districts celebrated its 4th win of the season overcoming the odds against the strong South Barwon unit, Ben Smiljanic and Jason Murray with 63 apiece, South Barwon’s 135 to 220 bolstered by Brad Hauenstein’s 74.

In a tight affair, Newtown was too good for Lara, 186 to 180, Rod Kiddle for Supertown debuting 20 years ago with an efficient 15.

St.Peters won its 3rd game over North Geelong, 143 to 139, Anthony Ford (34), and Marcus Stow (5/36) the heroes for the Saints, Alf Clark as always defiant with 61. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

DID YOU KNOW ?

Intense criticism of the MCG wicket in the early part of the 1980-81 season particularly by Australian Test captain, led to the controversial wicket being dug up and unavailable for two seasons. The GCA was consequently allocated a Victoria/ India Tour Match and four Sheffield Shield matches over that period of time.

Ten batsmen helped themselves to first class centuries during that time at Kardinia Park with Graeme Yallop’s 112 no cementing his position in the Test side and stylish Indian Yashpal Sharma registering the only double century at Kardinia Park with 201 not out against Victoria but the most notable ton was by 20 year-old Greg Richie whose 140 against Victoria was his maiden first-class-century.

This columnist sat beside him after the game when he relived his day over the phone with his mum, Richie later to become a Channel 9 commentator but was to “fall out of grace” at Channel 9. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

ARTICLE NO 5

31st October, 2014

Jason Grozdanovski starred with the ball for Murgheboluc last Saturday against Leopold to take the bowling honours for the season to date with 6/47 to eclipse his own personal best of last season with 4/18. Taking 4/42 on debut for Murghe last season he captured 22 wickets and with Jonathan Bennett (21 wickets) and Ben Nicholls (26 wkts) became the only 3 bowlers ever to record 20 or more wickets in a debut home-and- away season in that club’s maiden season. Leopold ‘s score has been uncanny in the opening four rounds being almost identical in structure with 182, 172, 158 & 185, Queenscliff recruit, Michael Farrell showing promise with 51 last saturday to compliment his 53 on debut in round one. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Newtown & Chilwell’s exodus of top players at seasons start sees the club looking down the barrel of the competitions first outright defeat at 4/78 following its first innings 82, South Barwon declaring at a comfortable 3/86. The Two Blues Essex recruit Daniel Lawrence on 39no the possible salvation of the side to obstruct an embarrassing 10 point defeat. Coach Rod Kiddle who chose to play half a dozen matches last season in Leopold’s 2nd. X1 and not a 1st.X1 match forced to done the pads again, with 29no in round one and 25 last saturday in his only two games to date this season , boom GCC recruit and a former “Team-of-the Season” Premier Cricket member in Marc Carson struggling with just two wickets to date. On the other side of the ledger in the match, South Barwon may have unearthed a “surprise packet” in Jan Jun recruit, Kyle Bienefelt, a stubborn 22 in the Southeners only loss in round 2 followed with a team breaking 4/20 against Newtown. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Geelong cricket fraternity was saddened with the loss last week of “Mac” Mason, a Leopold legendary curator and curator advisor to many GCA clubs and at the top level in 1976 when invited to share his knowledge on first-class pitches in Tasmania, the Leopold Life Member and a foundation member of the Club and former President, a Member of the GCA Executive and Pennant Committee for many years and a Foundation Member of the North-Melbourne-Geelong CC and a keen supporter of Geelong Cricket Club in Sub-District days from 1964 . A Life Member of the Geelong Cricket Association bestowed on him in 1977- 78, Mac donated a bell to the Geelong Cricket Club’s trophy cabinet in 2007, the bell rung by the umpires 5 minutes before play in the players’ rooms was to commence at Kardinia Park, the ceremony still performed at Lords.

The Bell meant a lot to him and Sub-District cricket and ironically the Geelong Sub-District Club commenced 50 years ago.

Vale Mac. A cheeky sense of humour to me and his mates. A brilliant innings at 94. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Whilst Bell Post is under siege defending its mediocre 96 against unbeaten East-Belmont’s 2/38, its worth reflecting on its gallant win last match against powerhouse North Geelong in the low scoring affair 125 to 120.

