The Flat-Track Bullies

It's GCA grand final week and Barnsey and Oatsey run through all four deciders and predict who will claim the cups. Plus we break down the BPCA premierships and all the recruiting news around the cricket scene.

Josh Barnes, Toby Prime and Alex Oates dissect a GCA3 suspension, Oatesy comes off the long run about openness in tribunal processes in sport, the boys dive into whether teenager Harry Hauenstein is the best player in local cricket and discuss an unreal knock from Little River skipper Nic Fairchild.

A new contender has emerged in GCA1 while a controversial recruiting spree goes under the microscope as Josh and Toby break down local cricket's latest news.

Cricket is back and Toby and Josh run through how the local game plans to dodge Covid and make their premiership picks for each of the local competitions before the second half of the season.

There is plenty to catch up on as Oatesy and Barnesy talk all things cricket and a Covid scare at a BPCA club. They also break down an unbelievable Jan Juc bowling effort and what the GCA1 grand final rematch means for the season.

A Covid scare impacted local cricket but there was plenty of other action as the boys talk through the likely retirements of legends Glen Talarico and Dave Lineen and one of the greatest displays of hitting in local cricket history.

What a huge week on the Geelong cricket scene? While most senior cricket was washed out on the weekend, we celebrated T20 World Cup success, with former Geelong star Aaron Finch leading Australia to glory. We also had three Geelong reps make the Australian Under-19 World Cup squad, while Cats quick Brody Couch is a chance to make his Marsh Cup debut. Join Finchy's No.1 fan Alex Oates and Toby Prime to discuss that and more in the latest installment of the Flat Track Bullies.

Cricket season is back and so are the boys as Barnsey, Toby and Oatsey return to talk all things BPCA. Plus, we name our premiership favourites in the GCA ahead of their start this weekend, weather pending

It's grand finals time and the boys are pumped. We break down the three GCA deciders, name our flag winners and see if we can inspire St Albans Breakwater to victory after acting as motivation last time out.

Finals are well and truly upon us and the numbers have swelled with Oatsey back to join the boys as they run through every GCA semi-final. They also check in on the incredible stories from a wild grand final week in the BPCA.

The boys are back after a huge week of news in local cricket. We sift through the fallout from the BPCA D-grade brawl and look at Bellarine finals before asking the question about where Sean O'Neill sits among the all-time best GCA batsmen.

Cricket is back after a break and so are the Bullies. We talk through the GCA's dramatic fixture shuffle, Oatsey has some news from Little River and the renewed push from Geelong to build a pathway for young female cricketers.

Pink balls under lights, cover controversies, wet hard wickets and balls flying into backyards. There was plenty happening in local cricket over the weekend - plus Oatsey's triumphant return to the batting crease - and the Bullies cover it all off.

It's young talent time on the Flat Track Bullies as Josh and Toby discuss a record breaking week from Ollie Peake, an outstanding innings from his teammate Harry Hauenstein and the 'Squid' at Queenscliff, Nat Stephens, after his pair of tons.

As cricket builds up after New Year the Bullies are back. We wonder whether Geelong has found its next first-class cricketer and if Portarlington had the greatest day by any club in BPCA history with the ball on the weekend.

Plenty of cause for celebration on the Flat Track Bullies this week as Geelong picked up its first win of the season and Oatsey more than doubled his run tally. The boys also break down why one GCA2 club has openly admitted it should be playing in a lower division.

The Flat Track Bullies have dried off after all the rain over the weekend and are ready to sink their teeth into the debate about the GCA's rain rules and whether a change is needed before the finals.

The Flat Track Bullies are one man down this week but they aren’t slowing down as they breakdown the ramifications of the GCA’s decision to turf two-day cricket this season and what that means for the future of the format

The Flat Track Bullies break down the most remarkable local cricket finish we have ever seen and cast our eye over all the latest news in Geelong. Plus, with Premier Cricket just around the corner, we look at Geelong's chances this season.

After a massive week on the local cricket scene, the boys catch up on broken shoulders, stolen cars, committee resignations and Oatsey's poor form. The Flat Track bullies review and preview a big weekend ahead across all levels of local cricket and run the rule over Bannockburn's wet pitch fiasco.

As the cricket season begins to heat up, the boys are back to run through every local league and discuss where your club sits as one of the Flat Track Bullies prepares to pull the pads on again.

What impact will the coronavirus crisis have on local cricket heading into finals? As the ongoing situation evolves every day, the Flat-Track Bullies team ponder whether the customary practices of sharing drinks, dunking cups into the communal cordial, shining the ball and sharing equipment will be scaled back as the outbreak continues. The panelists give their take on the BPCA's finals, as well as run the equations over the GCA competitions heading into the final round.  

Geelong West can win the GCA3 premiership. The only problem is the Rams are currently outside the top-four heading into the final round of the season. That is the defiant view of The Flat-Track Bullies team, who this week dissect the final round of action across the GCA and BPCA competitions. The team takes a deep dive into each division, analysing what clubs need to do to make finals, or stay in contention.  

