Sport

New look GMCW competition to get under way this weekend

By Matthew Kappos and Callum Farquhar

Oct 13, 2026

Katamatite will get its Goulburn Murray Cricket Women’s season underway this weekend in a new look nine-team competition. Photo: Matthew Kappos. Photo by Matthew Kappos

For the second time in as many seasons, women’s cricket in the region has undergone a major shift.

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Last year four Cricket Shepparton-based sides broke away from the Goulburn Murray Cricket Women’s competition to form their own competition, but 12 months later and Shepparton United, Nagambie and Mooroopna are all back in GMC.

After Kyabram wasn’t able to field a side, the other three clubs have rejoined the fold for this year, bringing the competition to nine teams after Bamawm-Lockington United also went into hiatus.

It comes less than three months after Cricket Shepparton confirmed Tatura Cricket Club’s eagerness to be the fifth team involved in senior women’s cricket, while Cricket Shepparton also surveyed for expressions of interest for a junior girls-only cricket competition this winter.

GMC operations manager James Stokes told McPherson Media Group that the GMC was happy to take on the Cricket Shepparton clubs on short notice, with the changes only coming together in the past month.

He said the league was committed to growing the women’s game in the region.

“Women's cricket is important and we need numbers in the game,” he said.

It ensures local sides Nathalia and Katamatite will be part of a nine-team competition now, with the first round of the season to get underway this Sunday, October 18.

Katamatite will look to continue the strong form it showed last season which resulted in a 6-6 record and semi-final berth after finishing in fourth spot on the ladder, ultimately going down to eventual premier Moama in the first round of finals.

The Tigers will get their season underway against the returning SYCU at Princess Park in Shepparton on Sunday.

Nathalia meanwhile will face the 2025-2026 Cricket Shepparton grand finalist Nagambie in a bid to get its season off to a winning start, having last year missed finals by a single game after finishing fifth on the ladder, one win behind Katamatite.

The Purples will do battle with the Lakers at Nagambie Recreation Reserve on Sunday.

Elsewhere, reigning Cricket Shepparton premier Mooroopna will face GMCW runner up Echuca in a blockbuster contest, while Rochester and reigning GMCW premier Moama will square off in Rochester, while Cooma has the bye.