Since BPH was admitted to top GCA cricket in 1985-86, the sides have clashed on 22 occasions but “The Hill” has only been victorious on 5 occasions, its last win against The Magpies in 2011-12. Curiously North Geelong’s gun bat in Sam Hall (and no reflection on him personally at all – just a stat) with 4067 runs @ 30.4 played in 3 of those losing sides North’s lowest score against BPH was 91 in 2005-06. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Geelong Cricket Club would wish to wind back the season and recommence as after 5 rounds, 1st to fourths it has won just 5 matches from 20 encounters, the senior side’s solitary win only contrasting a “worst position” in season 2002-03 when it was winless after the first 5 games despite club legends Peake, Koliba, Grant Lindsay, Fanning, Carson & Borovec playing in those matches.

After losing all its 10 wickets in four matches to date this season, the side has yet to bowl out a side. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

ON THIS ROUND - 25 YEARS AGO – OCTOBER 1989

Geelong City lost its fourth game on the trot despite an elegant 41 from debutant, Geelong footballer, Bill Brownless, Lara too strong, Ross Aylmer’s winning double of 30 & 4/43 the difference between the two sides. Bell Post Hill also lost for the fourth time, John Plummer gallant with 44 & 3/60 against Leopold, its first win inspired by Lance Clapham (45), Glenn Bartle (32) and Darren Kiddle with 55 & 3/36. Randall Whitten punished Thomson with an unconquered 71 to overhaul the target of 121, West happily positioned at 1/123, Rob Thomson’s 7/65 destroyed East-Belmont, Michael Vines cleaning up with 52no.

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ON THIS ROUND – 10 YEARS AGO – 2004

In Premier Cricket, promising Aaron Finch was dropped following ducks in his last two matches against Richmond & Fitzroy-Doncaster, the Cats wearing coloured clothing for the first time in a drawn affair against Camberwell Magpies.

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DID YOU KNOW ?

The mighty was built in 1853 because the then 15-year-old Melbourne Cricket Club was forced by the government to move from its former site in East-Melbourne because it was the route of Australia’s first steam train which was to pass through .

Lords, Wembley, Old Trafford, Eden Gardens and Yankee Stadium are considered amongst the greatest sporting arenas in the world but for history, pure drama and emotion, its hard to look past the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The MCG has hosted the first ever Test in 1877, the cricket World Cup final in 1992, countless AFL/VFL Grand Finals, the 1956 Olympic Games plus many blockbuster non-sporting events, including The Three Tenors, Pope John Paul 11 and American Evangelist Billy Graham when 143,750 attended including 30,000 of the faithful seated on the oval in 1959 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

ARTICLE NO 4

24th OCTOBER, 2014

The Geelong Cricket Club has since 1997 proudly hosted the “Redpath Society”, being a coterie group of the club with net funds donated back to the club to meet expenses. However the committee has decided to “retire Redders”,( Ian to be the inaugural Member and Patron of the Blue Diamonds), and instead form a new membership, being the “Blue Diamond Membership” which for $200 offers

• Polo Shirt with distinctive Blue Diamond logo. • Cap with distinctive Blue Diamond logo • One ticket to an AFL match function in Bruce Moore Room valued at over $55. • A complimentary meal at the 4 match day lunches throughout the season valued at $40. • An exclusive offer to purchase at half-price ticket in the $3000 raffle on November 23rd. • All Blue Diamond names will be recognised and displayed in clubrooms. • The privilege of watching the highest level of cricket in the state from the comfort of the air- conditioned Bruce Moore Room and the balcony from behind the “bowlers arm”. • Discounts from DeGrandi Cycle & Sport

To join this exclusive club, contact GCC Administration Manager, David Barnes on 0417 123 669 or [email protected]. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Geelong City has made a statement with 3 wins on the trot after overpowering hot favourite Grovedale last saturday , Richie Oliver starring with 191 runs @ 63.7 and backed up superbly by Tom Elliot with 143 runs @ 71.5 after the opening 3 rounds.

