Jan Juc’s Ben Grinter is the leading run scorer in the BPCA’s top tier over the past 10 seasons
Two outstanding Bellarine cricketers stand above the rest when it comes to total runs over the past 10 seasons. See who made the list.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
They are the best performing BPCA top tier batters over the past 10 seasons through sheet weight of runs.
This masthead has crunched the official Cricket Australia numbers to find the top 20 batters in the Bellarine since the 2014-15 season until last summer.
Several clubs had multiple batters on the list, with Anglesea and Barrabool providing four each.
However, coming out on top is a Jan Juc opener who would eventually move to Bell Park in the GCA, with more than 4300 runs and 30+ half centuries.
We spoke to the league’s publicity officer Mark Heenan about some of the players who made the list, with seven qualifying for both the batting and bowling lists.
20. Corey Walter
Club: Collendina
Runs: 1504
Matches: 44
100s: Three
50s: Nine
Highest score: 135 in 16-17
Best season: 611 in 16-17
Walter made a stunning return to the Snake Pit in season 23-24 after a stint with Marshall for five campaigns, stroking 595 runs at an average of 54.09 with two tons and three half centuries.
He also chipped in with 27 wickets at an average of just 12 to be any easy selection for the BPCA’s team of the year.
Playing just four seasons during the 10-season period, Walter has put up strong numbers in almost every Bellarine campaign.
“Continues to score runs at the top of the order which the Cobras heavily rely on,” Heenan said.
“He is a three-time Ray Menzies medallist which is awarded to the association’s most valuable player.”
19. Iva Priest
Club: Jan Juc
Runs: 1607
Matches: 95
100s: 0
50s: One
Highest score: 75 in 16-17
Best season: 254 runs in 20-21
Like Dale Kerr, Sam Schaller, Brett Venables, Paul Jubber, Kane Pickering and Paul McGrath, Jan Juc’s Priest has made the top 20 for both batting and bowling.
18. Michael Kenneady
Club: Ocean Grove
Runs: 1661
Matches: 36
100s: Four
50s: Eight
Highest score: 133 in 18-19
Best season: 561 in 18-19
In a similar vein to Corey Walter, Kenneady has made the most of his three seasons in the BPCA during the 10-season period.
And each season was in the league’s top 20 for most productive (14th, 17th and 20th).
His thinnest season in terms of runs was in 15-16 where he made 542 at an average of 60.
17. Jack Purcell
Club: Barrabool
Runs: 1705
Matches: 87
100s: One
50s: Four
Highest score: 157 in 22-23
Best season: 391 in 22-23
A consistent contributor for the Bulls, Purcell never made fewer than 175 runs in a season.
However, his final season in the BPCA was a memorable one, hitting 157 off 252 balls with 14 boundaries against Ocean Grove in a 47-run win.
16. Aaron Pickering
Club: Barrabool
Runs: 1763
Matches: 111
100s: 0
50s: Four
Highest score: 79 in 16-17
Best season: 268 runs in 16-17
While never producing a huge season full of runs, Pickering makes the list through sheer durability and consistency.
15. Brett Venables
Club: Anglesea
Runs: 1793
Matches: 126
100s: One
50s: Six
Highest score: 102 in 23-24
Best season: 352 in 22-23
The A1 premiership player has been in career-best form of late, belting his first century of the 10-season period last season – 102 off 144 balls against Ocean Grove – while producing his most prolific efforts with the bat in 22-23.
Behind only Anglesea’s Tyron Norman for the most games played of the top 20 from the past 10 seasons.
One of seven players to make the batting and bowling lists.
14. Sam Schaller
Club: Barwon Heads
Runs: 1883
Matches: 82
100s: 0
50s: 13
Highest score: 92 in 17-18
Best season: 463 in 18-19
Schaller, who also made the BPCA’s top 20 best performing bowlers of the past 10 seasons, has been a reliable batter in his own right.
