Can Gol Gol break the drought?

WITH a winning record as impressive as Gol Gol’s, it’s hard to fathom why the club hasn’t won a First Division premiership for 11 years.

Since their last Sunraysia Cricket Association top flight flag in 2011/12, the NSW side have reached four grand finals (one COVID-affected), won four minor premierships and recorded an extraordinary win rate 72.37 per cent, but haven’t reached the pinnacle.

The existence of the all-powerful Mildura Settlers, who won the A.P. Hopkins Shield in eight of the past 10 season hasn’t helped, but skipper Adam Thomson believes his side can break that drought this weekend against Irymple at Alcheringa Oval.

From the current team only Matt Cameron, Nick Jensen and Aidan Calarco were part of the last premiership over a decade ago.

“Obviously we would have like to have won a few more titles but it’s just something that happens, and it hasn’t even really been spoken about,” the Gol Gol captain said.

“Each year we have a different looking team so it’s not something that’s really been raised by anyone.

“The boys seem pretty relaxed at the moment. I felt like we bowled really well against Mildura West (in the semi-final) on Sunday and that put us in a really strong position.”

With only one loss for the home-and-away season Gol Gol are hot favourites on their home deck, however the one defeat was at the hands of Irymple just two weeks ago.

Adam said there would be some reflection on the loss but conditions will be different.

“They’re the best bowling attack in the comp and arguably we might have the best batting unit so that’s probably where the game will be won and lost,” he said.

“We’ll have a bit of a look back it it but the conditions will definitely be different for this game. The pitch is flatter and the outfield faster at Golly compared to Irymple where they can get a lot more movement. They’ve stitched us up a few times out there now.”

Thomson’s opposing captain this weekend will be his brother Mark, who was rewarded for his excellent season with the Innes Medal this week.

“We’ll just be opposition players come game day,” Mark said ahead of the decider.

Irymple broke a 19-year premiership drought in 2017/18, claiming just the third First Division flag in their history.

Thomson, Jordan Payne, Chase Stone and Billy Phelan were all members of that squad, while Bailey Anderson was 12th man.

“We were tested by Nichols Point in a pretty action-packed game but we’re obviously happy to get the win and get over that semi-final hump having fallen short the last four years,” Mark said.

“While there’s only four of us still in the side from the flag, we still have plenty of experience in grand finals with the likes of Jacko Armsden and Nick Giofre in there.

“I think beating them in the last round will come into play a little bit as it was only two weeks ago. It’s nice to have got one over them late in the season.”