Geelong West skipper Damian Vassiliou recorded his third career ton with 119no against South Barwon but nevertheless is winless for the season, Brad Hauenstein “like a good wine” continues to dominate GCA cricket, his uncanny innings to date this season being 75no, 73 & 77, Clinton Peake unbeaten in his two innings this season with 49 & 65.

Leigh Kentish masterminded St.Josephs third win of the season with a brilliant 112no against Leopold, the star all-rounder clouting his third ton in just 19 games for his adopted club, Leopold despite high profile Indian imports Krishnamurthy (84 runs @ 28 and 2 wickets @ 45) and Kalyanaraman (65 runs @ 21.7 and 2 wickets @ 59.5) not delivering the goods to date.

Essex recruit, Daniel Lawrence at just 17 years of age blasted a superb 111 for Newtown & Chilwell but the struggling 1st.X1 failed to take the points and has now endured 3 losses, East-Belmont marching on unbeaten due to Mark Hanley’s 108 and prodigal son Becker Nguyen (76no) propelling East to a win, 5/293 to 6/261.

Bell Post Hill produced the upset of the decade with a thrilling 5 wicket victory over North Geelong, the magpies stars in Jacob Thorne (15) and Andrew Fergusson (10) both dismissed by John Flynn, recruited from the Northern Territory with 3/29 to back up his 64 on debut in the opening round.

In a low scoring game, Brad Scown (4/35) for Lara reduced Murgheboluc to 9/147 but The Frogs took the points with Lara dismissed for 145, Lara recruit from Murge in Lenny Jerliu (26) stubborn with 26, Glen Talarico the man of the match with 32no & 3/19. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Geelong bounced back with its first win of the season with 7/250 against Dandenong’s 7/249, Eamonn Vines gallant innings of 119 from 132 balls the catalyst in its victory. However gun bat Hayden Butterworth “cannot buy a run at present”, his scores in Premier Cricket this season being 2, 12, 10 & 5 to follow his disappointing double-failures of two innings for less than 10 for the Victorian 2ndX1 at Blacktown against NSW. This time last season Butterworth had pounded 250 runs @ 83.3 for The Cats which is a true reflection of his outstanding ability.

ON THIS ROUND - 25 YEARS AGO – OCTOBER 1989

Geelong’s assault on VCA admission continued. Former Leopold star batsman, and current state reject, Peter Young hit a career best 164 for Essendon whilst Jason Bakker made his debut for South Melbourne 1st.X1 replacing fellow Geelong bat, Wayne Phillips who was selected for Victoria.

Michael Dunn (112) with support from Leigh Finch (56) and Peter Korth (31) led East-Belmont to a comfortable win over neighbours Grovedale, 4/241 to 162, Craig Scott tore North Geelong away with 5/59 for Geelong West whilst Steven Sutcliffe continued his fine season with 5/41 for South Barwon against Geelong City

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ON THIS ROUND – 10 YEARS AGO – 2004

Undefeated Grovedale inflicted its fury over novice Marshall with an outright victory, Gareth Yelland (4/12) and Graeme Harper (4/20) unplayable. Despite Ben Spiljanic’s fine 58, Newcomb & District lost its first game of the season at the hands of Geelong City, Adam Pitts (88) and Kent Agg (3/30) in form for the City Sharks. Wayne Richard with 5/32 became Torquay’s first bowler to snare 5 wickets in an innings, against East-Belmont. Geelong footballer smashed 43 on debut for Highton, Danny Hughes played his 100th. game for Lara with 5/50, whilst Jason Mallett struck precisely 100 no against Bell Park.

Peter Kenyon captured 3 victims behind the stumps to break GCA Team of the Century’s Gordon McKay’s previous record of 262 dismissals, Kenyon’s tally achieved in 129 games compared to McKay’s 215 games, both being North Geelong players. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Geelong Cricket Club was saddened with the death of one of its favourite sons in Geoff Beaumont. A bowling barrage from Richmond inflicted Geelong’s first defeat of the season at Punt Road, Geelong never having won at Punt Road. Clinton Peake (54) led by example but he lacked support with Ben Oliver the next best with 21. Trent Walerys was Geelong’s shining light with 6/74, being his 7th. career 5 wicket haul and in doing so, passed 150 wickets.

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DID YOU KNOW?

