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    After nearly 60 years of competition, Grampians Cricket Association’s 2024-25 senior season will be its last.

Grampians Cricket Association seniors play final season

 By Colin MacGillivray

After nearly 60 years of competition, Grampians Cricket Association’s 2024-25 senior season will be its last for the foreseeable future.

At an extraordinary delegates’ meeting on Monday night the association’s clubs resolved to disband the senior competition, which currently comprises only five teams, effective at the end of the season.

GCA president Matt Dean said with Swifts-Great Western signalling its intention to move to a different association, a four-team competition was not viable.



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“We didn’t want to get to the same stage like we were at the start of this season and be fighting to get a season running,” he said.

“We asked all clubs what their intentions were and if they were going to put teams forward for next season.

“Pomonal and St Andrews said they would definitely stay and get sides up.

“Halls Gap and Rhymney-Moyston said they would continue with the GCA provided there were more than four teams, and if there were only four teams then they would explore other options.

“Swifts-Great Western have decided to move based on their best interests and what it would take to keep their club alive.

“Once we got down to four teams, the other two had stated that they weren’t going to continue, so that left us with two teams.

“From there it was a foregone conclusion that we would cease the senior side of cricket.”

Mr Dean said he was ‘bitterly disappointed’ to disband a senior competition with a history dating back to the 1966-67 season, but there was no other option.

“You’ve got the likes of Henry Gunstone, the Bradman of the Bush … who was one of the founders of the GCA,” he said.

“Everyone was somewhat disappointed, saddened and disgruntled, but it’s been a steady decline over the past 10 years – we were headed down this line.

“We tried a few avenues to try to rebirth the competition and listen to what people were saying. 

“We took away two-day cricket and introduced the T20s, and we shortened one-day formats to try to keep games moving.

“It wasn’t from a lack of trying. I think unfortunately it’s just that age demographic that we’re missing from 20 to 30 year olds.

“That demographic is what really hurts if you haven’t got mates bringing other mates back to play cricket.

“I feel for those guys who did all the hard work before us to keep the association going.

“I really hoped I could turn it around, but unfortunately that hasn’t been the case.”

Mr Dean said the association was still hopeful of organising a junior competition next season.

“We’ll still strongly support juniors. We’re not 100 per cent sure, and obviously clubs are still working through whether they’ll take their juniors to whatever associations they enter,” he said.

“The initial indication was that they’ll keep their juniors around and that there may be a revamp to have under-14 and under-17 age groups.

“We’ve asked everyone to go back to their clubs and have a serious talk and then come back to us. 

“We’ll sit down in our meetings and have a discussion of what we think needs to happen moving forward.

“We want to try to keep cricket in the area and not see another sport disappear from Ararat, Stawell and the surrounding districts. 

“I think that would be pretty detrimental to the area if we lose all forms of cricket through all grades and age groups.”

Mr Dean also flagged his intention to step down at the association’s annual general meeting later this year and encouraged parents of junior players to consider nominating for committee positions.

“I’ll most likely step down as I don’t have a junior involved,” he said.

“There are a number of guys who have slowly been trying to work their way off the committee and haven’t been able to, but now with the possibility of their clubs moving on their hands are pretty much tied.

“I think there are four committee members about to step off, so we’ll be putting out a call for parents of junior players to take on committee responsibilities. 

“There are a few committee members who will be staying on, so there are only a few holes to fill.

“I’ll be president until we hold the next AGM, so I’m happy to talk to people and share what information we’ve got.

“I’ve been pretty lucky to have the people I’ve had working around me. It’s certainly made my job a lot easier.”

Mr Dean said he hoped if the GCA maintained a junior competition, its senior ranks could one day reform.

“We hope it’s not goodbye for good, it’s just goodbye for now,” he said.

People wanting more information or to discuss volunteering for a committee position can call Mr Dean on 0417 785 026.

The entire February 5, 2025 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!