The Great Southern Cricket Association (GSCA) season begins on Saturday (16/10) with six teams chasing ‘A’ grade premiership glory. Each team will play 10 matches in the minor round with 5 x 2-day and 5 x 1-day games. 

Reigning premier Willunga won their third ‘A’ grade flag in four seasons in 2020/21 following an undefeated campaign. In fact, Willunga haven’t lost a game since October 2019! The Demons will go into the season with basically an unchanged lineup with Luke Harding to continue as captain. Willunga have match winners throughout their team with 2020/21 ‘Cricketer of the Year’ Simon Roberts a standout. Roberts made 201 runs at an average of 67.00 and took 38 wickets at the miserly average of just 7.79 runs per wicket last season. Joel Docking had a career-best season with 436 runs and 14 wickets, while players such as Luke Goldner, Sean McIvor and Harding are high quality.

Port Elliot were the big improvers of 2020/21 as their young side made it through to the Grand Final after finals wins against Noarlunga and Encounter Bay before being outclassed in the decider by Willunga. Last season’s skipper Brodie Whitbourne has returned to grade cricket ranks and will be replaced by Joel Harris at the helm. The club has been hit hard with off-season injuries with Colby Whitbourne (Knee), Ethan Spriggs (Knee) and Ben Griffiths (Ankle) all out for most, if not all of this season. Josh Andrewartha has moved to Mount Compass in the ‘B’ grade competition.

Encounter Bay bounced back from missing the finals in 2019/20 to finish second at the end of the minor round last season. Unfortunately for the Bays they went out in ‘straight sets’ after losing to Willunga and Port Elliot in the finals. There’s been a change of leadership with young bowler Blake Bailey taking the reins from club legend Cam Lintern. Bailey took 13 wickets last season and also played in the GSCA team in the Meyer Shield and Figg Cup. Lintern had an excellent season with the bat in 2020/21 with 426 runs at an average of 60.86 and Sam Hoffmann made 226 runs at 28.25, but these two club stalwarts will need more support with the bat this season. Young bowler Jonah Magor returns to the Bays from working in Darwin. 

Noarlunga got beaten in week one of the finals last season by Port Elliot and will be keen to make amends in 2021/22. Jason Scarff will lead the Shoes for an eighth consecutive campaign with new recruit Cam Bullard as his deputy. Bullard played in Noarlunga’s 2018/19 premiership and is back at the club after a stint at Southern Districts. Former juniors Travis Bronstein and Mason Parry will be playing with the Shoes as well after also being at Southern Districts last season, while Ben Stewart-Tonkin is set to return to the Shoes. David Ling (Port Elliot) and Michael Smith (Port Noarlunga) have both returned to their former clubs, while Peter Lamz has retired.

Goolwa had a disappointing 2020/21 campaign, winning just two games and finishing in fifth position on the GSCA ladder. Jayden Crees has taken over the captaincy from Josh Jones and he will have the services of left-arm spinner James Lawrence and top order batsman Vic Robertson after both only played a handful of matches last season. The Magpies are hoping to see continued development from young players such as Ty Rigney, Brody Vincent and the returning Thomas Carter and Braden Reade. The club is also set for a big season off-field with their new clubrooms to be opened early in the season.

McLaren Districts won just one game last season as they finished on the bottom of the ladder. This doesn’t tell the whole story though as the Crushers were competitive in most games throughout the season. Stephen Nairn will once again captain the 'A' grade with Luke Goodieson as his deputy. The squad remains pretty similar to last season and will be boosted by the return of wicket-keeper Ben Worrall. Young bowler Josh van den Broeke has transferred to Adelaide University in grade cricket ranks.

Round 1 fixture (one-day games/home teams named first)

Port Elliot v Goolwa

Noarlunga v Encounter Bay

McLaren Districts v Willunga