GCA set to move matches in effort to begin season despite heavy rain predicted

The GCA is set to move fixtured matches to different grounds in an attempt to finally play games amid a wet start to the season. Find out what games have been moved.

South Barwon’s nets and main ground were under water. Picture David Smith.

THE Geelong Cricket Association is facing a major fixture restructure as rain threatens to wash away a fourth-straight week of play this weekend.

GCA officials and clubs have declared they will do “whatever it takes” to start the season this weekend, with matches being moved away from flood-stricken grounds in a bid to start of Saturday.

But rain continues to be the enemy of the GCA, as the Bureau of Meteorology predicts 6-10mls will fall on Friday.

GCA vice-president Sam Hall confirmed that key officials would meet on Monday to discuss the fixture, with the likelihood the current draws will be scrapped if play is abandoned on Saturday.

“We’re going to have a look at how the weekend goes and whether we do need to chat to the clubs and have something else put in place,” he said.

“For now there’s no change, we’re really hoping we can get a bit of luck and go ahead this weekend.

“We’ve had the hypothetical discussion, but we haven’t laid out exactly how a restructured draw would look.

“I think there is a chance we’d have a look at the fixture and maybe changing some things around to try to equal it up as much as we can, but we probably would need to sit down and consult with the clubs, and see what that would look like.”

The league is also in the process of moving games to different grounds in an attempt to get the cricket season started this weekend.

South Barwon was set to host North Geelong this weekend, but with a number of fields out of action at the facility near Barwon River, teams agreed to move the match to the Magpies’ home ground.

South Barwon Reserve was under water for days. Picture David Smith.

Hall said the league had discussed shifting games onto opposing grounds to get the round under way.

“In the way of turf grounds, that whole South Barwon Reserve is pretty much wiped out, so what we’re trying to do is move games and that’s going pretty well,” he said.

“There are grounds available that games weren’t fixtured on, so we’re in the process right now of moving games onto grounds that are available, if that needs to happen.

“We’re hoping we get on the field this week and we can keep the fixture as it is, that was our number one priority for this week, we’ve been doing a lot of work to make that happen.

“Whether the weather ruins that or not is another thing, for now there’s no change and we’re hoping we can get a bit of luck to get the season going ahead this week.”

A number of ovals around South Barwon Reserve were severely impacted by floods. Picture David Smith.

South Barwon will have its home game shifted to North Geelong in a bid to get the season started, with coach Brad Hauenstein saying he is happy to do “whatever it takes” to play cricket this week.

“We give away a home game but that’s just how it works, we definitely wouldn’t get on at home so we’re a better chance of playing at North Geelong,” he said.

“If we say we can’t get a ground up and we don’t give the game to them, then it means it’s another week without cricket and with drawn points.

“We just want to play cricket.”

Originally published as GCA set to move matches in effort to begin season despite heavy rain predicted