All the Geelong Cricket Association appointments so far ahead of the 2023/24 season
Cricket is just around the corner and we’ve kept an eye on all the ins and outs and public signings so far across the Geelong Cricket Association. See how your club is preparing for 2023/24.
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Cricket is just around the corner and the Geelong Advertiser has kept an eye on all the public player signings and key club announcements so far in the Geelong Cricket Association.
Get the latest ins and outs, from coaching appointments to player recruitment and retainment, from the GCA1 down to GCA4 with the season starting on October 7.
GCA1
Grovedale
IN:
Rob Smith (South Africa)
An explosive top order batter and keeper, Smith is currently playing in the United Kingdom.
East Belmont
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE:
Senior women’s coach: Chris Totton
St Joseph’s
IN:
Ryan Simmonds (Wendouree CC)
The left-handed, top order bat and medium pacer arrives Joeys via Wendouree in the Ballarat Cricket Association, where he scored more than 2000 runs and claimed 120 wickets.
A first grade captain, Simmonds is currently playing in the Thames Valley Cricket League, west of London.
Jack Riding (Geelong Cricket Club)
Originally from the Ballarat Cricket Association, Riding played first grade with Geelong as a left handed opener, making more than 400 runs during the 2021/22 season at an average of 31.
Overall, he made more than 2000 runs at an average of 43 including four tons, with a highest score of 102 against Kingtson Hawthorn.
An all-round sportsman, Riding also plays VFL football with Werribee.
Joe De Bono
A young wicketkeeper/batter who has played at a representative level for Western Waves and the Geelong Junior Cricket Association, De Bono turned out for both Geelong and Portarlington last summer.
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE:
Senior men’s coach: Daniel Fanning
Assistant coach: Cam Alford
A Grade men’s captain: Andrew Hodgson
A Grade women’s captain: Liz Tubb
Highton
IN:
Chris Young (Grovedale).
A multiple first grade premiership winner with Grovedale, Young will bring plenty of experience to the bowling group.
RETURNING:
Greg Willows
COACHING STRUCTURE:
Senior men’s coach: Andrew Murden
Bowling coach: Chris Young
Specialist coach: Ian Simpson
Assistant coach and men’s A Grade captain: Nathan McCoach
Lara
IN:
Jordyn Nolan (Bell Post Hill)
A former Barwon Rockets all-rounder is expected to add depth at the club.
Jhiah Baxter (Thomson)
A classy wicketkeeper and aggressive top order bat, Baxter arrives via Thomson and experience in the SA Premier League.
The Geelong local made a hundred for Victoria at the National Indigenous Cricket Championship against the Northern Territory last year.
RETURNING:
Dan Blatherwick
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE:
Senior women’s coach: Kevin Anderson
GCA2
Bell Post Hill
IN:
Mayuka Perera and Naveen Rajakaruna (Manifold Heights)
Kellan Oehley
A top order batter from South Africa.
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE:
Senior men’s coach: Ben Muir
Assistant coach: Ryan Mills
Senior women’s coach: Mitchell Sleeman
Assistant coach: Mark Brady
Geelong West
Senior men’s coach: Bill Dixon
Geelong City
Senior men’s coach: Scott Lindsay
St Peter’s
IN:
Brad McMaster (Lara, Druids)
An opening batter from Lara, McMaster hit two first grade hundreds and more than 1200 runs at an average of 34 between 2018 and 21.
Earning a place in the Barwon Rockets team, he also made the Victorian Country under-21 squad and played two seasons with Druids in the VTCA.
Marshall
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE:
Senior men’s coach: Barry Tippett
Assistant coach: Simon Craggs
Torquay
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE:
Senior women’s coach: John Fisher.
GCA3
Alexander Thomson Cricket
IN:
Zac Mevissen
Coming from Aberfeldie, the 24-year is an opening bowler and middle order bat, having represented Victoria at a junior level and Melbourne in the top flight.
Jake Dubbeldam
Crossing over from Marshall, 29-year-old Dubbeldam is an all-rounder who bats in the middle order and can be called upon to take the new rock, plus has excellent fielding skills.