The lowest number of runs scored by a team in two completed innings of a first-class match is 34 (16 & 18) by Border v Natal at East on this week in 1959-60. The lowest in GCA 1st.X1 cricket is 41 (22 & 19) by Clarendon v Geelong in 1910-11. The most recent lowest is 89 (28 & 61) scored by Bell Park v Newtown & Chilwell in 2004-05.

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ARTICLE NO 3

17th OCTOBER, 2014

The “brutal sacking” of Footscray coach Brendan McCartney whereby the “inmates took over the asylum”, despite Footscray president Peter Gordon denying such is not the charter of this cricket column but McCartney played GCA cricket for St.Josephs 1st.X1. He played just 5 games in the 1st.X1 with 25 runs but collected 13 wickets with a best of 4/54 against North Geelong in round three of season 1977-78 in his GCA 1st.X1 career between 1976-79. He opened the bowling that season with David McNamara and in round one “was on fire “with 3/66, his best of 4/54 just two games later against North Geelong.

A former St. Josephs student, he was a major speaker last season in celebration of St.Josephs 50th. year in GCA top cricket.

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Well done Michael Kelson who with an innings of 30 not out last week against South Barwon passed 4,000 career runs at an average of 23.9. Debuting in 1996-97 against Bell Post Hill, the Grovedale batsman/wicketkeeper has enjoyed an outstanding career. A twice premiership player at Grovedale in 2011- 12 & 2007-08, possibly his only regret on reflection was to leave his beloved Grovedale in 2003-04 for Newtown for four seasons , Grovedale winning the Premiership the season he departed to Newtown.

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Following the “bombshell” on crickets season eve that star up-and-coming James Crosthwaite’s decision to walk away from GCC to Footscray-Edgewater after being developed and groomed by GCC and coached brilliantly by Damian Shanahan and enjoining the spoils of the best Premier Cricket facilities on and off the field , a quiet departure this season was that of Englishman Khalid Sawas who opted not to return to Australia who starred last season with 580 runs. A person who declared “I love playing cricket for a living” he played two games for Lancashire 2nd.X1. That record number of runs in a debut season for GCC is only headed by Jason Bakker with 596 runs in GCC debut season, 1993-94.

In a “horror” start to the season, GCC has lost all matches 1st.X1 to 4th.X1 after the opening two rounds, the Club second in the Club Championship last year. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

ON THIS ROUND - 25 YEARS AGO – OCTOBER 1989

St.Josephs trump card , last season’s GCA Cricketer of the Year in Damian DeGrandi gave the inexperienced Leopold a baptism of fire to secure outright points, “Crunch” taking 5/31 & 7/51 to become just the 13th. occasion since World War 2 to take 12 wickets or more in a match. The haul also eclipsed the Saints previous best of 11/75 by Adrian Kelly in 1976-77 against Geelong City. His record was also a timely one – 25 years to the day that St. Josephs was elevated to 1st.X1 cricket. A fighting century from Darren Kiddle (106) was his second career ton at Leopold.

In a close encounter, Simon Steen (5/72) saw East-Belmont over the line, 9/218 to 215, Stephen Wells again dominant with 93 to compliment his 70 last round. Promising football central umpire, Brett Allen (78) in tandem with veteran Neil Alford (74) were the foundation of North Geelong’s 4/179 to 5/110 win over Lara whilst Stephen Sutcliffe’s double of 37 & 3/22 for South Barwon overcame Thomson, crashing for a mediocre 61,Peter Quick for Thomson sharp with 4/30 & 5/19.

Peter Smith, with 3/16 on 1st.X1 debut for South Melbourne last round followed it up with a sensational 5/26 and was destined to go on and capture 53 wickets for the season @ 15.1, a South Melbourne record., Smith to win the “Qantas Cricketer of the year” award.

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ON THIS ROUND – 10 YEARS AGO – 2004

East-Belmont’s season came alive after a round one loss with an emphatic victory over Geelong City, its 0/149 to 71, with 20 year old year old English recruit Mathew Lineker, from Alfreton CC in the North Derbyshire League compiling a chanceless 66no. Brothers Ken Spence (27) and Tony Spence (52) figured in a 100 run opening stand, Ken Spence’s 50 on debut the first to achieve the feat at Geelong West since Hugh Doherty’s 54 against North Geelong in 1941-42.

