North Geelong, Lara, Thomson and Lethbridge win GCA first grade flags in bumper weekend of cricket

It was a historic weekend of GCA action with a first division powerhouse winning its sixth flag in a row, while a division two club handled relegation in the best possible manner.

Thomson’s Shane Bremner was judged best on ground in the GCA3 first grade grand final. Picture: Mark Wilson.

It was a truly historic weekend of GCA action with North Geelong winning its sixth first grade title in a row on Sunday.

The Magpies’ Alistair McCann was the star of the show with 127 – his maiden century at any level – which came when it was needed most after the defending champions were reduced to 5-89 batting first against Newtown & Chilwell at South Barwon Reserve.

Eventually posting 8-343, the Two Blues were routed for just 80 as skipper Tom Mathieson claimed 6-12 off 14.3 overs.

Meanwhile, Lara responded to being relegated from the top tier in the best possible fashion, winning four flags from as many grand finals across the grades.

For the second time in a fortnight, Cats captain Dan Weigl (86 not out) rescued his side from early trouble against Murgheboluc to ultimately guide Lara to a second division premiership.

The Cats had been 6-59 chasing 147 for victory, before he found an ally in Kaden Marum (33 not out).

And Thomson buried the demons from last year’s third division grand final capitulation to beat Marshall by 61 runs.

After posting 235 (Luke Wilcox 38, Seaver Cowley 33, Shane Bremner 26 not out), both Cowley and Bremner did the damage with the ball, taking 5-52 and 4-74 off a marathon 35 overs respectively.

All the photos from the GCA grand finals

North Geelong celebrate winning the 2024-25 GCA1 grand final. Picture: Wes Cusworth

North Geelong celebrate Lachie Hayes' catch of Dylan Hodge in GCA1 grand final. Picture: Wes Cusworth

North Geelong's Tom Mathieson bowls in the 2024-25 GCA1 final final. Picture: Wes Cusworth

North Geelong's Alistair McCann scores a century in the 2024-25 GCA1 grand final. Picture: Wes Cusworth

North Geelong's Alistair McCann scores a century in the 2024-25 GCA1 grand final. Picture: Wes Cusworth

North Geelong's Alistair McCann scores a century in the 2024-25 GCA1 grand final. Picture: Wes Cusworth

North Geelong's Alistair McCann scores a century in the 2024-25 GCA1 grand final. Picture: Wes Cusworth

North Geelong's Tom Mathieson celebrates taking the final wicket with teammates in GCA1 final final. Picture: Wes Cusworth

the Cricket GCA2 grand final between Lara and Murgheboluc, game starts at 11.45am at Bisinella Oval in Lara. Lara celebrate the wicket of Murghebolic batsman Sam Abley (stumped)Picture: Mark Wilson

the Cricket GCA2 grand final between Lara and Murgheboluc, game starts at 11.45am at Bisinella Oval in Lara. Lara celebrate the wicket of Murghebolic batsman Sam Abley (stumped)Picture: Mark Wilson

the Cricket GCA2 grand final between Lara and Murgheboluc, game starts at 11.45am at Bisinella Oval in Lara. Lara bowler Daniel WeiglPicture: Mark Wilson

the Cricket GCA2 grand final between Lara and Murgheboluc, game starts at 11.45am at Bisinella Oval in Lara. Murgheboluc batsman Luke Webb hits as Lara keeper Jhaih Baxter ducksPicture: Mark Wilson

the Cricket GCA2 grand final between Lara and Murgheboluc, game starts at 11.45am at Bisinella Oval in Lara. Lara bowler Mitchell HeywardPicture: Mark Wilson

the Cricket GCA2 grand final between Lara and Murgheboluc, game starts at 11.45am at Bisinella Oval in Lara. Murgheboluc batsman Tom BarterPicture: Mark Wilson

the Cricket GCA2 grand final between Lara and Murgheboluc, game starts at 11.45am at Bisinella Oval in Lara. Lara bowler Rhys Nolan Picture: Mark Wilson

the Cricket GCA2 grand final between Lara and Murgheboluc, game starts at 11.45am at Bisinella Oval in Lara. Lara bowler Rhys Nolan bowls Murgheboluc batsman Tom BarterPicture: Mark Wilson

the Cricket GCA2 grand final between Lara and Murgheboluc, game starts at 11.45am at Bisinella Oval in Lara. Lara bowler Rhys Nolan bowls Murgheboluc batsman Tom BarterPicture: Mark Wilson

the Cricket GCA2 grand final between Lara and Murgheboluc, game starts at 11.45am at Bisinella Oval in Lara. Lara bowler Rhys Nolan bowls Murgheboluc batsman Tom Barter and Lara celebratePicture: Mark Wilson

the Cricket GCA2 grand final between Lara and Murgheboluc, game starts at 11.45am at Bisinella Oval in Lara. Lara bowler Luke Webb reacts after getting the wicket ( caught and bowled) of Murgheboluc batsman Jason Hewitt Picture: Mark Wilson

the Cricket GCA2 grand final between Lara and Murgheboluc, game starts at 11.45am at Bisinella Oval in Lara. Lara react after bowler Luke Webb getting the wicket ( caught and bowled) of Murgheboluc batsman Jason Hewitt Picture: Mark Wilson

