Batting stars share GCA1’s top gong

LARA’S Daniel Weigl and East Belmont’s Luke Ford have capped off stellar 2025-26 GCA1 campaigns as joint winners of the Jack Sing Medal, the league’s top honour.

Weigl was instrumental in Lara’s push to a preliminary final in their first season back in the top grade, producing a string of match-winning performances.

The experienced all-rounder compiled 570 runs at an average of 51.8, including a 135-run effort against St Joseph’s in round 14 and 123 earlier in the season against East Belmont. He also took 13 wickets.

Ford enjoyed a dominant campaign for the Saints, finishing as the competition’s leading run-scorer with 759 at an average of 84.3. He also claimed 18 wickets and registered three centuries, including a top score of 129 against South Barwon, to also be named GCA1 Champion Player.

In GCA2, Bell Park’s Nikhil Pottabathini claimed the Barry McMahon Medal after a dominant season with both bat and ball.

Pottabathini amassed 891 runs at an average of 74.3 and took 23 wickets, finishing among the competition’s leading performers in both disciplines.

His standout performance came in Round 8 against Torquay, where he made 173 from 127 balls before backing it up with two wickets.

The awards didn’t stop there for Pottabathini, with the all-rounder winning the GCA2 Champion Player award and the Glenn Ward Medal for the best Melbourne Country Week player.

North Geelong secured a third consecutive GCA1 Club Championship, while Highton claimed the GCA2 title.

Cricketers of the Year

Jack Sing Medal (GCA1): Daniel Weigl (Lara) and Luke Ford (St Peters)

Barry McMahon Medal (GCA2): Nikhil Pottabathini (Bell Park)

Jan Nowicki Medal (GCA3): Hayden Spiller (Lethbridge)

Brent Donaldson (GCA4): Tyler Dittloff (Meredith).

Club Champions

GCA1: North Geelong

GCA2: Highton

GCA3: Lethbridge

GCA4: Newcomb & District.