St. Joseph’s mustered its to-be season best 4/265 against Alexander-Thomson, Tim Bye (66no), Bryce Foster (56) and debutant Lachlan Grace (43) setting up a 169 run win. Manifold Heights enjoyed a shock win over powerhouse North Geelong, the Magpies bundled out for a dismal 80, Charlie Owen the wrecker with 4/37. Newcomb & District’s Jason Murray treated GCA 1st.X1 cricket as a “veteran”, his 5/12 in only game number two blitzing Marshall for 57 (following 57 the previous game).

Geelong escaped with its second straight win with 7/179 to Melbourne University’s 164. Teenage prodigies Mathew Harrison (63) and Aaron Finch (43) featured in a 75 run 3rd. wicket stand, spinner Luke Muller opening the bowling but gun batsman Clinton Peake “ took the ball home with him” after taking the bowling honours with 4/29

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DID YOU KNOW?

Geelong Footballers CC played GCA 1st.X1 cricket for 14 seasons between 1928-29 and 1947-48 and comprised totally of players from the Geelong Football Club, winning 4 premierships over the period. However after winning the VFL flag in 1937, motivation to play cricket by the footballers was low and the club opted not to affiliate for the 1937-38 cricket season. However the 8 team competition continued as to overcome a bye, Newtown & Chilwell to their great credit fielded two teams in the 1st.X1 competition. Known as “Newtown & Chilwell B”, it suffered many “fearful slaughters” and scored its lowest score of 26 against Geelong West with Bill Galloway recording 6/6, D.Farey treasuring his wicket and “carrying his bat” with 9no. Newtown propped up the inexperienced side by playing its champion batsman, to-be later GCA President Frank Just, the side winning the solitary game for the season Just accumulating 468 runs @ 42,5.

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ARTICLE NO 2

10th October, 2014

Bell Post Hill’s chequered career in GCA Division One cricket with two premierships in 2001-02 & 2002-03 and relegated 3 times since its GCA Division One debut in 1985-86, was re-instated to the top Division this season and “hit the ground running” last Saturday with a win over an otherwise depleted Newtown & Chilwell despite two of its “big guns” not taking the field in playing coach, Simon Anderson, recruited back to the Panthers from Newcomb & Districts and one year as Development Coach at GCC and club career runs record holder, Tim Sells. However three of its recruits starred, Mathew Sampson-Barnes with 77no on debut to pass the previous best debut at The Hill of 63 by Jamie Ingleton against Grovedale in 1996-97. Fellow debutant Jack Flynn from the Northern Territory also hit 64 in his maiden innings whilst Gerald Brady from Drysdale chipped in with 2/9. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Although Leopold lowered its colours against Geelong City, its prize overseas recruit in Indian Sriram Krishnamurthy who has been involved in English county clubs and international players, exhibited his all- round skills with 50 & 2/22, recruit Michael Farrell from Queenscliff joining the party with 53 on debut. Robert Mott however still the record holder on debut at Leopold with 77no against East-Belmont in 1980- 81.The win was a satisfying one for Tom Elliot whose return to his home club from GCC last season ( where he stared with 2904 career runs @ 31.9 including 6 centuries with a best of an unconquered 166 for GCC 1st.X1) was not a true reflection of Elliot’s ability with just 200 runs @ 15.4 with a best of 46 last season but last saturday he led the Sharks to victory with a team best bat-and-ball all round performance of 55 & 3/29.

In a day of outstanding debuts with the bat, Matt Kennedy from Waurn Ponds almost broke South Barwon’s record score on debut with 82 against Murgheboluc, the title still held by Joel Davies with 84no against Grovedale in 2011-12. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Reigning premier, St. Josephs was in early ominous form, clouting the highest score in the opening round with 5/230 against a disappointing Lara’s 124, being the lowest day’s total, Justin Foss celebrating his move from Newtown & Chilwell with his maiden century (100) and complimented it with 4/40 to win the “man-of- the- round” in the opening day’s competition. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

With bat winning handsomely over ball last saturday, the day’s highest individual innings was 105 by Grovedale’s Brad Patton against East-Belmont. Recruited from New Zealand in 2012-13, his first two seasons yielded precisely 1000 runs @ 41.7, his ton last week his third in his brief GCA career to date.

