Sport
27 March, 2026
MDCA A Reserve Grand Final Preview — Avoca vs Colts Phelans
For two teams who have suffered A reserve Grand Final heartbreak this decade, one will achieve redemption this Saturday, as Avoca plays Colts Phelans in what’s expected to be a thrilling decider.
Including tomorrow’s decider, the Bulldogs and Colts have combined to play in five of the last six A reserve Grand Finals.
However, that remarkable achievement comes with an upsetting asterisk, as neither team finished those seasons by adding a premiership to their trophy cabinet.
While the Bulldogs fell just short in the 2022 decider against Carisbrook, the Colts have suffered through a brutal odd-year curse, finishing runner-up in 2021, 2023 and 2025.
With the Colts determined to overcome that Grand Final roadblock, Avoca is looking to complete a magical senior cricket revival following a two-season hiatus.
According to team captain and club president Cam Holland, reaching the Grand Final means a lot to the rebuilding senior cohort.
“After a few seasons off cricket, to come back in our first year and make the Grand Final is a big thing,” he said.
“I take my hat off to the whole playing group for getting this far and a big thanks to the community for supporting us and all our sponsors who have gotten right behind us.
“The club and the community should be really proud of that effort, regardless of any result that comes out our way on Saturday.”
The Bulldogs started their A reserve renaissance barking mad, taking the mantle as early premiership favourites after going undefeated before the Christmas Break.
As sudden as their dominant assent, Avoca’s stock plummeted with five losses in six games, needing a victory on the final day of the regular season to avoid the danger of missing finals.
Virtually playing an elimination final, the Bulldogs took a commanding victory over Carisbrook and carried that momentum into a semi-final triumph over back-to-back reigning premiers Clunes.
Co-winner of The Maryborough Advertiser’s A reserve player of the year, Glen Cosgriff, starred with 41 runs and two vital wickets, while James Collicoat’s outstanding campaign continued into finals, complementing his 34 by taking 1/11 from eight overs.
With their late-season slide in the rearview mirror, Holland said Avoca has reacquired qualities that were essential to their early success.
“I think as a group, we agreed we probably got pretty complacent towards that middle to back end period and you can’t really get complacent in this competition because other teams will catch up pretty quickly,” he said.
“We regrouped and we all came to a decision that the way we win is when we’re enjoying playing together as a group.
“We stripped it back a little bit and found some fun in the game and the results started coming back our way, which was good.”
Outside of their two superstars, Avoca still has a plethora of difference makers, as Holland, Nathan Coghlan and Brad Palmer can contribute with both bat and ball.
Eyan Habib has also been a key fixture of Avoca’s batting lineup, with his talents on full display in a memorable 164 not out knock against Laanecoorie Dunolly in round 14.
Similar to their Grand Final opponents, the Colts have undergone a rollercoaster season to make the big dance. However, their highs and lows ran very inversely.
While the Bulldogs dominated the first half, the Colts found themselves well outside the top four bubble with six rounds to play.
Seven consecutive victories later, and the Colts have replicated their A grade compatriots and returned to the Grand Final for a second straight year.
“With both teams in the Grand Final, it’s a magnificent effort for the club and hopefully it sets us up for the future,” Colts Phelans’ Gary Wagstaff said.
“At the middle of the year, they didn’t give themselves too much chance of getting in, but they’ve won their last seven in a row and there’s a real buzz around the team to be ready and do well.”
Many factors contributed to the Colts’ historic run to the season finale, but their main catalyst has been a sharpened bowling attack that allowed just 119 runs in their semi-final victory over MKM.
With opening bowlers Ethan Chaplin and Luke Patterson setting the tone early, the likes of Grant Rogers, Daniel McGregor, Aaron Balzan and Riley Govan are all capable of piling extra pressure on batters who are given limited chances to score.
Alongside their bowling prowess, Patterson, McGregor and Balzan have been the heart of the Colts’ batting lineup this season, combining to score 808 runs this season, which included some impressive knocks against Avoca in the regular season.
Despite that, the Bulldogs took both of their previous encounters with the Colts, chasing down 208 with six balls to spare in round eight and winning by 11 runs after making 204 in round 11.
Even with those previous defeats, Wagstaff said the Colts will head into tomorrow’s decider full of confidence.
“Avoca made a lot of runs out on their hard deck the last time we played them, but we got fairly close,” he said.
“On the turf wicket at Carisbrook, turf's different to a hard track, so hopefully that’ll play to our advantage. Even though they won out at Carisbrook last week, we think our turf experience will hold us in good stead.”