Promotion goals ‘no secret’ for Dragons, but will wait for GCA

Bell Park is eager to return to the GCA2, but officials at the club have declared they would not seek immediate promotion this season.

Bell Park v St Albans Breakwater at Hamlyn Park. Luke Turner gets runs for Bell Park. Picture: Mike Dugdale

BELL Park has declared it would entertain a move to GCA2 next season, but the powerhouse club insists it will not make an official request to the league for immediate promotion.

The Dragons have been dominant in the GCA3 grade this season, losing just one game in their top three sides and twice in the fourths, leading to a strong showing in the club championships.

Murdoch said there were no plans to inquire about an early promotion to the GCA2, but the club had set its sights on the move at the end of the 2023-24 season.

“We want to finish the season well, hopefully win a couple of premierships and push to be in the conversation next year,” he said.

“At this stage we’re planning on being here (in the GCA3) next year, we’ll follow the protocol.

Picture: Mike Dugdale

“It’s a two-year cycle at the moment, if they brought it forward then we’d put our hands up, but we’re not expecting to move up yet.

“It’s no secret that we want to be back up a grade, we don’t want to be arrogant about it but we want to be playing the best grade of cricket that we can.”

The discussion comes as Waurn Ponds-Deakin officials declared the club would request promotion to GCA3 at the end of the season.

Bell Park has suffered one loss in the firsts’ this season, while its second and third grade teams have been undefeated and will all be favourites in their respective finals campaigns.

Murdoch said it was important for the whole club to be successful, with players moving between the grades each week as form changed for individual players.

“Winning games and being successful really broadens the whole club and gets everyone in a better mood about their cricket,” he said.

“Guys come up and fill in roles when there’s unavailabilities, and when they perform they stay there, and they’re still there.

“Having really good depth is so important for us, it means we’ve got selection based on performance and players vying for spots.

“That has helped with our form this year.

“But as much as I like to think all of the sides are pretty settled, we can tweak and get the best out of everyone, but everyone is playing really good cricket at the moment.”

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