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The opening round by Geelong Cricket Club against Carlton did not “go to plan” with the 1st.X1’s mediocre score of 147 chased down in comfort with The Blues losing just 4 wickets in the process. The Cats exceptional firepower of last season was missing. Marc Carson with 331 career wickets @ a trim 20.0 and 23 wickets last season opting to captain Newtown & Chilwell whilst exciting speedster, Jake Reed, a member of the Premier Cricket Team of the Season last year following 50 wickets at a miserly 12.5 apiece was also missing due to injury, a medial meniscus tear in the knee. However Geelong selectors will be scratching their heads seeking 1st.X1 replacement bowlers from the 2nd.X1 for this week’s match as Geelong 2nd.X1 was wicketless last Saturday, Carlton overcoming Geelong’s 6/219 with 0/222, curiously both Carlton openers Pell & McCormick contributing 104 apiece.

To add “ insult to injury”, Geelong, second in the prestigious J.A.Sietz Club Championship last season was also beaten by Carlton 3rds & 4ths but with 16 rounds remaining it leaves ample time for Geelong to rise triumphantly after a dismal round one. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The once powerful North Shore Sporting Club is indeed experiencing a low period in its life, the footy team mauled during the last season and now its cricket section opting not to field a 1st.X1 side in Division Three after taking a battering last season, winless in its 1st.X1 and just the solitary win in its 2nd.X1 to finish last on both premiership ladders.

North Shore was admitted to GCA Division One in 1966-67 under the correct name of North Shore – Norlane and played 19 seasons to 1984-85. Many GCA greats played for the club, including Col Luttrell, Glenn Ward, Ross Aylmer, Doug & Lindsay Toulmin, Ken Newland, Richard Brady, Merv McDonald and Gary “Moose” Mawson.

However the 1st.X1 won just 67 of its 215 matches (31%) and holds the dubious honour of a club playing the most seasons (19) to be devoid of a 1st.X1 flag. It did play in two losing semi-finals in 1978-79 & 1980-81.

Freefalling under relegation to Division Two and lately Division Three and not entering a 1st.X1 team this season, President Scott Miller and his committee of vice-presidents Tyler Edwards and Anthony Close with secretary, Kathy Vella have a busy season ahead of them. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

ON THIS ROUND - 25 YEARS AGO – OCTOBER 1989

Ross Aylmer (4/22) and Rod Aylmer (3/8) set up an easy win for Lara (4/98) to 82 over Bell Post Hill. Classy batsman, Graeme Beamont notched the rounds highest score of 80 to take the points for St. Josephs, (179) over Geelong West (147, David Breheny (0) and Neil Petrie (2) both removed almost immediately by Damian De Grandi, Randall Whitten (38) and Gary Finnemore (32) adding some respectability to the scoreline.

The flashing blade of Stephen Wells (70) was responsible for Newtowns 4/135 off just 29 overs, City bundled out for the rounds lowest score of 104, Greg Wells (3/46) and Paul Sheahan (3/25) starring with the ball.

Meanwhile East-Belmont’s Peter Smith made his 1st. X1 debut for South Melbourne with a promising 3/16 off 14 overs. In his GCA debut season last season, of his 42 wickets 32 were either clean bowled or lbw. In his 3/16, he trapped both opening batsmen lbw then removed former Test batsman, Dav Whatmore for a duck.

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ON THIS ROUND – 10 YEARS AGO – 2004

Highton, much maligned for not winning a game for 3 seasons, opened dramatically with a 30 run win over Thomson, Shane Wilson exhibiting his versatility with a best team performance of 29 & 4/15. Gavin Castle’s return to top GCA cricket after a one year absence showed he had not lost any of his “toe” with 4/13. Reigning premiers, Grovedale, enjoyed a crushing victory over Geelong City 9/172 to 116, sensational Tiger, Graeme Harper not enjoying the personal spoils of victory with a modest 1/19, rather his junior team-mate in Gareth Yelland recording a best of 4/20.

