Sport
15 May, 2024
Optimism surrounds female comp for SWC
A well-attended forum in Camperdown last week voted to form a sub-committee to explore the possibility of female senior and junior competitions being played in the league in season 2024-25.
Craig Hanks, who has coordinated Cobden’s successful female cricket programs over several years, has volunteered to chair the committee.
The committee will also include Bookaar Cricket Club’s Tracey Baker, Ecklin’s Troy Logan and Pomborneit’s Aaron Van Es.
The committee said it will have “power to add” while remaining fluid in its membership.
Overall the forum was optimistic about providing accessible female cricket for both current and prospective players in the area between Colac and Warrnambool.
Through its strategy plan, adopted by all clubs in March, SWC identified the need to provide female cricket in response to demand.
The general consensus was having senior and junior female teams would strengthen all clubs.
SWC is concerned, however, that having clubs and teams playing cricket in neighbouring associations will ultimately mean less participation in the area because, in the longer term, juniors and seniors in lower grades would be less inclined to travel to play.
This has been the case in other parts of Victoria, with the impact on senior teams in the longer term being discernible.
While travelling distances to play is a major issue, those at last week’s forum agreed there were other concerns hampering participation.
This included fewer young people, the proximity of indoor sport stadiums and less family time and resources.
Questions were also raised at the forum about the future sustainability of SWC.
The forum, chaired by Andy Casson and Matthew Hanks, was told the current outlook for senior grades was optimistic.
All eight division one clubs had re-committed for season 2024/25, with Heytesbury Princeton Storm and Ecklin recruiting strongly.
It is expected divisions two and three will hold their names (with six teams in each).
It was also noted that SWC provides inter-association cricket for senior men (including Melbourne Country
Week), veterans and junior males (under 17s, 14s and 12s) and that female teams would complete the suite of high level opportunities.
The forum chairmen also noted three SWC clubs – Bookaar, Cobden and Pomborneit – already have teams in neighbouring competitions.
While it is still too early for clubs to commit, Cobden has indicated support of any SWC competitions, Bookaar was happy “to support where it could” while Pomborneit remains committed to play in the Colac association.
Camperdown has expressed an interest in establishing female teams, particularly if the competitions were SWC-based, while Ecklin was optimistic but not for the forthcoming season.