BPL24 teams announced
Another historic Bowls Premier League (BPL) is set to commence this November at the event’s fifth and newest venue, the Ocean Grove Bowling Club.
Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula is set to grace the presence of the sport’s elite for this made-for-television extravaganza that will see some big changes to the twelve teams vying for the ultimate prize.
Across the teams, six playing changes and two coaching alterations have been made from February’s BPL23 lineups in Moama.
Arguably the biggest move comes in the form of reigning MVP winner and recently crowned Commonwealth Games gold medallist Gary Kelly who has made his way from the Melbourne Pulse to the Sydney Saints in one of the highest profile switches in the tournament’s history.
Kelly, a three-time champion and two-time MVP winner with the Pulse, has been a member of the Dandenong Club franchise since day one and will embark on a new adventure with the Saints, coming in for Jamie Walker to link up with former All Stars in Ben Twist and Dawn Hayman and coach Ryan Bester.
The Pulse have made two playing and a coaching change lineup after finishing on top of the ladder leading into the BPL23 finals, with coach Jeremy Henry returning to a playing role in Kelly’s absence for his first appearance as a player since he wore the Moreton Bay Pirates shirt at BPL13.
Henry, the only person to win the BPL as a player and coach, will be looking to win his first on green title since his salutation for the Illawarra Gorillas in BPL09.
Joining Henry in the team will be former Commonwealth Games gold medallist and debutant, Malaysia’s Emma Firyana Saroji.
With Ellen Fife unavailable, the Pulse have brought in the in form Malaysian, who will become the second player from her nation to play in the competition after Safuan Said in APL03.
The coaching change will see former Perth Suns coach Josh Thornton take the reigns having led Perth on two occasions at BPL12 and BPL14 respectively.
Barrie Lester remains as the only playing member from their BPL23 campaign.
The Sydney Lions have also brought changes to their roster with Emerging Jackaroo Cohen Litfin coming into the side to join Nathan Black and Karen Murphy AM.
The four-time champions have also made a coaching swap with Commonwealth Games gold medallist James Reynolds coming in for Steve Glasson OAM.
Kane Nelson’s recent move to Club Helensvale has seen him move into the lineup for the Gold Coast Hawks in place of Brett Wilkie, joining the likes of Kelsey Cottrell, Nathan Rice and coach Mark Thatcher.
The final change comes in the form of Amity Bickley, who becomes the second female to represent the Tasmania Tridents following Rebecca Van Asch’s decision to step away from her representative duties.
Bickley, who performed in exemplary fashion at the National Development Series, joins Taelyn Male and Codi Marshall in Chris Dudman’s squad.
Going unchanged are the home team and defending champions in the Geelong Jets with Matt Flapper’s team of Aaron Wilson, Paul Foster MBE and Jamie-Lee Worsnop looking to become the fourth franchise to successfully defend their crown.
Their opponents in the BPL23 final, the Moreton Bay Pirates, are also unchanged with Alex Marshall MBE, Jessie Cottell, Ryan Burnett and coach Aaron Hewson all returning for another tilt at the title they have not held since BPL08.
Five-time champions, the Tweed Ospreys, have once more remained consistent with their long-time combination of Aaron Teys, Corey Wedlock, Chloe Stewart and coach Wayne Turley OAM looking to extend their record as the event’s most dominant franchise.
Chasing at their heels with four titles are the Moama Steamers, who also bring the same roster of coach Kevin Anderson, six-time MVP and champion Aron Sherriff, Matt Baus and Cass Millerick.
The Adelaide Pioneers have remained consistent with stalwarts Scott Thulborn, Wayne Ruediger and Katelyn Inch all returning under the guidance of Les Carter.
In addition, the Perth Suns have kept their lineup of Kristina van Nierop, Ben Leggett and Carl Healey the same with Bill Brandsma back on deck as coach.
Finally, the youth of the Melbourne eXtreme remains with Kelvin Kerkow OAM’s team of Jack McShane, Brianna Smith and Nick Cahill on board for another tilt at the crown.
See below for the full ins and outs for each BPL franchise:
Adelaide Pioneers: Scott Thulborn, Wayne Ruediger, Katelyn Inch
Coach: Les Carter
No change
Moreton Bay Pirates: Alex Marshall, Jessie Cottell, Ryan Burnett
Coach: Aaron Hewson
No change
Geelong Jets: Paul Foster MBE, Aaron Wilson, Jamie-Lee Worsnop
Coach: Matt Flapper
No change
Gold Coast Hawks: Kane Nelson, Kelsey Cottrell, Nathan Rice
Coach: Mark Thatcher
In: Nelson
Out: Brett Wilkie
Melbourne eXtreme: Brianna Smith, Nick Cahill, Jack McShane
Coach: Kelvin Kerkow
No change
Melbourne Pulse: Emma Firyana Saroji, Jeremy Henry, Barrie Lester
Coach: Josh Thornton
In: Saroji, Henry, Thornton (Coach)
Out: Gary Kelly, Ellen Fife, Henry (Coach)
Moama Steamers: Matthew Baus, Cassandra Millerick, Aron Sherriff
Coach: Kevin Anderson
No change
Perth Suns: Kristina van Nierop, Carl Healey, Ben Leggett
Coach: Bill Brandsma
No change
Sydney Lions: Karen Murphy, Cohen Litfin, Nathan Black
Coach: James Reynolds
In: Litfin, Reynolds (Coach)
Out: Kane Nelson, Steve Glasson (Coach)
Sydney Saints: Ben Twist, Dawn Hayman, Gary Kelly
Coach: Ryan Bester
In: Kelly
Out: Jamie Walker
Tasmania Tridents: Amity Bickley, Codi Marshall, Taelyn Male
Coach: Chris Dudman
In: Bickley
Out: Rebecca Van Asch
Tweed Ospreys: Aaron Teys, Corey Wedlock, Chloe Stewart
Coach: Wayne Turley
No Change
BPL24 runs from November 9-13, 2026, at Ocean Grove Bowling Club with live streaming on Bowls Australia’s YouTube channel, as well as live broadcasts from Tuesday to Friday from 4pm until 10pm AEDT on Fox, Kayo and Sky Sports NZ.
