Armstrong Creek’s Clay Mulgrew and Anglesea’s Tyron Norman continue to boss BPCA’s top tier
It might be a brand new season in the BPCA’s top tier, but the numbers show very little has changed in two key areas so far.
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It’s a new season in the BPCA’s top flight, but some things have remained very much the same in 2024-25.
Last year’s grand finalists in Anglesea and reigning premier Barwon Heads sit in A1’s top two respectively with the Roos looking to get one back on the Seagulls when they face off on Saturday at Ellimatta Reserve.
The Roos and the Seagulls were one and two at the end of the 23-24 home and away campaign.
Both sides have only lost one game this year: the Roos upstaged by bottom two team Ocean Grove in a two-wicket thriller with two balls to spare while the Seagulls were also beaten by two wickets at the hands of Armstrong Creek.
Meanwhile, from an individual perspective, some big names are enjoying stellar seasons for the second year running.
Titans gun opener Clay Mulgrew is on top of the A1 batting pile with 490 runs at an average of 81.67 with two centuries and a half ton, followed by Anglesea’s Tyron Norman (372 runs at an average of 74.4), also with twin tons and two half centuries.
Last year, Mulgrew and Norman were one and two in the A1 batting aggregate.
However, across both competitions, which players will shape their side’s fortunes for the remainder of the 24-25 season?
Key players for the remainder of the A1 season
Anglesea - Tyron Norman
Norman, who was a team of the year member in 2023-24 and second in the batting aggregate, has maintained his form this season.
Currently second behind Armstrong Creek’s Clay Mulgrew with 372 runs at 74.4 with two centuries, Norman has struck the third-highest amount of sixes in A1 with 10.
Barwon Heads - Max Melzer
A model of consistency for the Seagulls this season: third in the A1 batting aggregate with 351 runs at 87.75.
Stroked 110 against Ocean Grove just before Christmas, following scores of 66 against the Grubbers and 89 versus Queenscliff in the opening rounds.
Armstrong Creek - Clay Mulgrew
Last season’s top performer in the BPCA’s top tier with the blade is at it again, striking 490 runs at an average of 81 with two tons and half centuries already.
Looks set to break his tally of 787 runs in 23-24 with the Titans’ first two games in 2025 against bottom two teams Queenscliff and Ocean Grove.
Only Barrabool’s Michael Kelson and Melzer have hit more than Mulgrew’s 42 boundaries this season.
Has also smashed the second-highest amount of sixes with 11, five behind Anglesea’s Michael Thornton.
Barrabool - James Fisher
The leading bowler in A1, Fisher has claimed 18 wickets at just 11 runs apiece.
His season’s work includes 3-49 against top side Anglesea – while hitting 25 not out – and 6-50 against Jan Juc in a six-wicket win.
The only blot on Fisher’s copybook is no-balls, collecting 20 for the year so far.
Jan Juc - Nick Hyden
The Sharks star will be searching for a few big scores after a season marked by handy innings without a monster knock.
After beginning his season with 77 against Barrabool, Hyden has compiled three scores in the 20s and a 47 as his side sits in fifth place.
Currently eighth in the A1 batting aggregate with 206 runs at 34.3
Drysdale - Blake Dobbin
Number one in the A2 bowling aggregate last year – 44 wickets at 11 – Dobbin has continued his fine work for the Hawks in a higher division with 16 wickets at 17.2 in 24-25.
With Drysdale lacking big runs this year – the Hawks have no batters within A1’s top 15 for total runs and have passed 200 runs just once – Dobbin has had to shoulder the responsibility of keeping his team in games.
Ocean Grove - Zac Jones
Currently sixth on the A1 batting aggregate, Jones has produced important scores of 78 against Drysdale and 99 – out of a team total of 9-170 – against last year’s grand finalists in Anglesea.
Has also chipped in with four wickets.
Queenscliff - Hayden Illingworth
Illingworth has once again been a shining light for the Coutas despite a one-win season so far.
Currently fifth on the A1 batting aggregate with 329 runs at 54.
Will be looking to convert his starts with scores of 20, 33 and 26 from his last three appearances at the crease.
