It’s the halfway mark of the Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association season and as the comp resumes in 2025, Justin Flynn takes a look at what the rest of the season could look like.
Ladder
Club points percentage
Anglesea 36 2.04
Barwon Heads 36 1.30
Armstrong Creek 27 0.99
Barrabool 24 1.34
Jan Juc 24 1.06
Drysdale 15 0.80
Ocean Grove 15 0.52
Queenscliff 9 0.75
Anglesea
This amazing club just keeps on setting standards. The Seas will again feature in another finals series and will likely finish top two and earn a home semi. Tyron Norman keeps getting better and has 372 runs while Mick Thornton has 195 and Simon Umbers 188. Bowling-wise, Anglesea has several contributors. Thornton and spinner Tom Beasley have 11 wickets each.
X-factor: Mick Thornton is a genuine all-rounder and has offered this side genuine star power. Geelong Grammar speedster Jack Robinson could well give some batters a few sleepless nights as well.
Barwon Heads
The Seagulls lost a few stars from their 2023-24 premiership side, but haven’t suffered too much as a result. Dan Donaldson has 15 wickets, but the skipper has many options to call upon. Teen spinner Angus Mackie announced himself with four wickets just before the break and 48-year-old debutante Damian Clarke looks to have a permanent role as a stop-gap seamer. Max Melzer (351 runs) is in career best form.
X-factor: 17-year-old left-hander Angus Ford is on the cusp of a breakout innings.
Armstrong Creek
Clay Mulgrew has cemented his status as the comp’s best batter with 500 runs already. If you don’t get this bloke early, then look out. The Titans play a patience game with the ball, preferring to strangle sides over 75 overs rather than ambushing them early. Jack Maclean has 10 wickets and brother Daniel has eight.
X-factor: Chris Marsiglio has had an interrupted season, but if the classy opener can string some games together, he is the perfect partner to stride out with Mulgrew at the beginning of each innings.
Barrabool
It’s hard to see the Bulls missing finals from here. With two tough ones against Armstrong Creek to come, Barrabool also has dual games against the bottom two sides. Michael Kelson has 338 runs and James Fisher leads the comp with 18 wickets.
X-factor: Michael Kelson has star power and can go big, which could be important in a final.
Jan Juc
Probably the most difficult side to get a reading on. The Sharks have genuine run-making power in Peter Buszard and Nick Hyden and have some of the best bowling in the comp through the consistent Jordy Graham.
X-factor: Mark Zahra offers plenty with his batting and his spin bowling. If Nicky Smith can get on the park, his pace bowling is the perfect finals product – if the Sharks make it.
Drysdale
There is heaps of time for Drysdale to turn it around, but the Hawks wouldn’t be happy so far. Blake Dobbin has 16 wickets and you know he will give everything. The Hawks need runs, though. Charlie Clode is capable of delivering.
X-factor: Nick Hallam just needs to wipe the slate clean and start again. Capable of mass runs, don’t discount the classy right-hander from making a big contribution.
Ocean Grove
The only team to have beaten Anglesea, but also capable of some bad losses, the Grubbers are starting to get their act together. They probably should have beaten Barwon Heads just before the break. Spinner Alex Mann has 10 wickets and Zac Jones has 247 runs. Finals may be a bridge too far, but survival in the top flight is attainable.
X-factor: English import Zac Jones is a class batter and has struggled with the ball, but is only one big haul away from ripping a top order apart.
Queenscliff
Way better than their ladder position suggests, Queenscliff will be pushing to avoid relegation. Hayden Illingworth has made 329 runs and can go big in the second half of the season. The Coutas need more with the ball although veteran Tony Hanafin and Luke Adam have nine wickets each.
X-factor: You get the feeling that Frank Mileto is just warming up and could make a huge impact with the willow after the break.
