GCA president Rob Vines open to allowing marquee players into T20 competition in the future

Multiple clubs have been denied a marquee signing ahead of the GCA T20 competition, with one official claiming it will be ‘impossible’ for lower clubs to contend without them, but the president said changes may be coming.

Cricket .GCA1: East Belmont v St Joseph's East BelmontÕs josh Lacey tries to run out St Joseph's Luke Ibbs as East Belmont players and keeper Lachie Inglis appeal Picture: Mark Wilson

The Geelong Cricket Association has left the door open for marquee player signings in the new-look T20 Cup next season after several clubs had reached terms with star additions this summer before being blocked by the association.

The knockout tournament, featuring all 32 teams across the four top-flight GCA divisions, is set to begin on Tuesday after pre-Christmas fixtures were hit by washouts, with clubs only able to select players that have featured for one of their teams already this season.

Before the ruling was clear, a lower grade club had lined up an ace former Premier Cricket player for its game.

Several other clubs had also agreed with players outside of the GCA to feature in the T20 competition before the league officials made the ruling apparent.

One club official slammed the decision, and said the lack of marquee players would “hurt recruitment from outside the competition, and it will make it impossible for lower grade sides to contend with GCA1 clubs.”

GCA president Rob Vines said the competition was not a finished product, and there was “always scope for improvement”.

“We decided with it being a new competition this year that we’d keep it solely within the confines of the GCA,” he said.

“In the T20 competitions in the past teams have been able to have a marquee player, and that option was definitely discussed at the board level.”

East Belmont bowler Jack Jenkins Picture: Mark Wilson

Modewarre skipper Brendan Wemyss said it was disappointing to not be allowed a marquee player, with the GCA3 club set to face GCA1 premiership contender East Belmont.

“We looked at and found a couple of marquee players, but the GCA said ‘no, the players have to play for your club before they step into the T20 game’,” he said.

“We’ll have to pick a pretty similar eleven to what our firsts are, East Belmont would usually have better competition than us but we’ll just have to hope they change up their team a bit.”

Cricket. GCA1: East Belmont v St Joseph's St JosephÕs batsman Andrew Casey Picture: Mark Wilson

While the majority of the games fixtured are between teams separated by one division or less, GCA4 side Teesdale is set to host GCA1 club St Joseph’s in a ‘David vs Goliath’ style clash.

Vines said knockout competitions added a different level of excitement to the fixture.

“It’s the real beauty of sport, if you look at the FA Cup in soccer as the model, you do get surprises from time to time,” he said.

“It’s going to be a little bit different, and some clubs will play against each other that normally wouldn’t play against each other.

“Teams will also play on grounds that they have never play on in the main fixture, which will suit different teams, but I think that cross-fertilisation is a good thing.

“Each team does not have to stick within their first eleven, they just need to pick a club team, so it will be interesting to see how teams approach it.”

Originally published as GCA president Rob Vines open to allowing marquee players into T20 competition in the future