After all the excitement of the 2024 football season dies down, Gisborne District Cricket Association’s 2024-2025 season begins with a one-day round this Saturday.
The powerful A-grade reigning premier, Gisborne, looms large once again as the side to beat in McIntyre Cup Firsts competition.
One-day matches kick off the season, with quite a number of new players expected to make their debut at the top level.
GDCA president Simon Overden, vice-president Emma Goodchild and secretary Callum Jackman are anticipating an excellent season across the various grades.
The association is now one of the largest in Victoria, a far cry from the days in the 1950s and 1960s when there were only eight teams participating — two came from the Sunbury CC, and the others from Gisborne, Romsey, Lancefield, Woodend, Macedon and Riddell.
The population explosion particularly to the south sees names like Aintree and Eynesbury participating, and Eastern Hill — a strong club for many years in Seymour — joins GDCA ranks this season.
Outstanding all-rounder Jarrod Vernon is coach at Gisborne, the side he captained to victory against Romsey in the 2023-2024 grand final.
Gisborne has added strength to last season’s lineup, and Romsey has prolific run-scorer Ben Way in charge again and should be very competitive.
The Redbacks finally broke their 40-year premiership drought in 2022-2023, defeating Sunbury United, and anticipate making the finals again.
There are eight teams in the top grade, with Saturday’s one-day round (12pm start).
Broadford, the Johnstone Shield premiers on debut in the GDCA last season, have been promoted to the top grade.
Plenty of lead-up work has been carried out to make ovals as good as possible for the opening round.
Saturday’s McIntyre Cup Firsts matches are:
Gisborne v Romsey (at Sankey Reserve).
Woodend v Macedon.
Rupertswood v Sunbury Kangaroos.
Sunbury United v Broadford.
First round Johnstone Shield matches on Saturday are:
Wallan v Eastern Hill.
East Sunbury v Eynesbury.
Kilmore v Aintree.
Diggers Rest/Bulla a bye.
McIntyre Cup Seconds comprise eight teams:
Romsey v Gisborne.
Macedon v Woodend.
Sunbury Kangaroos v Rupertswood.
Broadford v Sunbury United.
Johnstone Shield Seconds — Wallan v Eastern Hill, Aintree v Kilmore, Eynesbury v East Sunbury, Diggers Rest/Bulla a bye.
Fixtures for other grades were being still being finalised when this summary was compiled.
WOMEN’S LEAGUE
The opening round of the Kookaburra Women’s League will be played on Sunday, October 13.
There are a record eight teams competing this season, with games as follows:
Macedon v Kilmore.
Bacchus Marsh v Lancefield Black.
Gisborne v Wallan.