With 13 half centuries, Schaller’s 92 against Ocean Grove in a three-wicket win was the closest he came to a century in the era.
13. Nathan Walter
Club: Collendina
Runs: 1900
Matches: 81
100s: One
50s: 11
Highest score: 111 in 18-19
Best season: 505 in 18-19
Brother of Corey, Walter was no slouch himself with the season of 18-19 his best in the top tier, with a ton and three half centuries.
Coming in at number three, Walter’s 111 against Portarlington that year rescued the Cobras after the other batters who made up the top seven offered just 21 runs in total.
12. James Jirik
Club: Barrabool
Runs: 1913
Matches: 91
100s: One
50s: Nine
Highest score: 125 in 22-23
Best season: 361 in 22-23
A consistent contributor for the Bulls, Jirik compiled five seasons of 270 runs or more.
His best season with the blade was 22-23, finishing eighth in the runs aggregate with his only ton of the era, a 193-ball 125 against Inverleigh as Barrabool compiled a massive 354 off 74.5 overs.
11. Lewy Hyland
Club: Barwon Heads
Runs: 1952
Matches: 64
100s: One
50s: 13
Highest score: 128 in 19-20
Best season: 496 runs in 18-19
Another strong contributor for the Seagulls across six seasons, Hyland would make four half centuries in the 16-17 season.
Fourth in the aggregate of the 19-20 season, Hyland hit 128 against Queenscliff in a comfortable seven-wicket win.
“A dangerous batsman that can turn game the game very quickly,” Heenan said.
10. Paul McGrath
Club: Portarlington
Runs: 1958
Matches: 60
100s: Two
50s: 14
Highest score: 128 in 18-19
Best season: 659 runs in 18-19
The Portarlington all-rounder finds himself both in the batting and bowling top 20 over the past 10 seasons.
McGrath’s monster 18-19 season which yielded 659 runs was the sixth best individual batting campaign of the era, with two hundreds and four half centuries.
His 128 against Barrabool that year ensured a 24-run win at Ceres Recreation Reserve.
9. Tim Frankenburg
Club: Queenscliff
Runs: 2061
Matches: 75
100s: Two
50s: 14
Highest score: 107 in 19-20
Best season: 532 runs in 21-22
Frankenburg would hit six half centuries in his most prolific season in the BPCA’s top flight with a highest score of 83 that year.
Also hit two centuries two seasons’ prior and they were back-to-back: 107 against Barrabool and then 106 the following game against Ocean Grove, opening up the innings.
8. Dale Kerr
Club: Anglesea
Runs: 2140
Matches: 102
100s: One
50s: 14
Highest score: 119 in 19-20
Best season: 419 runs in 18-19
Like Portarlington’s Paul McGrath, Kerr finds himself easily within the best batters and bowlers of the past 10 seasons.
Season 18-19 was Kerr’s most productive with four half centuries.
12 months on, Kerr would be sixth on the batting aggregate and breakthrough with his first ton of the era, 119 against Barrabool off just 116 rocks in a 75-run win.
It was a much-needed knock after the Roos lost Ned Cooper and Ash Poulton for ducks at the top of the list.
7. Shaun Fankhauser
Club: Ocean Grove
Runs: 2145
Matches: 85
100s: Three
50s: 12
Highest score: 108 in 22-23
Best season: 427 runs in 22-23
A consistent batter for the Grubbers, Fankhauser only once had a season which yielded less than 235 runs — in 14-15 when he only played six matches.
Had a strong period post-covid, putting up more than 850 runs in total across back-to-back seasons, including two centuries.
6. Ben Ricardo
Club: Collendina
Runs: 2150
Matches: 63
100s: Three
50s: 16
Highest score: 138 in 16-17
Best season: 466 runs in 16-17
With six seasons of 248 runs or more, Ricardo was a consistent asset for the Cobras.
Hit four half centuries and a ton in his best season of 16-17 and averaged 51.78.
