Gisborne locks in new skipper, set to field seven teams in GDCA 2020-21
Defending Gisborne District Cricket Association premier Gisborne has locked in its First XI captain for 2020-21 and remarkably could field as many as seven teams this season.
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Gisborne District McIntyre Shield premier Gisborne didn’t have to look far for its new First XI skipper.
Jason Wilson will take over from captain Jarryd Vernon in 2020-21 after serving as vice-captain last season.
Wilson has been a key member of the Dragons’ line-up for the past three seasons after crossing from Leongatha District outfit Outtrim Moyarra Kongwak.
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Gisborne coach Gavin McKay had no doubt Wilson was the right man to lead the club.
“It will be refreshing and a new start and with that new ideas,” he said.
“He’s done a lot of captaincy at the club he came from down Gippsland way, so I think he’ll be a good addition for us.”
Vernon has joined VTCA outfit Spotswood for 2020-21 and brother Riley is understood to be considering his options as well.
However, the Dragons still possess one of the most potent line-ups in the GDCA with Sullivan Medallist Mick Allen to spearhead the club’s title defence.
McKay said the club would also look to continue to expose youth in the First XI.
“We rotated six or eight guys 19 and under through our first grade side,” he said.
“We think it’s going to be a year trying to establish those guys, another year of growth, so the club’s outlook is really positive.”
Gisborne is classified as a regional area and will be able to begin pre-season training almost immediately.
However, the outlook is not so bright for a number of clubs in the GDCA that are based in metropolitan areas such as Sunbury and Melton.
The competition is looking at ways to accommodate all clubs with a series of practice matches likely to be organised until metro clubs come out of lockdown.
McKay said the Dragons biggest challenge would be ensuring all players were able to train under the protocols.
“With our league it’s a bit of a headache with I think 11 clubs in metro and 13 outside,” he said.
“We’ve entered six sides and we’ll probably be able to field a seventh.
“It’s going to be a pretty enormous year for us and logistically trying to get everyone through training is going to be the real worry.
It’s going to be a bit of a fight to make sure everyone gets to do what they want to do but we’ve got a lot of good people to help out and make sure we’re doing it right.”