By David Nagel
It’s almost six years ago to the day since Aaron Avery and Scott Clark jumped for joy in the middle of Preston City Oval after guiding the West Gippsland Cricket Association (WGCA) to a thrilling Country Week grand final victory over Warragul.
It was a magnificent achievement, full of passion, and embraced by players, support staff and spectators with a collective spirit normally reserved for club success on the biggest day of the season.
The Division 3 title that day, in early February 2017, lead to a prosperous three-year journey that saw the Warriors climb from the lower rungs of Country Week to the elite-level Provincial Division.
Premiers in 2017, then earning consecutive promotions via a grand final appearance in Div 2 in 2018, and playing semi-finals in their first attempt at Provincial in 2019….the then WGCA had built a 9-4 win-loss record and had thoroughly earned the title as one of the most improved cricket competitions in the State.
Country Week is the one, the only time of the year, where the senior reputation of a league can be enhanced.
But, sadly, it appears the passion for Country Week has faded just as quickly as the WGCA name change to the Casey Cardinia Cricket Association (CCCA) this season.
When Country Week begins in full on Monday 13 February…the CCCA will not be represented.
And the blame game has begun.
Past-players, that embraced the challenge of lifting the WGCA to the pinnacle of Country Week competition, blame the administration of the league for the non-continuance of their legacy.
The administration, on the other hand, has a different view, with a lack of interest at club level leading to the CCCA not nominating a team for this year’s competition.
“One of the things that we did, was the senior Cricket Committee did a survey of the CCCA clubs and there was little or no interest from the clubs to participate in Country Week,” said CCCA president Rob Hansen.
“We did that probably six weeks ago, in plenty of time to nominate a team for Country Week.
“We also said at the time that if a person or group of people were prepared to put a team together, and represent the association, then we would support that…but nothing has eventuated.
“And to be honest, there has been little or no communication from any of the clubs saying they fully support Country Week and why aren’t we doing something about it.
“We haven’t had direct negative feedback, just murmuring in the background.
“Admittedly, we didn’t make a massive fuss about it, but we did do our due diligence and communicated with the clubs.”
Hansen bristled when it was suggested that the CCCA failed to enter a team due to the financial obligations involved.
“That’s not true,” he said firmly.
“We were supportive of Country Week; however we would not have supported the group staying in Melbourne for the week and paying for their accommodation.
“If we had a group that were prepared to play, and travel to Melbourne, then we would have supported that group with petrol money and other expenses.
“Apparel, merchandise, all those types of things, we were happy to support in that way.
“We’ve changed, we’re not a completely rural cricket competition anymore, and we’re a mix of mainly urban clubs and a few from the country.
“The dynamics have changed quite significantly.”
Hansen agreed that the reputation of the CCCA would be damaged by the decision.
“From that perspective, no, it’s not a good look, but it has to be supported by the clubs and the players,” Hansen said.
“If the players are reluctant to participate, then what can we do.
“I’m disappointed that we don’t have a team, but it seems that representative cricket has taken a back seat to some extent.”
Hansen said there have been steps taken to regenerate representative cricket in the region.
“There is a move to rebuild representative cricket in a regional sense,” he said.
“The various associations from Region 8 have met, Ferntree Gully, Mornington Peninsula and us, to discuss the possibility of playing rep cricket against each other.”
And would the CCCA support the nomination of a team for Country Week in 2023/24?
“Of course we would, but it needs to be supported more far and wide.”
Ballarat and Hamilton will kick off Country Week on Sunday 12 February, with a Celebration Match to mark 100 years of Melbourne Country Week competition.
Sadly, almost six years to the day since joyous celebrations of its own, the CCCA will be sitting idle while the champagne corks are popping.
And no matter whose fault that is…the clubs, players, or CCCA for not driving it hard enough…it’s extremely disappointing!