Put on a big stand with Andrew Higgins (95) against Portarlington as Ricardo hit 138 in a team total of 6-303 at home.
“The Cobras miss his presence in 2024/25. A consistent contributor and scores runs in big games and made a vital 56 against Drysdale in last season’s A2 grand final,” Heenan said.
5. Paul Jubber
Club: Ocean Grove
Runs: 2214
Matches: 104
100s: Three
50s: Seven
Highest score: 149 in 17-18
Best season: 436 runs in 17-18
With seven seasons which yielded 214 runs or more, Jubber became a reliable bat for the Grubbers.
Started the 17-18 season with a bang, hitting 149 not out against Queenscliff in a team total of 8-268 — the next best was Jacob Taylor’s 30.
4. Tyron Norman
Club: Anglesea
Runs: 3316
Matches: 131
100s: One
50s: 21
Highest score: 112 in 23-24
Best season: 622 runs in 23-24
The most capped player of the past 10 top tier seasons in the BPCA with 131 games.
Norman broke through with his first ton of that period with 112 off just 103 balls with five sixes last season against Armstrong Creek.
With 622 runs at 47.85, Norman would finish in second place on the A1 batting aggregate behind the Titans’ Clay Mulgrew in 23-24.
“His runs scoring feats and consistency has proven to be a catalyst in Anglesea’s dominant 10-year reign in the BPCA A1 competition,” Heenan said.
“Has a knack of churning out runs. Over the last 12 months has turned half centuries into hundreds with two centuries already this season in 2024-25.”
3. Kane Pickering
Club: Barrabool
Runs: 3944
Matches: 118
100s: Eight
50s: 18
Highest score: 204 in 19-20
Best season: 687 runs in 19-20
An absolute run machine for the Bulls across 10 seasons, Pickering produced the fourth best individual batting campaign in 19-20 with 687 runs at 57.25.
It came with a stunning 204 against Portarlington as the Roos racked up 4-395 off 75 overs.
“His prolific runs over the last 10 years has allowed Barrabool to compete for finals in the A Grade competition,” Heenan said.
“Has had some back issues in recent years which restricted him to only five matches in 2023-24.”
2. Ned Cooper
Club: Anglesea
Runs: 4256
Matches: 106
100s: 10
50s: 29
Highest score: 153 in 21-22
Best season: 695 runs in 21-22
Cooper would eventually shift to North Geelong in GCA1 after pounding more than 4200 runs with Anglesea across eight seasons.
He would hit four of the best 10 individual batting seasons over the era, with 695 runs at 77.2 his most prolific in 21-22 with six half centuries.
Overall, Cooper would hit 4256 runs at an average of 46.7.
1. Ben Grinter
Club: Jan Juc
Matches: 102
Runs: 4320
100s: Eight
50s: 31
Highest score: 206 in 16-17
Best season: 784 runs in 18-19
The leading batter of the past 10 seasons, Grinter belted more than 4300 runs before joining Bell Park in GCA2.
Grinter would produce four of the top 20 individual batting seasons over the era, with 784 runs at 65.3 with five half centuries and two tons his best in 18-19.
His biggest innings was a monster 206 at number three – almost half his season total that year – against Drysdale in a team total of 5-368.
Grinter would hit 27 boundaries and seven sixes in that knock.
Overall, Grinter hit 4320 runs across eight seasons at an average of 48.5
More Coverage
Originally published as Jan Juc’s Ben Grinter is the leading run scorer in the BPCA’s top tier over the past 10 seasons
‘Incredibly grateful’: Exciting Cats locked in All-Stars squad
Two of Geelong’s most eye-catching players have been picked in the Indigenous All-Stars squad — and one will be returning to his home state.
Great Ocean Road Race: Aussie team produces stunner in scorcher
The mercury went above 40 in the men’s Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, and it was an unlikely Swiss sensation who delivered glory for an Australian team in the sweltering heat.