City Sharks, Barwon Heads? Who wins Geelong’s A-grade women’s cricket grand final?
Twelve months on from a derailed grand final day, Geelong Women’s Cricket Leagues clubs will be vying for premiership glory. Plus, the key players to decide the A-grade decider.
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It’s a grand final day two years in the making for Geelong Women’s Cricket League, after scorching temperatures 12 months ago derailed the association’s showpiece day.
Since then, two top clubs have emerged, Geelong City Sharks and Barwon Heads now both one win away from a maiden A-grade premiership.
For the Sharks, their rise from B-grade to minor premiers has been made more remarkable by a youthful side, while the Seagulls, in their second year in the competition, have taken the next step after bowing out in last year’s semi’s.
The Addy looks at both A-grade teams’ run to the final, as well as the players who will decide the premiership at South Barwon Reserve from 1pm, Sunday.
GEELONG CITY SHARKS
In Geelong City coach Chris Bambury’s books, irrespective of Sunday’s result, the Sharks’ can’t lose.
But Bambury, who knows any of this year’s top four could win on any given day, would love to see his group duly rewarded for their work, not just this year, but last year too.
Heated off in the 2023/24 B-grade decider, which saw the flag go to the higher ranked Barrabool, the Sharks have waited 12 months to get their chance to play for a premiership.
Reaching an A-grade T20 play-off earlier this season - which they lost to North Geelong - the Sharks were later crowned minor premiers in their first year in the top flight.
“From where they’ve come from and their age — they played in the T20 finals, got heated off in the B-grade grand final last year, and to now again (be in a grand final), it’s just an amazing effort,” Bambury said.
“They’re all ticking off these boxes, they’ve just got to tick off that final one.”
Lily Foster
The teenager has forged a solid top order partnership with Erin Moloney, with Foster in the competition’s top 15 batters this season with 186 runs at 18.6, with her best innings 35 earlier this season and at her best can be very economical.
Erin Moloney
The 15-year-old is averaging 10.82 at the top of the order, but it’s been her bowling which has been her biggest weapon.
Often the Sharks’ first change up, the a right-arm pace bowler, who help Geelong CC win the Marg Jennings U15 Cup earlier this year, has taken a league equal-high 20 wickets at 8.7.
Roseanne Cox
The Sharks’ number three, Cox is their most productive batter with 335 runs at 55.83 and has the ability to produce a big score – her top scores consist of a 90 and 87.
Strong in the field – she’s equal first for catches this season with eight – the New Zealander can also come on and take wickets, the left-arm medium bowler’s best figures 2-10.
Mary Rolfe
The Sharks’ skipper and wicketkeeper, the 18-year-old’s confidence as a leader and tactical nous is growing with each game. Equal first in the league for catches (eight) behind the stumps and has shown she can contribute runs through the middle order (avg. 15).
Poppy Agg
The rising all-rounder, Agg is well beyond her 13-years with the bat, playing the situations to a tee, whether it’s quick runs or staying in for her team, while she shown to stand up in big matches, her 28 in last week’s semi-final, and 32 for Geelong CC in their Marg Jennings Cup final, showing she handles the pressure.
A leg-spinner, she’s come on for nine wickets this year.
Bianca Summers
One of the competition's best all-rounders, Summers is top 10 for both runs (207 at 29.57) and wickets (13 at 11.31) this year.
Took out the B-grade league best and fairest last year on the Sharks’ way to a grand final.
Isabelle Bowen-Moller
A medium pace, outswinger, Bowen-Moller has a knack for always taking a wicket in every game, the teen’s best figures 2-7 for a total of seven wickets at 12.29.
Jasmine O’Donnell
The Sharks’ opening bowler who can bowl outswingers, O’Donnell has the ability to rip open a game, with season highs of 4-28 and 3-11, the latter coming in last weekend’s semi-final.
Bats lower order, but her strong defensive play makes her hard to get out.
Amarah Beach
An 18-year-old all-rounder, Beach strikes the ball hard, is strong in the field and can come on first or second change up with pace when required.
Jorjah Beach
Beach, 15, is a similar sort of player to her sister Amarah (above), while she bats and bowls through the middle order.
Ada Rolfe
A longtime player around the Sharks starting from juniors, Rolfe – sister of captain Mary – commutes back from Melbourne and can fill any gaps.
BARWON HEADS
Barwon Heads-captain coach Steph Theodore believes delivering a flag for the Seagulls’ faithful will only accelerate the growth of women’s cricket in the small seaside town.
In just their second season in the women’s competition, the Seagulls will feature in both an A-and-E-grade decider.
“It’d be great if we can get two wins, to help the club grow and get more people to join the club and grow women’s cricket,” Theodore said.
But the one-time test Australian player knows the Seagulls will have their hands full with the Sharks, the coach wary of their rivals ability to score quick singles.
“We’ve got to be on our toes because they’re really quick between the wickets,” she said.
“And they’re a good, steady bowling side.
“I just want to put pressure on them.
“Our team has been really positive and enjoying it and I want them to keep enjoying it... but I don’t want them to go out there and die wondering.
“I want them to give everything they’ve got.”
Alana Sproule
A true all-rounder, Sproule is a calm head who can read the play well. Has fired on all fronts this year, with 14 wickets at 41, 252 runs at 31.5 and seven catches.
Steph Theodore
In her first year in the league, the one-time Australian test player and Barwon Heads’ captain-coach has dominated with the bat with a league-leading 453 runs at 45.3, so her wicket will be crucial for City on Sunday.
Doesn’t bowl often, but showed in last week’s semi-final she can come on and break partnership, taking 2-3 with medium pace.
Katrina Lumb
The all-rounder has been the Gulls’ most productive wicket taker with 17 at 9.71, while she’s been a handy contributor with bat with 142 at 20.29.
Mikaela Monahan
A consistent scorer through the Gulls’ middle-order, with 133 at 33.25, the Gulls can also call upon Monahan as a leg-spinner with good variation.
Jane Burch
Taken on the gloves in the second half of season - she’s taken eight catches - Burch is also a reliable batter through the middle, calm under pressure if the Gulls lose early wickets, while holding an end and rotating the strike.
Jessica Johnston
Strong in the field, Johnston is also averaging 10 with the bat after a couple low scores, but has shown she can threaten for a big score with a high of 50 earlier this season.
Summer Don
A medium pacer who can consistently take a wicket, with nine for the season, Don is also used further down the batting order for quick runs when needed.
Kelsey Houghton
An athletic fielder in her first season at Barwon Heads, the medium pacer had her best bowling performance in the final round of the regular season with 2-3.
Matilda Cole
The Gulls’ opening pace bowler at just 13, Cole appears a name on the rise, taking 13 wickets at 17.15 season, while she showed courage with the bat in round 8 with a steady 23 in an unsuccessful chase after a top-order collapse.
Emma Allen
Broke back into the first XI late in the season, the leg-spinner is a strong fielder who instigates a lot of the Gulls’ energy in the field.
Cindel McSween
A medium pacer, McSween broke through for reward for effort in round 6 and has looked back with seven wickets and a season best 3-6 in round 14.
Katrina Paton-Hodges
A steady hand with the ball, Paton-Hodges has taken eight wickets, including a hattrick in round 7, while she can pinch hit if needed.
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