Kookaburras look to arrest a pre-Christmas form slump in A2
Inverleigh will be looking to inflict Portarlington’s second loss for the season as the Demons go into the back half of the campaign without two of their best players and father and son combo, Stephen and Riley Illingworth.
The family is moving to Tasmania after the senior Illingworth took on a teaching position.
Riley and Stephen are fourth and fifth respectively for the A2 batting aggregate, and are both equal number one in the competition for sixes with eight.
Meanwhile, the Kookaburras battled with the bat just before Christmas, rolled for 87 by Collendina in Round 7 and 58 the previous match by Wallington.
However, the shining light for Inverleigh earlier in the season had been the bowling form of Locke Perrett, with 17 wickets at 7.71.
While Perrett hasn’t played since late November due to a back complaint, Daniel Midolo has stepped up with 17 wickets at 10.53, including nine from his last two games before Christmas.
Fortunately, the Kookaburras got their season back on track with an outright win over Newcomb.
Coach Henry Collins said Inverleigh was hoping to get Perrett back for this Saturday.
Speaking of the Bulls, Newcomb veteran Shane Healey should be commended for his work with the blade: leading the A2 batting aggregate with 328 runs at an average of 41 while also chipping in with 12 wickets at 15 apiece.
This comes despite the Bulls only winning one game this season.
Key players for the remainder of the A2 season
Portarlington - David Hambrook
Fifth on the A2 bowling aggregate with 15 wickets at 12.6, Hambrook has also had his moments with the bat.
In fact, through a string of not out scores — three in the 20s – Hambrook has an average of almost 100.
Wallington - Sven Burluraux
Second in the A2 batting aggregate with 321 runs at 64.2 with four half centuries, Burluraux finished 2024 in tremendous form with scores of 59, 52 and 74 from his last four innings.
Has hit the third-most boundaries for the year with 36 and nobody has faced more deliveries (594)
The Wallabies, who won their final three games for the year, will be looking for Burluraux to continue his form.
Inverleigh - Daniel Mildolo
With leading bowler Locke Perrett missing since November due to a back injury, Midolo went to the Christmas break in fine fashion, taking nine wickets at an average of six, including a seven-wicket match haul against Newcomb in an outright defeat.
Surf Coast - Rhys Healy
Fourth on the A2 bowling aggregate with 16 wickets at 12.5, Healy has also chipped in with some important runs, with scores of 37 just before Christmas against St Leonards in a thrilling one-wicket victory.
Collendina - Corey Walter
The Cobras will look to their star all-rounder to arrest its patchy form in 24-25, currently fifth on the A2 table and yet to record successive wins.
Apart from 109 in Round 1 against Winchelsea, Walter has struck double figures in every innings without producing another monster knock.
Has faced the second most deliveries this year with 530.
The Cobras face Newcomb this Saturday in what could be launching pad into a run for finals.
Winchelsea - Shane Murdoch
Murdoch has had to shoulder much of the batting responsibility this season, and is the only Winchelsea batter in A2’s top 20 for total runs and has faced the third most deliveries across the competition with 519.
Fortunately, Winch managed to snare UK recruit Toby Furbush, who was initially set to play with Newcomb & District in GCA4, to add some batting support.
Third in the batting aggregate last season with 487 runs, Murdoch is on track to better his efforts in 24-25 with 254 at 50.8 so far.
St Leonards - James Burns
Burns has been absolutely brilliant with the ball – the leading bowler in A2 with 23 wickets at 11.7 – considering his side has only won one game so far.
Rounded out 2024 with back-to-back five-wicket hauls with 5-17 against Winchelsea and 6-46 off 34.2 overs against Surf Coast in a thriller.
Remarkably, Burns had produced three wickets from as many games to start the season before taking 20 wickets from the past four matches at an average of 9.75.
Newcomb - Shane Healey
Despite a 1-6 season, Healey has dominated with the bat to lead all comers with 328 runs at 41 and has struck a competition-high 38 boundaries.
His runs have also come in a rush, going at a strike rate of 80.9.
Has also chipped in with 12 wickets at 15.25.
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Originally published as Armstrong Creek’s Clay Mulgrew and Anglesea’s Tyron Norman continue to boss BPCA’s top tier
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