Gisborne’s Jarryd Vernon, Darley’s Kim Bessell claim GDCA’s highest honours

In his return to Gisborne, gun batsman Jarryd Vernon produced a career-best season and has been rewarded with the GDCA’s Sullivan Medal.

A career season has earned Gisborne captain Jarryd Vernon a first GDCA Sullivan Medal.

The Dragons star claimed the McIntyre Cup best-and-fairest with 20 votes to beat teammate and 2020 medallist Mick Allen (13 votes) and Romsey premiership captain and two-time winner Ben Way (12).

Vernon returned to Gardiner Reserve this season after two seasons at VTCA/VSDCA club Spotswood and clearly relished the move.

He plundered an outstanding 751 runs at an average of 93.88 in the home-and-away season and finished the campaign with 835 at 83.50, eclipsing his previous best of 585 in 2019-20.

Vernon smashed a new personal best 178 against Woodend in Round 11 and 118 against Bacchus Marsh as well as four 50s in a dominant season.

He also took 24 wickets at 14.63, finishing the regular season as the sixth-highest wicket-taker (21).

“It means a fair bit, they’re not easy awards to win and I’ve been second twice,” Vernon said.

“There’s a lot of good players in the competition so to win it was good reward.

“I had a pretty solid season, I was trying to have a consistent year I guess.

“For Mick to come second it’s great reward for him and for the club to have one and two in a league medal count is pretty impressive.

“The cricket he’s played, just to play alongside Mick is a pleasure, he’s a great guy.”

After finishing on top of the ladder, Gisborne’s premiership hopes came to a crashing end at the hands of eventual premier Romsey.

Vernon managed his equal lowest score of 13 in the defeat and was determined to help the club bounce back in 2023-24.

“I’ll definitely be back, these individual things are nice but we play cricket to win premierships,” he said.

“It will be a pretty similar side to this year, the young guys have got another season under their belts and will be looking to better themselves in the off-season.

“Hopefully we can pick up a few in the off-season as well to strengthen the squad.”

Vernon was named captain of the GDCA Team of the Year, named in the 12 along with Allen.

Wallan (Kieran Atkin, Bryan Vance), Sunbury United (Rajitha Mendis, Senura Perera) and Diggers Rest Bulla (Milinda Sepalal, Gayan Welikalage) also had two players named.

Darley’s Kim Bessell was a runaway winner of the Women’s MVP, polling 21 votes to claim the award.

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Lancefield’s Brooke Jeffery finished second with nine votes, while Bacchus Marsh’s Sarah Bamford was third on eight.

Bessell was the competition’s dominant batter, scoring 349 runs at an incredible average of 349.00 in the home-and-away season and finishing with 398 at a slightly reduced 199.00.

She also took six wickets, which was enough for equal sixth overall.

Lancefield dominated the Team of the Year with four players selected, while Darley and premier Macedon each had three.