BPCA given ultimatum to confirm Country Week status as GCA set to field star-studded squad

The BPCA’s Country Week ultimatum has been met, with the league set to field a star-studded group later this month.

Jordy Graham and the BPCA are hoping to pull in numbers to play Country Week. Picture: Mark Wilson

The BPCA is set to field a strong squad after confirming it will play in Country Week later this month.

The Bellarine side was given until Thursday to pledge its attendance in the return of the tournament after hitting a stumbling block with committed numbers.

Brad Greenwood bowling for Barrabool.

But the likes of Ocean Grove opening bat Shaun Fankhauser, Drysdale duo Blake Dobbin and Cameron Chisholm and Armstrong Creek experienced star Brandon Ross all signed up to play and lock in the team.

The carnival will be the first Country Week since 2019-20 after Covid cancelled the showpiece tournament, with the BPCA fixtured to play in Division 2.

The scheduled will see the Bellarine side face South West, Hamilton District and Wangaratta & District teams on consecutive days starting on February 13, before finals round out the week.

The GCA has also committed a deep squad to play in the top division of the carnival.

BPCA HIT WITH COUNTRY WEEK ULTIMATUM

The BPCA’S spot in the return of Country Week is up in the air as the side faces a Thursday ultimatum to confirm they will play.

The week-long tournament will return for the first time since 2019-20, with the GCA set to field a star-studded squad.

Jordy Graham. Picture: Mark Wilson

But the BPCA has been given until midday on Thursday to lock itself in and co-coach Jordy Graham confirmed the side is still scrambling to find more players who can take part in the carnival from February 13-17.

So far, the BPCA has seven players committed to play the entire week, with Jan Juc coach Nick Hyden also available on the Monday to start the campaign.

Among the names set to play are Barrabool duo Ed Morrison and Brad Greenwood, as well as Jan Juc quick Nicky Smith.

The GCA will play in the top-level provincial competition against the likes of Ballarat and Mornington Peninsula.

Waurn Ponds-Deakin gun Philip Visser. Picture: Mark Wilson

While yet to lock in availabilities, the early GCA squad to be coached by Brad Hauenstein includes East Belmont champion Sean O’Neil, Grovedale star Jordan Moran and players from across the divisions such as GCA2’s Geelong City skipper Jack Driver and GCA4 Waurn Ponds-Deakin import Philip Visser.

Hauenstein, a Country Week stalwart as a player, said it was “definitely great to have country week up and running again”.

Originally published as BPCA given ultimatum to confirm Country Week status as GCA set to field star-studded squad