'Just the beginning': the Griffins girls leading women's cricket expansion

Ballarat women's cricket is in a growth period, and as one club puts a women's contingent out for the very first time ever, their leaders continue to break new ground.

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Between the Wickets is back in action for another season across all of local cricket, and our inaugural edition in the 2026/27 campaign sees Napoleons-Sebastopol make its first venture in the women's first XI.

Friday night was a historic occasion for the Griffins out at Ballan as part of a competition which has expanded with three new sides to off-set the departure of Brown Hill, led by former Bull Emma Broughton alongside a host of players making the same switch.

Lauren Ward, coach Marcus Probert and skipper Emma Broughton are at the forefront of Napoleons-Sebastopol's new women's outfit. Picture by Kate Healy

"II always wanted to try Naps-Sebas. I'm pretty excited for the new beginning here with the women, and I'd also like to see some other levels of youth girls interest here too," Broughton said.

"This is just the beginning. I played footy at Sebas too, so I wanted to continue playing for my local town.

"I had been playing at Rokewood since I was 12 or so, but I moved into Brown Hill and started with their first women's side for three years, and I just wanted to start fresh again at a new club that's closer to home for me.

"It was myself and Lauren Ward who wanted to ask questions. Lauren and myself approached the president to see whether they would d be interested in forming the team.

"That made us feel pretty positive and everyone was happy about that, so I'm very appreciative of the committee and John (Bray) as president."

It's been far more than just the top brass wrapping their arms around the new program, which has started off the back of those social bonds formed among the core group from their Brown Hill days.

It's that camaraderie which affirms Broughton's decision to help bring the green and gold into the fold was the right one.

"The amount of support we've already had from first XI men's players is just amazing, and we're taken away by it," Broughton said.

"Seeing three new teams come up into first XI is just amazing this year, and I'd love to see more. It would be great to get it as big as the men's competition, but I know that can be a long road.

"It's been great coming from four or five when I first started three years ago, and there's plenty more room for improvement, so to one day be as big as the men's would be amazing.

"We all get on well with each other, but it's also nice to see a handful of new girls come along who we've never met and we're always looking for more."

Leading the inaugural side off-field is Marcus Probert, himself immersed in the Griffins environment for more than a decade.

Having worked prominently in sports psychology, including stints with multiple AFL sides, there was no doubt this was the right fit for the man in charge.

"It's pretty cool. It's a natural progression to help people, and I love cricket and the fact we can get women into it," Probert said.

"It's a fantastic thing having a new women's team and new facility here.

"We want to strengthen our ties to the community in Sebas, where there's a good footy and netball plus women's footy club, so it's the next progression for us.

"I've been at Naps since 2015; I thought I'd have my twilight years here but here I am still playing. I'd love for us to have some on-field success, but it's a good community at Naps.

"It's about how we make people love learning and playing it, and maybe then teaching it themselves later."

Ballan would set the pace in that opening clash, racking up 5-192 in the first half of their two-dayer as Cindy Chettleburgh claimed the club's first ever wicket.

Emma Broughton averaged 19.14 with the bat in her final season at Brown Hill last campaign. Picture by Kate Healy

Mount Clear's top graders might have kept things moving at better than a run a ball, but surely starting your season with a knock of 195 gives you at least half a chance for the call up?

You would think Aaron Burfurd has put his hat in the ring after sending Brown Hill bowlers to pillar and post in a genuine blitz at Ballarat Grammar in the fourth tier, coming just an agonising five runs shy of the double ton.

The proud architect of a 260-run stand for the second wicket - you read that number correctly - it's almost tragic that he sits underneath the highest-scoring side in the first XI.

Carngham's return to the Grenville Cricket Association was a welcome moment for all involved, but after being skittled for just 68 in their opening clash against Linton, one would have been forgiven for assuming there might be some hard knocks on the way back in.

Against all conceivable odds, the Crocs' bowling attack found a way to make a game of this as Fletcher Douglas (four wickets) and Jack O'Brien (three) initiated an astonishing late Blues collapse to steal a wild 12-run result.

With Linton going from 4-47 to 56 all out in the blink of an eye, the romance of cricket was well and truly alive for the returning Snake Valley natives.

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