The GCA teams in the relegation and promotion zone after 12 rounds
We take a closer look at all the Geelong cricket clubs poised for promotion or fighting to avoid relegation.
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There’s just two rounds to go in the GCA’s top three divisions and some teams continue to press their claims for promotion, others have drifted further into the relegation zone while several have got their act together in recent weeks.
We take another look at the competition’s risers, sliders and mainstays, with the GCA considering a rolling two-year average, from performances on and off the field, before deciding who goes up and who goes down at season’s end.
St Joseph’s
Club championship in 23-24: Seventh
Currently: Last
The Joeys have slipped a rung down the club championship ladder after their second last place in 23-24, and are currently 16 points behind Highton, who they knocked off by one wicket in Round 10 of the top tier.
All of their teams which contribute towards club championship points, from firsts down to fourths, are currently out of the top four.
A huge game looms this Saturday against ladder leaders Newtown & Chilwell at Zampatti Oval.
Highton
Club championship in 23-24: Last
Currently: Seventh
Highton have done the opposite of Joeys in the GCA1 club championship, rising marginally from bottom to second last in 24-25.
While the Heat’s firsts and seconds are currently in the mix for finals – both teams recorded wins on Saturday – their thirds and fourths are in the bottom two.
The Heat boast two of the competition’s better performing players.
Greg Willows has once again been a dominant force after winning the aggregate in 23-24, with 459 runs at 41.73 – including four half centuries and a 49 – and recently stroked scores of 74 not out and 99 not out for Geelong Cricket Association at Country Week.
And Fionn Neeson has taken a league-leading 28 wickets at 18.6.
Curiously, Highton will face Joeys in the final match of the home and away season.
Lara
Club championship in 23-24: Sixth
Currently: First:
A tremendous season for the demoted Cats who are on top of all four grades in 24-25 so far.
The Cats are enjoying a spotless season in first grade, but the success doesn’t stop there.
Lara’s twos are also undefeated this year with Round 11’s three-wicket defeat of Bell Park its closest result.
And its third grade also won seven in a row earlier in the season to be on top with 12 wins while its fourths have only dropped two matches.
The Cats have been rewarded for their off field performance, set to host numerous grand finals on March 29.
Murgheboluc
Club championship in 23-24: Seventh
Currently: Seventh
It might be a question of depth at the Frogs, who are currently second last on the club championship table after finishing in the same position in 23-24.
Murghe’s first grade team is travelling beautifully by comparison: currently in second place, coming within 16 runs of inflicting Lara’s first loss and boasting the competition’s leading bowler in Jason Grozdanovski (29 wickets at 11.86 apiece).
However, the Frogs are bottom in second and third grade and second last in fourths.
Geelong West
Club championship in 23-24: Fourth
Currently: Last
It’s been a brutal first grade season for the Rams with just one win after 12 rounds, while its second grade is sitting in seventh position.
However, Geelong West’s lower grade sides have enjoyed a bit more success, with its thirds (third) and fourths (fifth) in finals contention.
Manifold Heights
Club championship in 23-24: Seventh
Currently: Sixth
The Sharks have endured a rough 2025 so far, losing its senior coach Stuart Calder in January and its first grade team suffering heavy losses over the past two rounds.
Overall, Mano has slipped from fourth in the club championship after Round 10, to now sixth with its first grade team to face a Thomson side coming off its first loss of the year this Saturday.
Bannockburn
Club championship in 23-24: Third
Currently: Fourth
After Round 10, the Bulls had slipped to seventh on the GCA3 club championship.
However, Banno’s first grade team has recently got its act together, with comprehensive wins against Manifold Heights and Corio over the past two rounds.
The Bulls have been in good bowling form, knocking over the Sharks and the Devils for scores of 117 and 140, with Harry Vivian claiming eight wickets at 6.75.
Its second grade team is currently second after an eight-win season so far this year – including its past five in a row – and face a sixth-placed Waurn Ponds on its home deck this Saturday.
Modewarre
Club championship in 23-24: Sixth
Currently: Eighth
The Warriors remain very much in the danger zone, after finishing sixth on the club championship in 23-24, currently bottom after 12 rounds and their first grade yet to record a win in 2025.
It’s second grade team are also on the bottom, recording its first win on Saturday against Waurn Ponds.
The club has lacked batting depth this season, with no players in the top 15 across both grades.
Also in division three, Corio has slipped in recent weeks on the club championship, from fifth after Round 10 to seventh, with its first grade also winless in 2025.
Lethbridge
Club championship in 23-24: First
Currently: Second
The reigning first grade premiers have compiled nearly two seasons of strong work: winning the GCA4 club championship and currently in second place in 24-25.
The Rosellas boast first grade’s second most prolific bowler with Jack Giles taking 24 wickets at 12.9 apiece with eight coming from his side’s last three matches at an average of 11.8.
Meanwhile, teammate Thomas Saunders is fourth with the stick, producing 469 runs at 39.08, with two scores of 80 or more in the last three rounds.
Lethbridge has been well served by a second grade team which has produced 11 wins this year, equal with Little River, and was a semi-finalist in 23-24.
Little River
Club championship in 23-24: Fourth
Currently: First
The Redbacks are sitting on top of the GCA4 first and second grade ladders with four rounds to play.
In the top tier, 22-23 club champion Nicholas Fairchild has again been a star, currently in fifth position with 21 wickets at 12.86 apiece and third with the blade (492 runs at 44.73), producing scores of 45, 85, 42 and 121 from his past four hits.
Little River will face the defending champions this Saturday.
Originally published as The GCA teams in the relegation and promotion zone after 12 rounds
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