Depth drives Magpies to third straight Club Championship

THE sustained success of the North Geelong Cricket Club in modern GCA1 history has continued this season, with the Magpies winning their third straight Club Championship.

The remarkable feat was secured with one round to go, making it their fifth championship in eight years and their sixth in 10 years.

With their Firsts, Seconds and Thirds all finals-bound again, the Magpies’ incredible depth has been on display for all of the 2025/26 season.

Senior vice-president Jarrod Lewis said this year’s award was the hardest to win of its recent accolades, as the club battled unavailability at various points.

“There were three or four games there where we had 20 out unavailable and we were scraping the bottom of the barrel with our players.

“I think we’ve used 19 players in the Firsts this year, so a lot of the unavailability has come from the top.

“Our Fourths have only won three games or so, so it’s just come from the consistency from our first three sides that have helped us along the way.”

Lewis believed North Geelong’s dominance over the past 10 years has come down to steadiness from the coaching staff, and credited head coach Craig Biddiscombe for keeping the group hungry.

“Before the past 10 years, I think we had four different coaches in four years,” he said.

“We’ve actually got some stability now and have had so across that time.

“It’s not about premierships [for Biddiscombe], he just makes the group want to be better than what they were previously. And if you’ve got 20 guys doing that, you’re heading in the right direction.”

With yet another finals series ahead for the Magpies, Lewis struggled to put into words how astounding the club’s long-term success had been.

“The success we’re having at the moment, it’ll be good to look back in 10 years’ time to sit back and look at it and go ‘Wow, that was such a good time for the club.’

“Right now, we’re in the middle of it, and as good as it is now to celebrate it’s going to be even better in 10 years’ time.”

North Geelong have also won the past six GCA1 premierships, and will break a league record should they win this year.

“We haven’t really spoken about it and that’s one of the key things – it’s not something that gets spoken about during the year,” Lewis said.

“It’s just doing our bit to get into the finals and once we hit them we know what to do.”

He said reaching the record-breaking feat will not be easy, with a qualifying final against an impressive East Belmont outfit awaiting.

“This will be our toughest one, East Belmont beat us easily back in Round 7 and we haven’t played them since.

“It’ll be a really good game but I think the boys are up for it.”