North Geelong excited at being the team to beat in 2022/23

North Geelong star Sam Hall says his side can call on up to 20 players to comfortably fill roles in the senior side as the Magpies try to defend last year’s premiership.

Cricket GCA1 Grand Final. East Belmont v North Geelong. North Geelong batsman Sam Hall raises his bat to celebrate the win over East Belmont Picture: Mark Wilson

North Geelong star Sam Hall says his side is excited at the prospect of being the hunted in the new GCA season.

The Magpies won the premiership in the 2021/22 season and will start the new campaign as favourites after a successful off-season of recruiting.

Hall said the squad was relishing in the idea they were the team to beat this season.

“I think recruiting well over the off-season has kept everyone motivated to train hard and play well,” he said.

“There’s definitely that competition for spots that will come in, we’ve got probably 18 to 20 guys that we could bring into our senior side and feel really comfortable about them playing there.

Cricket GCA1 Grand Final. East Belmont v North Geelong. North Geelong batsman Sam Hall centre has Andrew Ferguson reach him to celebrate the win over East Belmont with Steve Meehan rightPicture: Mark Wilson

“For all the different formats we might have different teams, just depending on the type of game.

“We’re expecting other sides will have added a bit more motivation at us being the side to beat in their eyes, but they’ve all recruited well and will be really competitive this year.

“With potentially two or three rounds added onto our pre-season because of the rain, we’re all pretty frustrated because we just want to get out and play.”

North Geelong recruited two of the BPCA’s biggest names in the off-season, landing Ned Cooper and Dale Kerr from Anglesea.

Dale Kerr was a key player for Anglesea last season. Picture: Mark Wilson

The depth of the Magpies is expected to be even more valuable this season, with the GCA announcing all three formats of cricket will be played in 2022/23.

A T20 competition across all four grades will start towards the end of October, while two-day cricket will return after a two-season absence.

Hall said the club had been planning for different sides to play in each of the different formats.

“We’ll use the depth of the squad to fill the side as we need,” he said.

“I think the T20 competition is a really great inclusion, we’ve drawn Grovedale who will be a great opponent and definitely better than a training session which is what we’d be doing otherwise.

“The new competition will give some of our younger guys a great chance to play at the level and test themselves against quality opposition.

“Even if it’s just one game or if it ends up being a few, I think it’ll be great for us.”

Originally published as North Geelong excited at being the team to beat in 2022/23