Nathaniel Symes, Thisum Hapugodage and Jarrod Groves shape as key ins for Portarlington, Newcomb and Winchelsea
Several new faces have arrived in the Bellarine and loom as game-changers for their respective clubs. See who shapes as your club’s key player.
They are the Bellarine cricketers expected to be crucial to your local team’s prospects.
This masthead has taken a look at all BPCA playing lists and identified the key players poised to grab the competition by the throat, or new arrivals who could bring an extra dimension to their teams.
In A2 alone, Portarlington, Newcomb and Winchelsea are bullish about the impact some of their new recruits will have in 2025-26.
A1
Armstrong Creek
Daniel Maclean
The Titans captain-coach guided the club to an inaugural A1 flag last summer while putting in a strong individual shift with the ball.
Maclean, who joined Armstrong Creek ahead of the 21-22 season from Bell Park, took 23 wickets at 26.48 last season has been in the Titans’ top two bowlers of the past two campaigns.
Armstrong Creek have also brought in Meredith veteran Troy Bott and will play Round 1.
Barwon Heads
Dan Donaldson
Coming into his third season with the Seagulls, the NSW recruit will again captain the A1 team after leading them into a grand final in 24-25.
Was a standout in the decider with an unbeaten 51 and 4-70 off 32 overs as the Seagulls went down by just 13 runs.
Second in the A1 bowling aggregate with 32 at 19.84 after finishing on top in 23-24 (36 at 15.08).
Unsurprisingly, the proud charity runner is a two-time BPCA team of the year member.
Anglesea
Ty Norman
Takes on the big job of coaching the Roos following the departure of a number of key players (Ollie and Will Huby, Tom Beasley) and ex-Grubber Michael Thornton to North Geelong.
Despite his side bowing out in a semi-final, Norman was his consistent self with 443 runs at 40.27 in 24-25, featuring two centuries and a half ton across four consecutive A1 digs.
Barrabool
Michael Kelson
Set to coach Barrabool for the third year in a row, Kelson was the Bulls’ leading batter in 24-25 with 558 runs at 42.92 and a highest score of 111 against Drysdale.
Hit double figures in all bar one of his 13 innings in 24-25.
Jan Juc
Nick Hyden
One of the league’s leading batters, Hyden started the season with a string of starts – four scores between 21 and an unbeaten 47 – Hyden didn’t quite capitalise on his opportunities for big scores.
With GCA champion Gareth Yelland joining the ranks at Shark Park, you’d bank on Hyden producing another monster campaign like his 22-23 (558 runs at 69.75) to be the competition’s leading batter.
Queenscliff
Hayden Illingworth
Has dominated with the blade since arriving at Queenscliff ahead of the 23-24 season from St Peter’s, but three figures has remained elusive.
A1 skipper yet again this summer, Illingworth hit double figures in all of his 13 innings and will be looking to convert those types of starts into centuries in 25-26.
Has produced eight half centuries over the past two summers.
Drysdale
Blake Dobbin
Made the step up to A1 after dominating the second tier in 23-24, with 24 wickets at 15.79 from 12 games to come fifth on the A1 aggregate.
Showed his skill against Ocean Grove last summer with 5-68 off 27.2 overs.
Ocean Grove
Zac Jones
The English import led the Grubbers with the bat with 345 runs at 26.54 and chipped in with 10 wickets.
Returns for his second season in the BPCA.
A2
Wallington
Henry McIntosh
The Wallabies opener washis team’s second-most prolific batter as they made the A2 grand final behind UK import James Sood.
Had a particularly strong start to the season with 334 runs at 41.75 from his first eight knocks.
McIntosh will be looking to reach the magical three figures after top scoring with 96 against Portarlington.
Inverleigh
Lachlan Platt
Made a crucial 37 in an equally important stand with David Peel (54 not out) in the grand final as the Kookaburras knocked off the Wallabies by six wickets.
Batting at first drop all year, Platt produced five half tons in 24-25. and finished in the A1 batting aggregate.
Collendina
Corey Walter
One of the most dominant batters of the past two seasons after returning to the Snake Pit from Marshall.
Set to coach this year, taking over from Nathan Frye, Walter first took over the reins as a senior mentor in his late teens.
Portarlington
Nathaniel Symes
Taking over as Demons senior coach, Symes joins Portarlington from Malvern Valley CC where he held multiple leaderships positions and won several premierships.
Best figures of 4-18 and top score of 41 not out last summer in the Eastern Cricket Association before shifting to the region.
A regular regional representative, Symes can have an impact with either bat or ball and boasts overseas experience with Castor and Ailsworth CC.
Surf Coast
Will Liddle
A BPCA representative player, Liddle had an exceptional season for Surf Coast last summer, fourth in the comp for total runs (473 at 47.3) and sixth for total wickets (25 at 16.44).
Stepping up to co-coach this summer alongside Richard Dawes, Liddle is valued internally for his tactical knowledge and ability to build relationships with players.
Winchelsea
Shane Murdoch
Back again as captain-coach, Murdoch was Winch’s leading player in 24-25, fifth in the league batting aggregate (468 runs at 46.8), in addition to 10 wickets.
With Colac District Cricket Association best and fairest winner Jarrod Groves and Shane Currie (City United) joining, plus Ricci Sauni from St Peter’s, there will be less reliance on the former Newtown & Chilwell star.
St Leonards
James Burns
Led all comers last year with 33 wickets at 12.94, with thee five-wicket hauls.
Burns would produce an incredible four-match stretch from early November which yielded 20 wickets at 9.75 from 90.2 overs, despite his team losing three of those fixtures.
Newcomb
Thisum Hapugodage
The left arm orthodox spinner played nine games in Grovedale’s twos last year and provided handy runs down the list.
With a top score of 50 not out against Highton, Hapugodage is one of several new faces expected to play A2 for the Bulls.
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Originally published as Nathaniel Symes, Thisum Hapugodage and Jarrod Groves shape as key ins for Portarlington, Newcomb and Winchelsea
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