Barwon Heads’ annual cricketers vs footballers day keeps on getting bigger.
A huge crowd turned out at RT Fuller Oval on Sunday January 26 for two games of cricket as the town’s best sportspeople put on a show.
It all started with the women’s match, which the cricket club won, and then the men’s with both sides boasting star quality.
Former Geelong Cats great Joel Selwood, who lives in Barwon Heads, played for the footballers as did Geelong Premier Cricket star Josh McDonald. McDonald top scored while livewire forward and midfielder Sammy Baker showed that he could comfortably don the whites for the cricket club if he ever wants to.
Fox broadcaster and Howie Games podcaster Mark Howard, who plays C Grade cricket with the Seagulls, also participated and batted well.
Cricket club president Steven Yates said the crowd was well over 1000.
“I’m not great at estimating crowds, but it was the biggest crowd I’ve seen down there, the day was a massive success,” he said.
“A lot of hard work went into it from some key people and the committee.”
Mr Yates said there was some serious talent representing the footy club.
“There are quite a few that we’d love to come and represent us at Village Park,” he said.
“Joel (Selwood) was fantastic. He fitted in really well and was only too happy to be a part of it.”
It was probably a strange day for Sam Schaller. The current coach of the footy club is one of the cricket club’s greatest ever players with 419 wickets and 3638 runs, and was player of the match in last season’s A Grade grand final.
For the record, the footballers defeated the cricketers at their own game, but the result was secondary.
The day culminated with the club’s reverse raffle and plans are already underway for next year’s reenactment.
Justin Flynn