In a tight game, Marshall on debut was gallant against the returning Leopold, a one run win a a very low scoring game, 57 (including 17 extras) to 56. For Marshall’s captain, Darren Cameron it was an exhilarating performance and he led from the front with 5/20. Newcomb & District won an emotional match following the death of GCA identity, Roger Babb late last season with a strong victory 159 to Torquay’s 85. Roger’s son, Jeremy, carried on the tradition of his famous father’s legacy with the winning double of 30no & 3/16.

Geelong played North Melbourne for the 13th. time and won for the 13th. time. For the first time in his 74 1st.X1 matches, Scott Lindsay took the bowling honours with 3/11, his career figures prior being 2 overs, 0/6. He celebrated by top scoring with 32. Andrew Borovec snared 4 stumpings, being the first Cat to achieve the feat.

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DID YOU KNOW ?

Ricky Ponting is the only batsman to make two separate hundreds in his 100th. Test with 120 & 143no against South at Sydney in 2005-06.

Only six other players have made a century in their 100th.Test, being –

• , 104 for England v Australia at in 1968, • , 145 for Pakistan v India at Lahore in 1989-90, • , 149 for West Indies v England at St. John’s in 1989-90, • Alex Stewart, 105 for England v West Indies at in 2000, • Inzamam-ul-Haq, 184 for Pakistan v India at Bangalore in 2004-05, • , 131 for South Africa v England at The Oval in 2012.

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ARTICLE NO 1

3RD OCTOBER, 2014

We welcome an exciting new GCA season with glee with hopefully “traditional October rains” not causing havoc to tomorrows opening round. Weather forecast is good.

Due to many requests, this column returns to incorporate not just current season records, statistics and some trivia but also highlights of “on this round 10 years ago and on this round 25 years ago”. It will also include the “Did You Know Segment”.

I would appreciate “feedback” as writing this column at home in isolation I wonder at times the number of keen “cricket-nuts” who read my ramblings.

Due to one of the “Recruits of the Century” in Jake Thorne to North Geelong last season, a list of the skipper’s phenomenal achievements is worthy of reflection. After playing 155 matches in all grades at the GCC since 2005-06 with 3,376 runs @ a modest 26.2 including a century in the 2nds and two tons in the 3rds, his stats at 1st.X1 being 53 matches for 842 runs @ 21.1 with a best of 82no, his record breaking deeds of last season are simply unbelievable, being …

• Winner of GCA Cricketer of the Year. • Winner of the prestigious Jack Sing Medal. • Winner of GCA Batting Average & Aggregate. • Scored 60 on debut, followed by 58 & 89no in next two rounds. • Most runs in a season at North Geelong (including finals) of 980 runs @ 108.9 eclipsing the previous best at the club of 674 runs @ 67.4 in 1994-95. • Most runs in a season of all GCA clubs (including finals) of 980 runs @ 108.9 beating the previous best of 944 runs @ 118.0 by Jack Sing for Geelong West in 1948-49. • Most runs in a season at North Geelong (excluding finals) of 871 runs @ 108.9 surpassing club legend, Alf Clark with 645 runs @ 71.1 in 2007-08. • Second most runs in a season of all GCA clubs (excluding finals) of 871 runs @ 108.9 behind Jack Sing with 901 runs @ 150.2 for Geelong West in 1948-49. • 5 centuries in a season to equal Len Metherell for Geelong Footballers in 1939-40 and Jack Sing for Geelong West in 1948-49. • Most runs in a debut season at North Geelong (including finals) of 980 @ 108.9, overtaking L.”Guv” Smith with 453 runs @ 25.2 in North Geelong’s maiden season of 1928-29. • Most runs in a debut season (excluding finals) of 871 runs @ 108.9 to again beat “Guv” Smith’s 453 runs @ 25.2 in 1928-29. • Most runs in a debut season of all GCA clubs ( including finals) of 980 runs @ 108.9 overtaking Brownlow Medallist E.”Carji” Greeves with 690 runs @ 49.3 for Geelong Footballers in 1929-30. • Most runs in a debut season of all GCA clubs (excluding finals) of 653 @ 54.4 to beat A.Cairns 653 runs @ 54.4 for Bell Post hill in 2009-10. • Second most ever runs and wickets in a season of 980 runs @ 108.9 and 31 wickets @ 18.6 and only headed by the great Bert Brown with 721 runs @ 60.1 & 50 wickets in season 1938-39 for Federal Mill. • One of only 19 players to amass 250 runs or more and 20 wickets or more in their debut season.

