Dragons fuming over BDCA's Melbourne-based player rule still in place

SANDHURST has voiced its disappointment at the Bendigo District Cricket Association's ruling that will keep Dragons' wicket-keeper Will Gadsden sidelined this weekend.

With the BDCA still not permitting players who live in Melbourne to play this weekend as per its rules introduced ahead of the season in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Dragons had sought an exemption to allow Gadsden to play given Victoria's "regional-metro ring of steel" has been lifted.

However, the BDCA board is maintaining its rule for this weekend, before a meeting to re-assess next week.

"We're disappointed the fact the BDCA has made decisions over and above the state government, police, health departments and Cricket Victoria in reference to the ring of steel being brought down," Dragons' director of coaching Craig Howard said on Friday.

"To my knowledge every other regional association in Victoria is allowing players to travel from Melbourne to play in their competition, so we're disappointed the BDCA isn't allowing that this week.

"We've got a situation with Will Gadsden, who is a really important player with our club and has been impacted because he hasn't been allowed to play the first two games.

"We were looking forward to welcoming him back this week, so we're really disappointed he can't.

"Having spoken to a lot of cricketers through the state, we know how important cricket is for their health and wellbeing, particularly their mental health, so it's disappointing there's an opportunity for a player to do what he loves for a club he loves, but he's not allowed to this week."

Gadsden, who has a Melbourne home address, has spent this week living and working in Bendigo and has trained with the Dragons.

"We discussed selecting Will on Thursday night, but that wouldn't have been fair on him because he didn't want to be the reason that we potentially could have lost points.

"But we weren't too worried about that because we felt we had a responsibility to allow someone to do what they love."

BDCA president Travis Harling said earlier in the week the board's position was one of "caution".

THE Bendigo District Cricket Association is holding off on allowing the return of Melbourne players to play in the competition this season.

Victoria's "regional-metro ring of steel" has been lifted, but the return of players based in Melbourne wanting to play in the BDCA will have to wait until round four at the earliest.

Ahead of the 2020-21 season in response to the coronavirus pandemic the BDCA introduced a range of rules regarding player eligibility based on where they live.

One of the rules stated that players who live in metropolitan Melbourne "cannot participate in the 2020-21 BDCA competition until the entire state reaches COVID normal in the state government's Victorian roadmap for reopening".

But despite the "ring of steel" having been removed from 11.59pm last Sunday, allowing for travel once again between regional and metropolitan Victoria and 13-consecutive days in the state of no new coronavirus cases, the BDCA says it's taking a cautious approach to allowing players living in Melbourne to play this season.

"At this stage our rules remain in place for this round and we'll then have a meeting next week to re-assess the situation," BDCA president Travis Harling said.

"Our position is one of caution because at the end of the day, it's not just about cricket, it's also about community safety.

"While we understand that the state has been opened up, we're still mindful of the situation we're in and it may be seen as a bit conservative, but it's the path we're taking."

Harling said only one BDCA club had queried the decision to keep the ruling in place for this week not allowing Melbourne-based players to play, with Sandhurst having sought an exemption for wicket-keeper Will Gadsden to be able to play.

While Melbourne-based players haven't been able to line up in the BDCA yet this season, Premier Cricket players who live in Bendigo have been able to.

The delay of the start of the Premier Cricket season to November 28 has allowed the likes of Sandhurst pair Liam Bowe (Essendon) and Nick Gladman (Essendon), Kangaroo Flat's Ryan O'Keefe (Carlton), Bendigo United's Tom Starr (Carlton), Golden Square's Bradman Constable (Greenvale) and Strathfieldsaye's Abe Sheahan (Carlton) and Mitch Cheesman (Melbourne) to play in the opening rounds.

Meanwhile, the BDCA's Master Blaster competition hits off on Friday night with games to be spread around three venues - Strathdale's Beischer Park, Eaglehawk's Canterbury Park and Kangaroo Flat's Dower Park.

STRATHDALE-MARISTIANS v WHITE HILLS

Only three undefeated teams in the competition - and these are two of them. Hard to go past the Suns on their home turf.

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STRATHFIELDSAYE v SANDHURST

Still early in the season, but a crunch game for the Jets, who slip to 0-3 if beaten. Dragons coming off a win over Bendigo United.

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BENDIGO UNITED v GOLDEN SQUARE

Both teams still without a win and will be desperate to open their 2020-21 account. Fancy the Redbacks at home.... just.

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KANGAROO FLAT v EAGLEHAWK

The Roos are 2-0 and will go in as favourites at home. Can the Hawks cause another upset like the final round last season?

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BENDIGO v HUNTLY-NORTH EPSOM

The Goers are coming off a 153-run hiding from Strathdale and now cop the Power off the back of their first win of the season.

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