the Cricket GCA2 grand final between Lara and Murgheboluc, game starts at 11.45am at Bisinella Oval in Lara. Murgheboluc bowler Daniel Grozdanovski sends one down to Lara batsman Casey YoungPicture: Mark Wilson

the Cricket GCA2 grand final between Lara and Murgheboluc, game starts at 11.45am at Bisinella Oval in Lara. Murgheboluc fieldsman Tom Barter celebrates catching Lara batsman Andrew Hughes off the bowling of Daniel GrozdanovskiPicture: Mark Wilson

the Cricket GCA2 grand final between Lara and Murgheboluc, game starts at 11.45am at Bisinella Oval in Lara. Murgheboluc fieldsman Tom Barter celebrates catching Lara batsman Andrew Hughes off the bowling of Daniel GrozdanovskiPicture: Mark Wilson

the Cricket GCA2 grand final between Lara and Murgheboluc, game starts at 11.45am at Bisinella Oval in Lara. Murgheboluc fieldsman Tom Barter (back to camera ) celebrates catching Lara batsman Andrew Hughes off the bowling of Daniel GrozdanovskiPicture: Mark Wilson

the Cricket GCA2 grand final between Lara and Murgheboluc, game starts at 11.45am at Bisinella Oval in Lara. Murgheboluc fieldsman Tom Barter (left ) celebrates catching Lara batsman Andrew Hughes off the bowling of Daniel GrozdanovskiPicture: Mark Wilson

the Cricket GCA2 grand final between Lara and Murgheboluc, game starts at 11.45am at Bisinella Oval in Lara. Murgheboluc fieldsman Tom Barter (middle) celebrates catching Lara batsman Andrew Hughes off the bowling of Daniel GrozdanovskiPicture: Mark Wilson

GCA3 cricket grand final - Thomson v Marshall Marshall batsman Jake Hilton Picture: Mark Wilson

GCA3 cricket grand final - Thomson v Marshall Thomson bowler Seaver CowleyPicture: Mark Wilson

GCA3 cricket grand final - Thomson v Marshall Thomson bowler Seaver Cowley reacts to a close callPicture: Mark Wilson

GCA3 cricket grand final - Thomson v Marshall Thomson bowler Seaver CowleyPicture: Mark Wilson

GCA3 cricket grand final - Thomson v Marshall Marshall batsman Jake Hilton hits the ball back to Thomson bowler Shane Bremner Picture: Mark Wilson

GCA3 cricket grand final - Thomson v Marshall Thomson bowler Shane Bremner Picture: Mark Wilson

GCA3 cricket grand final - Thomson v Marshall Thomson bowler Seaver Cowley sends one down to Marshall batsman Jake Hilton Picture: Mark Wilson

GCA3 cricket grand final - Thomson v Marshall Marshall batsman Mike Norris Picture: Mark Wilson

GCA3 cricket grand final - Thomson v Marshall Thomson bowler Seaver Cowley reacts to a close callPicture: Mark Wilson

GCA3 cricket grand final - Thomson v Marshall Thomson bowler Seaver Cowley leaps for the ballPicture: Mark Wilson

GCA3 cricket grand final - Thomson v Marshall Marshall batsman Jake Hilton Picture: Mark Wilson

GCA3 cricket grand final - Thomson v Marshall Thomson bowler Xavier Dew sends one down to Marshall batsman Mike Norris Picture: Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v Marshallwinners Thomson with cupPicture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallMarshall batsman Brad Greenwood bowled by Thomson bowler Seaver Cowley Picture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallMarshall batsman Brad Greenwood bowled by Thomson bowler Seaver Cowley Picture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallMarshall batsman Brad Greenwood bowled by Thomson bowler Seaver Cowley Picture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallMarshall batsman Brad Greenwood bowled by Thomson bowler Seaver Cowley ( seen celebrating with team mates no7) Picture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallThomson keeper Luke Willcox waits for the return as Marshall batsman Taylor Cameron flies homePicture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallMarshall batsman Taylor Cameron bowled by Thomson bowler Seaver Cowley Picture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallMarshall batsman Taylor Cameron bowled by Thomson bowler Seaver Cowley ( seen celebrating )Picture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallMarshall batsman Taylor Cameron bowled by Thomson bowler Seaver Cowley ( seen celebrating withh 44 Jackson Burke )Picture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallThomson celebrate their win Picture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallThomson celebrate their win Picture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallThomson celebrate their win Picture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallThomson celebrate their win Picture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallThomson celebrate their win Xavier DewPicture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallThomson bowler Seaver Cowley Picture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallThomson Jackson Burke and bowler Seaver Cowley Picture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallThomson celebratePicture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallThomson celebrate Jackson Burke with Huey 1Picture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallThomson celebrate best player Shane BremnerPicture : Mark Wilson

Cricket GCA3 grand final - Thomson v MarshallThomson celebrate their win Picture : Mark Wilson

Originally published as North Geelong, Lara, Thomson and Lethbridge win GCA first grade flags in bumper weekend of cricket