**The West Gippsland Cricket Association (WGCA) is cracking down on player behaviour during the upcoming finals series, with players set to be suspended over the coming weeks if they step out of line. It’s not quite a zero-policy…as we’ve seen in the AFL Community Series…but the WGCA is very serious about the look and feel of this year’s finals series. Just last week, a PAKENHAM star was reprimanded and LANG LANG and PAKENHAM UPPER TOOMUC players were given warnings as the focus on player behaviour heats up. The message from head-quarters is clear…step out of line and you will miss very important games of cricket. There will be very little sympathy.
**We’ve promised not to mention names with this one, but a player in the minor grades of the WGCA is absolutely devastated by the death of leg-spinning legend Shane Warne. Yes, we’re all in shock, but this particular person has lost his absolute hero. He tells us he doesn’t know what to do with the Warnie memorabilia he has on his wall – he can barely look at it without crying – and he missed a work shift on Saturday morning such was his devastation at hearing the news. He understands why people think he is being a bit silly…but his grief is real. We’ve offered our ears…and we’re expecting more phone calls over the coming days.
**On a brighter note, congratulations to TOORADIN (2/106) for winning the WGCA Under-18 grand final against NARRE SOUTH (9/105) last Wednesday. The Seagulls are flying high as premiership favourites in the top-flight of WGCA cricket this season and appear to have a great crop of youngsters coming through. Well done to coach Ben Parrott, team manager Nicky Simpson, and captain Tyler Evans on the big win. Opener Seth O’Hehir earned man-of-the-match honours with his 37 not out. The winning team consisted of: Tyler Evans (captain), Ryan Adams, Connor Harmor, Charlie Hobson, Jake Hodgson, Riley McLeod, Casey Mills, Seth O’Hehir, Tadhg O’Riordan, Tom Rodgers, Liam Simpson and Tyson Twite.
**While on gun youngsters, the WGCA junior home-and-away season is also coming to its conclusion, with under-10’s – who don’t play finals – finishing up this Friday night. Under 12s to 16s will finish off their home-and-away season this weekend, with finals beginning on the Friday and Saturday on the weekend of 18/19 March. And the All-Star Girls Under-14s grand final will be played on Monday 14 March, at a ground still to be determined. Good luck to both teams – DEVON MEADOWS and UPPER BEACONSFIELD – for the biggest game of the season.
**CRANBOURNE MEADOWS has been through a lot this year, with a walkout at the start of the season having a huge impact on the quality – and quantity – of players it could put on the park. Then Covid struck, with the WGCA implementing a rule that would allow clubs to claim a draw if they were impacted negatively by Covid. The new rule saw the Rebels benefit from forfeiting two games, earning enough points to remain in Premier Division next year, before the WGCA altered the rule a touch and the Rebels once again looked in strife. Heading in to last week’s round, they looked dead and buried…but how ironic was it to see them remain in the Premier Division after claiming six points for a traditional wash-out. Let’s hope the Rebels can turn things around…because the WGCA needs a vibrant eight-team competition in its top-flight.
**The WGCA will host its 2021/22 Presentation Ceremony at the Cardinia Park Hotel on Beaconsfield-Emerald Road on Sunday 10 April. Details of the event are still sketchy, but a late afternoon/early evening start looks likely with a live stream also a possibility. We’ll keep you updated as more details come to hand.
**The WGCA is taking strides in trying to bring young girls into the game of cricket and has combined with Cricket Victoria and the Cardinia Shire to bring together a big event at James Bathe Reserve in Pakenham this Friday,11 March. The WGCA All-Girls Master Blaster Gala Event will kick off at 5pm with plenty of activities that celebrate young girls being active and showcasing what cricket has to offer. This is a FREE community event open to all girls 5 to 14 years old, with Melbourne Stars inflatables and tunnels, and kids dance sessions, just some of the fun on offer.
**Talk about weird. How about watching Lahiru Thirimanne open the batting for Sri Lanka and taking the first cherry sent down by Jasprit Bumrah… he was playing at ENDEAVOUR HILLS a month ago…
**Concerns have been raised about the location of the TURF 1 grand final. It will be played at SPRINGVALE SOUTH’S ALEX NELSON RESERVE. The concerns are based around how the ground holds water, it was the only game in the TURF 1 comp that didn’t get on at the weekend. Hallam Kalora Park will host the DDCA TURF 2 grand final.
**”Bleep Nathan Lambden is fast’, that was the reaction from a couple batters on the weekend that faced CASEY-SOUTH MELBOURNE’s spearhead. We asked Lambo to crank it up on the weekend and hit 140, but from all reports he ONLY hit 135-ish again…. c’mon Lambo, bend your back!!
**They have been in the news a bit lately, but one of the SATHYIJATH brothers did himself no favours in the last week by posting an interesting video to social media about his potential comeback. The video has since been removed, but as is the way with social media, once its posted, it can’t be retrieved…. questionable viewing to say the least.
**Bit of footy news: whispers a Brownlow Medallist will don the threads of an MPNFL club in a one off game this winter. If the club is smart, they have hired his services for April 25, it’s when he did/does his best work. He will no doubt be a bit sceptical on the jumper he is pulling on though given it was an old enemy for his 258 AFL games.
**Another piece of footy news: from all reports DOVETON local CONNOR MACDONALD is tearing up the track. Get him in for round 1 please, Sammy Mitchell!
**Apologies must be sent out to the DEVON MEADOWS CRICKET CLUB. An interview was taken place on Monday for this week’s paper and for a weekend preview for this weekend’s bumper DISTRICT WGCA clash. But after some tech failures, we lost the interview… the general gist of the interview was a commendation of the leadership at THE PANTHERS, and how much the club loves playing OFFICER, because there is awesome banter and they all share a beer after the game. Once again, sorry for the loss of comments, but well done and good luck to both clubs playing this SATURDAY.
