There is concern over the future of Grampians cricket.
GCA - Grampians Cricket Association president Anthony Martin is concerned over the future of cricket, saying the Association is bleeding 'junior' teams.
This has been reflected with the demise of two teams this season, B grade Elmhurst and C grade Wickliffe/Lake Bolac.
Mr Martin is hoping at least one of the teams will return to the cricket fold.
"Elmhurst will be gone for some time," he admitted.
"The pub was pretty keen to keep going for business' sake and there is a new pavilion there, which could have been an attraction.
"But they only had four players which is nowhere near enough."
Mr Martin acknowledged the return of Elmhurst will rest with the under 13 team in the Grampians Cricket Association.
"We may have to go back and look at the players coming through but to find the bodies is not as easy as that," he said.
However, the president was confident Wickliffe/Lake Bolac will be able to play in 2013/14.
"Wickliffe/Lake Bolac played half the season and should return," Mr Martin said.
"Down that end - Willaura, Tatyoon, Wickliffe/Lake Bolac - there are no under 16s for any of those clubs.
"They need to put their heads together and come up with one team and hopefully there will be some sort of dribble into the seniors."
Mr Martin doesn't really mind which competition the clubs return to, saying teams do prefer to play C grade because they just find a team for one 40 over day as opposed to A and B grade, where they need to field players over two days of competition.
His main concern is the lack of under 16 talent.
"There are a lot of under 16s opting to play with dad rather than playing for their own under 16 teams.
"This is probably because dad is playing cricket anyway and there is no hastle getting there and getting back.
"There's no point in going one end of the Association to the other (for under 16s) and as a result, we're bleeding teams for Grampians Cricket Association."
Last year, the Grampians Executive decided to combine both the Ararat and Stawell competitions into one under 16 competition.
This was due mainly to the falling number of teams.
Mr Martin said that while he had doubts prior to the season about joining the junior competitions, it worked out 'alright'.
The main problem was when it rained on a Friday night or a Saturday morning in one town and not in the other, affecting results.
Coaches had to reach an agreement, sometimes starting matches half an hour earlier to make results more even.
At the other end of the spectrum, Mr Martin has extended an invitation to Navarre to join the A grade competition.
He has issued clubs with a grading preference sheet and they have until to the end of April to respond.
Mr Martin is confident Navarre can do well in A grade.
"Navarre will be competitive if they step up."
* Grampians Cricket Association is on the look out for executive members.
Rhonda North (who is also junior co-ordinator) and Rebecca Rodger (assistant secretary) are stepping down. Anyone interested in joining can contact Association president, Anthony Martin on 0406 683 964.