…………………………………………………………………………………………. Congratulations to former Geelong Cricket Club President of 13 continuous seasons in David Kelly who was awarded Life Membership of Cricket Victoria at their recent Annual Meeting. David is one of only 4 Geelong officials and players to be bestowed with the honour and joins Bob Merriman, AM and Philip Marshall for administrative services to Cricket Victoria whilst Ian Redpath also joined this select group in 2011 but this was more to do with his playing career.

David Kelly thus has a quartet of Life Memberships, at Grovedale CC, The Geelong Cricket Association, the Geelong Cricket Club and now Cricket Victoria.

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ON THIS ROUND - 25 YEARS AGO - 1989

The 12 team Division One competition comprised Bell Post Hill, East-Belmont, Geelong City, Geelong West, Grovedale, Lara, Leopold, Newtown & Chilwell, North Geelong, South Barwon, St. Josephs & Thomson. Geelong City CC after 25 years absence relocated back to Kardinia Park for the season due to Richmond Crescent being resurfaced after being waterlogged following an exceptional wet winter. The club previously played at Corio Oval from its inaugural 1928-29 season until 1948 when it moved to Richmond Crescent then in the mid 1950’s played at Kardinia Park but was then re-located to Richmond Crescent in1964 when Geelong entered Sub-District cricket.

Newtown & Chilwell secured the signature of ex-Victorian opening bowler in Graeme Ross whilst East- Belmont was without the services of tearaway quick, Peter Smith, a prolific wicketaker last season who was lured to South Melbourne together with Grovedale all-rounder, Jason Bakker after a successful winter in England.

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ON THIS ROUND – 10 YEARS AGO – 2004

Season 2004-05 witnessed radical changes in the GCA 1st. X1 structure with 10 clubs comprising the “North- West” pool and a further 10 clubs featured in a “South-East” pool, a “runaway record” in terms of affiliated clubs, the previous highest being 12 teams in any season, between seasons 1986-87 to 1989-90 and from season 1998-99 to last season.

In addition, the “One-Day” format of cricket played on various Sundays since this style of the game was introduced into GCA ranks some 25 years ago was scrapped and in its place a further two home-and-away rounds were added to the “official season”. A “Qualifying Final” was added due to both the number of teams involved in both pools and with the consequent structure of the draw, the top team in each pool would play off in the grand final.

As a result of the trailblazing new format, three new clubs were admitted for the first time in Alexander- Thomson, Marshall and Torquay whilst previous affiliants in Bell Park, Bell Post Hill, Leopold, Thomson and Geelong West also returned to top local cricket.

South-East Clubs – East-Belmont, Geelong City, Grovedale, Highton, Leopold, Marshall, Newcomb & District, South Barwon, Thomson, Torquay.

North-West Clubs – Alexander-Thomson, Bell Park, Bell Post Hill, Geelong West, Lara, Manifold Heights, Newtown & Chilwell, North Geelong, St. Josephs, St. Peters.

(Note – this radical and controversial 20 team format was scrapped the following season).

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DID YOU KNOW ?

Last weeks Medallist in and our own Jimmy Bartel with his in 2011 are team-mates.

Yes..Team-mates but not on the footy field but on the gracious cricket fields. Both played in the prestigious Dowling Shield in 2001-02 (a competition recognising outstanding and potential first-class cricketers at an early age) for Geelong Cricket Club.

However their footy talents were paramount and hence lost to the wonderful game of cricket.

Jimmy played 9 games for Geelong Cricket Club in the 3rds. & 4ths. With 123 runs @ 17.6 with a best of 86 in the 3rds. Luke Hodge’s Geelong Cricket career was “less than spectacular” when compared to Jimmy with just the solitary game in the 3rds in 2001-02 where he was not required to bat or bowl !

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