Premier Women claim back to back championships

A dominant home and away season across all three grades has seen the Geelong Cricket Club claim the Premier Women’s Club Championship for the second year in a row.

The Cats edged out Melbourne by just 17 points to claim the award given to the club with the most points across each division.

In the Firsts One Day competition, Geelong finished atop the ladder and came third in the Firsts T20 competition, while the Seconds and Thirds both finished second in their respective grades.

Club president Jennie Deckker said the award spoke volumes of the strength of the women’s program as a whole.

“The whole club is extremely proud – they’re hard to win.

“Any club championship is amazing, because it just shows that we’ve got the depth and the consistency throughout our squad.

“Last year we were beyond proud… but to do it again means that it’s a sustainable program, which is what we’ve been aiming for from the very beginning.”

Deckker explained the Cats had long prioritised top-tier coaching and strong academy systems in both Geelong and the south-west region, with the byproducts of the investment beginning to show.

“As a club, we’ve invested significantly into our coaching programs and right back into our academies.

“We’d established those academies before it was mandated by Cricket Victora, and it’s now you’re seeing the fruits of all that. It’s been a good five years of work, but we’re really starting to see that come into play now.”

It comes as the Firsts, Seconds and Thirds will all feature in grand finals over the next fortnight, something Deckker said the club took great pride in.

“It was just such a fabulous feeling to go in and have two very good wins in the Seconds and Thirds, and then for our Firsts to go straight through to the grand final is just unbelievable.

“[A] bit of heartbreak last year, losing the Firsts grand final, but this year hopefully between all sides we can come home with some silverware.”

Geelong have also always put a major focus on integration between their Men’s and Women’s programs, which Deckker believes has led to a strong club culture.

“It’s something we’ve been really proud of for a long time, but it’s fascinating when you elevate it each year,” she said.

“It just brings everyone together beautifully, there’s genuine integration and a great club culture around it.

“The committee has always been dedicated to making sure it’s a whole club approach and it’s really paying off.”

The Seconds will take on Melbourne and the Thirds will take on Carlton in their respective grand finals tomorrow (Saturday, 8 March) whilst the Firsts will enjoy a week off ahead of their grand final scheduled for 14 March.