Five competitions sign heads of agreement to be part of revamped cricket structure in Melbourne’s northwest
Cricket in Melbourne’s northwest is set for a shake-up with five competitions exploring the possibility of forming one regional association.
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Cricket in Melbourne’s northwest is set for a shake-up with five competitions exploring the possibility of forming one regional association.
If given the green light, it would be similar to the models adopted by the eastern and southern bayside associations.
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Cricket Victoria, North West Metro Cricket Association (NWMCA), Western Region Junior Cricket Association (WRJCA), Melton Junior Cricket Association (MJCA), Williamstown District Cricket Association (WDCA) and Western Suburbs United Churches and Community Cricket Association (WSUCCA) have signed a heads of agreement to discuss a regional body.
CV said associations had “agreed to collaborate on the shape of the regional model and how it could benefit clubs and participants in the region in the short and long-term”.
Areas covering governance, history, finance and administration will be worked through to “deliver a robust structure for the game to thrive in Melbourne’s west’’.
A smaller working party comprising a representative of each of the five associations, along with CV representatives Daniel Trevillian and Paul Milo, will now be formed to develop the draft documentation.
A plan for transition is expected to be in place for the 2019-20 season.
“The large western and northwestern region of Melbourne has a wide variety of established cricket clubs along with newly emerging suburbs with diverse population bases,” CV’s general manager of community cricket Rohan O’Neill said.
“It is important that we ensure that our structures can best capitalise on respecting the history of cricket in the region as well as position ourselves well to maximise participation in cricket over the coming seasons and years ahead.”
The Victorian Turf Cricket Association (VTCA) is yet to sign on, with president Steve McNamara prepared for his competition to go it alone.
He pointed to the fact the five leagues that had signed on competed on hard wickets, while the VTCA is a turf competition.
McNamara said the VTCA was due to meet with CV again in coming weeks and had not signed due to legal advice.
CV said it would “continue to progress discussions with the VTCA with a view to them joining the other associations … in the heads of agreement at a future date”.
The regional strategy expanded on the blueprint CV laid out for turf cricket in 2014 and is aimed at bringing together all senior turf, hard-wicket cricket and junior competitions.
Each region will be administered by an executive committee and a head of cricket responsible for areas including local government relations, finance and sponsorship.
CV will fund the head of cricket positions.
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