What was behind a weekend of low scores? The local cricket finals race is heating up, but in a weekend dominated by the bowlers, the road to March remains further shrouded in mystery and intrigue. The Flat-Track Bullies team discusses a weekend of interesting results, including the reemergence of a bowling X-factor who could help East Belmont's charge towards a hat-trick of GCA1 titles.  

The fate of the Geelong Cricket Association's rain-ravaged Melbourne Country Week campaign was a hot topic for The Flat-Track Bullies this week. Hear what they have to say.  

It was a bumper round of cricket, but the spat involving Barrabool and Queenscliff dominates the discussion in this week's Flat Track Bullies Podcast. The team chats about the feud that erupted when Coutas' opening batsman was given out for obstructing the field.  

The BPCA’s decision to abandon last Saturday’s matches caused a bit of a stir on social media, with a handful of players taking aim at the committee for not making a call sooner.  The Flat Track Bullies team of Nick Wade, Alex Oates and Josh Barnes didn’t hold back with their views, while also delving deep into another big week of cricket around the region.   

Seemingly destined for relegation, Portarlington produced a spirited win over finals hopeful Barwon Heads to keep their slim hopes of surviving the axe alive. The Demons' 84-run win was a major talking point on this week's Flat-Track Bullies podcast. The boys dissect a big week of cricket, including Josh Larkin's gobsmacking century for Geelong. Take a listen as we chat about all cricket in the region, from the GCA to BPCA and women's cricket.   

He was on a Big Bash League list just last summer, and not long ago regarded as one of the best Twenty20 wicketkeeper-batsmen in the country. So why has Geelong coach Tim Ludeman suddenly dropped himself from Geelong's first XI team this weekend for a season-defining clash? The Flat-Track Bullies tackle the selection and form issues confronting the Geelong Cricket Club, while also delving into all the talking points surrounding the GCA's Country Week team, all three GCA divisions, both BPCA competitions and the Barwon Region Women's Competition.  

How will cricket tackle the smoke problem gripping the state? Local cricket officials have been forced to devise air-pollution policies as hazardous smoke from the devastating bushfires crisis sweeps the region.The Flat-Track Bullies team discuss the new protocols amid a wide-ranging discussion about the latest round of Premier, GCA1, GCA2, GCA3, BPCA A1, BPCA A2 and Women's League action.  

With local cricket about to return after the Christmas break, the Flat-Track Bullies have a look at how each club has fared so far this summer and what their future looks like in the second half of the season.  

South Barwon answered criticism of its batting with a resounding performance against Murgheboluc. The Flat-Track Bullies put the acid on the Swans' batting line-up to stand up - and they did with a brilliant performance against the Frogs, led by a century from Jayden Hicks. The Addy's local cricket podcast also explores the GCA2 one-day grand final, debating the controversial rule that cost Bell Park one over in its batting innings.  

The Christmas break may be approaching, but there will be action across all GCA, BPCA and Premier competitions, with a number of matches on a knife's edge heading into the second day. The Flat-Track Bullies team weigh up the arguments for and against key selections in some of the big games, while also discussing the presence of some high-profile players in the GCA1 lower grades.  

How much time and effort goes into writing a book on your club’s history? Leopold stalwart Darren Barmby took on this task, capturing his club’s essence in a detailed coffee table book, Our Baggy Red, that charts the Lions’ 70-year history. Barmby was a special guest on The Flat-Track Bullies podcast, as the team again discusses the round of local cricket - from the GCA, to the BPCA, Premier cricket and even national under-19 championships. The chat raised the question whether this is best quality GCA comp ever.  

Was it a tricky wicket, bad batting or a bit of both that contributed to 19 wickets in a day at Myers Reserve? Bell Post Hill and North Geelong both struggled with the bat last weekend in a match where the Panthers were skittled for just 46. But it's not just pitches on the agenda in this week's Flat-Track Bullies podcast, with controversial rulings, top-of-the-table clashes, top achievers and sombre reflections part of the mix.  

Is Brad Greenwood the most economical bowler in Geelong, perhaps even Victoria? The Flat-Track Bullies team discuss Greenwood’s latest remarkable bowling feats in the latest episode of The Flat-Track Bullies.  

It was a weekend when not even weddings or overseas holidays could stand in the way of a few star local cricketers.The Flat-Track Bullies team talk about how a star Newtown & Chilwell player missed his cousin's wedding to stay in the field after a teammate got injured. And then there was the effort of Anglesea player Dale Kerr, who tore through Collendina just hours after hopping off the plane from a week away in Bali.  

In the latest installment of the Geelong Advertiser's The Flat-Track Bullies local cricket podcast, the crew chat about whether Geelong City's top-four batting line-up was the best ever to feature in a GCA2 game.  

In its first edition, the Geelong Advertiser's new local cricket podcast, The Flat-Track Bullies, delves into all the pressing issues across the GCA1, GCA2, GCA3, BPCA A1, BPCA A2 and Premier cricket competitions after the first month of the season.