Sport
31 October, 2025
A grade set for double-header weekend
MDCA’s A grade is delivering some double trouble this weekend, with two rounds set to cause massive implications on the one-day competition.
On Saturday, Maryborough’s A grade restoration faces its most formidable challenge to date against Laanecoorie Dunolly, Colts Phelans will attempt to go four wins on the trot with their away trip to Clunes, and last season’s runners-up Carisbrook hopes to end their search for an elusive victory at Goldfields Reserve against Beaufort.
Sunday’s action will be headlined by a rematch of last season’s one-day finale with the Colts hosting Laane. The Bulls look to pluck the feathers of the surging Owls and the Magpies will attempt to fly out of Carisbrook with a victory.
With this weekend’s double header marking the halfway point of the one-day portion of the A grade schedule, intriguing storylines have already begun to form for all six teams vying for ultimate one-day glory.
BEAUFORT
There’s an underlying notion that the best is yet to come for Beaufort after showcasing exciting upside in patches, but they are currently unable to string together a complete team performance.
The closest the Bulls have been to unlocking their full potential was in their sole victory against Clunes, with several solid totals in their batting lineup and an outstanding bowling performance from Benjamin and Thomas Grant allowing them to hold off the Magpies by 27 runs.
While that result was encoura-ging, it was sandwiched between two disappointing losses against Colts Phelans and Laanecoorie Dunolly.
The returning Brandon Walsh has been the undisputed star through the Bulls’ rollercoaster start, leading the team with 90 runs and six wickets.
Ahead of two critical contests against Carisbrook and Maryborough, several key players will be determined to match Walsh’s production and make a difference for the Bulls.
Theo Trevelyan-Clark and Jarrod Blandford look to be settling into their season after impactful performances versus Clunes and it seems like only a matter of time before 2024/25 MDCA Team of the Year members Lachlan Oddie and Kriss Ellis break out of their early-season slumps with the bat and give the Bulls a needed run injection.
CARISBROOK
Following the exhilaration of their unforeseen Grand Final berth last season, Carisbrook have stumbled out of the gate in 2025/26 with three consecutive defeats to Maryborough, Laanecoorie Dunolly and Colts Phelans.
It isn’t all doom and gloom for last season’s runners-up, who qualified for finals in 2024/25 after winning only one game in the one-day portion of the season.
While they wouldn’t be keen to leave a ladder surge that late this season, especially with A grade now expanded to six teams, the notable early development of their younger talent gives Carisbrook hope they can find their form sooner rather than later.
Following a superb campaign in A reserve last season, Elliot Cullinan has immediately become a key contributor alongside brother Atticus, leading Carisbrook with three wickets and adding an aggressive approach at the top of the order.
Fellow rising stars Cooper Mark and Axel Purcell have also produced some good spells with the ball in their opening three matches, while established players like Jordan Hooper and Martin Mark have been the bright spots with the willow.
Despite that, Carisbrook will need to improve with both bat and ball this weekend against Beaufort and Clunes, ranking last in runs allowed and wickets taken and second last in runs for.
CLUNES
While a landmark win hasn’t been forthcoming, the rebuilding Magpies are showcasing signs of flight following a winless campaign in 2024/25.
One of the Magpies’ major issues last season was their inability to consistently cause breakthroughs, with their 46 wickets taken 16 wickets lower than their closest adversary.
Fortunately for Clunes, they currently possess a wrecking ball that’s terrorised opposing batters so far this season.
His name is Noah Davies.
With outstanding performances of 3/28 against Laane and 3/21 against Maryborough that brought his team back into the match, Davies currently sits joint top of the league with eight wickets and a marvellous average of 8.75.
He’s the figurehead of a rejuvenised bowling attack that also consists of the returning Sam Williams and the continued development of teenager Brett Coon.
While their displays with the ball have taken massive strides, Clunes’ progress has been severely hampered by multiple batting collapses.
Outside of Mitch Coppick, who currently sits sixth in the league with 97 runs, the Magpies bats have regularly faltered, with Nick Hind and Davies the only other bats to surpass 30 runs after three games, something they will look to address against Colts Phelans and Carisbrook.
COLTS PHELANS
The new-look Colts have proven to be as potent as their premiership-winning iteration, starting their title defence with three impressive victories.
The Colts have been commanding with both bat and ball, possessing multiple difference-makers who have guided their team to their perfect start.
A trio of recruits has given the Colts a frightening middle order, with Asim Akhtar, Josh Collinson and Tarkyn Balzan sitting third, fourth and fifth in the league’s run-scoring charts.
While Collinson and Balzan wear down bowlers with supreme patience and well-timed ground strokes, Akhtar’s hard-hitting power is a valuable luxury in the one-day game, as displayed in his 43 not out against Carisbrook, where he hit three fours and four sixes.
Alongside their batting skills, Akhtar and Collinson can seriously contribute with the ball as one of five Colts bowlers to take four wickets or more in their first three games alongside Nick Henderson, Jack Gallimore and Ben Evans.
Sunday’s clash with Laanecoorie Dunolly will be a great litmus test for the Colts, who lost last season’s one-day grand final to Laane by 45 runs.
MARYBOROUGH
The Owls’ return to the MDCA’s premier competition has been prosperous so far, currently sitting in third with wins against Carisbrook and Clunes and a close defeat to Colts Phelans.
Particularly encouraging has been the quick emergence of their depth with both bat and ball, a valuable asset for any team.
Young livewire quick Oliver Cassidy and hyped recruit Elliot Ashburn have spearheaded Mary-borough’s fluttering bowling attack so far, combining to take 12 wickets, including seven in the Owls’ victory over the Magpies on Saturday.
While Cassidy, Ashburn and Martin Dell were the wicket beneficiaries against Clunes, Jason Hunt, Liam Maffescioni and Kristopher Bagley all played a role in restricting easy runs with their tight bowling.
Maryborough’s batting lineup has been headlined by UK import Oliver Bennett, who wasted no time acclimatising to his new conditions with 118 runs and two unbeaten knocks in his first three outings.
Including Bennett, the Owls currently make a quarter of the top 12 A grade run scorers, with Ben Hoban and Mitchell McClure providing a refresher course on their batting prowess after being the best bats in Maryborough’s last A grade season.
LAANECOORIE DUNOLLY
The current one-day champions have arguably been the best team in the competition over the first three rounds, with commanding home wins versus Clunes, Carisbrook and Beaufort.
The catalyst for their early domination has been their relentless bowling attack, which has dismantled every batting lineup put in front of them.
Despite being one of two teams to bowl three completed innings, the one-day reigning premiers have allowed the fewest runs in the competition, conceding on average a remarkable 113.6 runs an inning.
What makes Laane’s attack so dangerous is their plethora of wicket takers, not allowing their opponents a free over to consolidate them-selves.
Opening bowlers Josh Fitzpatrick and Sam Bartlett sit inside the top 10 wicket takers with six and four wickets respectively, currently joint lead by their teammate and 2024/25 MDCA Team of the Year member Alex Cook with eight.
Laane’s potent bowling attack has only given their bats 77 overs to flourish across their first three games, but consistent knocks from Fitzpatrick, Nafis Shaikh and Tom’s Hannett and Hart have already provided a taster of their dangerous capabilities, as showcased in their 99-run victory over Carisbrook, where they scored 5/237.