Geelong Falcons prospect Josh Lindsay produces masterclass in Geelong school derby

No. 1 pick contender Sam Lalor starred in school cricket ahead of his draft year. Now his former teammate - another AFL Academy member - has done the same against their arch-rival.

Geelong Grammar won the Geelong school cricket derby. Picture: Geelong Grammar

As Sam Lalor prepares to join the AFL ranks on Wednesday, another dual sports Geelong Grammar talent was the matchwinner in the Geelong school cricket derby.

AFL Academy and Geelong Falcons prospect Josh Lindsay — who won two APS cricket premierships alongside Lalor the past two seasons — produced an all-round masterclass in Geelong Grammar’s 28-run over Geelong College on Saturday.

Lindsay plundered an unbeaten 50 off 45 with the bat and followed it up with 4-38 with the ball.

Geelong Falcons squad member Charlie Hanegraaf, who will enter his bottom-age year in 2025, made 81 for Geelong College to give them a fighting chance.

Lindsay prospect finished as the best player for Team Heppell in the U17 futures match on AFL grand final day and is among the group of 28 prospects named in the 2025 AFL Academy squad.

Geelong Grammar cricket director Jye Hearps has also seen Lindsay and Lalor shine on the cricket field in recent years.

Josh Lindsay with his U17 futures match medal. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“Both of the boys probably entered the school as cricketers first that were good footballers and then over the course of the three years their preferences changed and they are going on to do some great things I’m sure,” Hearps said.

“Josh was terrific on the weekend with bat and ball, he spent a lot of his past two seasons either batting at 11 or even being our non batter on some occasions.

“In his Year 12 year and with a lot of youngsters in our team, he was given a job a little bit higher in the order and he batted in complete control during the innings and was the difference in us achieving a total of 200+.

“With the ball he has been one of the best bowlers in the competition since he arrived in Year 10 and he is getting quicker and stronger and with more control and his bowling at the start and again at the death was pivotal for us.”

Vic Country under-17 talent Geelong Grammar captain Liam Biddiscombe also played a pivotal role, with the Vic Country U17 all-rounder making 79 runs and finishing with a tidy 2-22 from his 10 overs.

“We had lost a couple of early wickets and he came in and really steadied the ship,” Hearps said.

“He is a really mature young man and he was able to bat with some calmness and then he and Ned Badrock had a pivotal middle order partnership that was able to get us back on track and create a bit of a launching pad for the later batters.”

Originally published as Geelong Falcons prospect Josh Lindsay produces masterclass in Geelong school derby