Rohan Symes
Crossing from West Warrion CC, the 33-year-old is a former captain and coach who bats at the top of the order and keeps.
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE:
Senior men’s coach: Brendan Forssman
Director of coaching: Shane Skene
Women’s senior coach: Paul Coleman
Bannockburn
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE:
Senior men’s coach and captain: Finn Peel
Assistant coach: Josh Williams (Drysdale)
Senior women’s coach: Jamieson Jervies
Bell Park
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE:
Women’s senior coaches: Michelle Gerdtz, Nigel Allsop, Kelly Craven.
Corio
IN:
Chris Nolan (Bell Post Hill, Newcomb and North Shore)
RETURNING:
Brodie Coon and Shane Bremner
Both played in a premiership with the club in 2020/21, with Coon a left arm bowler with a best on ground performance in the grand final, taking 5/32.
Bremner, an all-rounder, has made 487 runs at an average of 37 and taken 29 wickets at just 14 from 25 games for the Devils, including a matchwinning innings of 44 in the 20/21 grand final, and a 58 to beat Guild St Mary’s in the 21/22 semi.
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE:
Senior men’s coach: Dylan Shelley
Director of cricket: Bryan Thomas
Modewarre
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE:
Senior men’s coach: Brandon Ross
Assistant coaches: Darcy French and Nat Matthews
Director of coaching: Mark Worthington
Senior women’s coach: Brook Hubbert
Manifold Heights
OUT: Mayuka Perera and Naveen Rajakaruna
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE:
Senior men’s playing coach: Stuart Calder
Men’s A Grade captain: Nakia Pearce.
St Albans Breakwater
RETURNING
Phil Lang
GCA4
Newcomb & District
IN: Hamad Arshad
Arshad will join the club alongside English players Ben Stoves and Jamie Dolby.
A top order batter who also bowls off spin, the 20-year-old moved to the UK from Dubai at the age of 14, playing in Essex and was selected in the UAE under-19 national team, taking nine wickets in a match against England.
Ben Stoves (Doncaster Town CC)
The 21-year-old has a highest score of 105 not out.
Jamie Dolby (Chislehurst & West Kent)
The 18-year-old made his first grade debut last year in the UK.
Mitchell Harrison (Coronet City CC)
RETURNING:
Jackson Attwood (Torquay)
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE:
Senior men’s playing coach: Eugene Stanciu
Lethbridge
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE:
Senior men’s coach: Matthew Giles
Assistant coach and Men’s A Grade captain: Shane Dillon
Senior women’s coach: Luke Keys
Assistant coach: Josh Collins
Teesdale
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE:
Senior men’s coach: Lee Selkrig
A Grade captain: Dylan Cumming
Meredith
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE:
Senior men’s coach: Tyler Dittloff
North Shore
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE:
Senior men’s coach: Ron Stoop
Assistant coach: Steve Doedee
A Grade captain: Brendan Schultz
Little River
IN:
Sasindu Nannayakkara
Had a standout season with Manifold Heights last year with 515 runs at 51.5 from 13 games.
A first class cricketer back in Sri Lanka, Sasindu is a gifted right hander who is also very polished behind the stumps.
Bailey Croker
The 20-year-old opening bat arrives at the Redbacks after a season in first grade with VTCA club St Andrews, following a year in the first grade with Manifold Heights where he made 206 runs at 18.73.
John Chandran
A strongly-built quick, Chandran arrives at the Redbacks after six seasons at GCA3 club Manifold Heights, with a career best of 6/19.
Nikhil Meher
A tall medium pacer, Meher arrives at Little River Reserve after a brief break from the game.
Aditya Rajat
The right handed bat also returns after a brief hiatus, with a career best score of 87 not out and the best bowling figures of 5/26.
Rabi Uddin
A stylish, attacking right hander, Uddin joins the club from Manifold Heights where he won the second grade best and fairest last year.
He made 218 runs at an average of 24.22 and claimed 18 wickets at an average of 15 from 14 games across A and B grades, including an innings of 64 against Modewarre.
More Coverage
Originally published as All the Geelong Cricket Association appointments so far ahead of the 2023/24 season
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