Tara Murray
Consistency proved to be the key for Jarryd Vernon as he claimed his first Gisborne and District Cricket Association Sullivan Medal.
The Gisborne star’s season with the bat and ball was rewarded as he claimed the honour as the best player in the McIntyre Cup.
Vernon polled 20 votes to finish seven clear of teammate and former winner Mick Allen. Romsey captain and another former winner Ben Way completed the top three, a further vote back.
Vernon said it was nice to get recognition of his season.
“It’s really good,” he said. “Obviously I’ve come second twice before to win it, it is a great honour.
“It’s hard to say [whether he thought he had a chance]. Sometimes you think you’re in with a chance, but you never know.
“There’s so many good players in the competition, I’m fortunate enough to win it.”
Vernon said this season he had wanted to get some consistency in his game. He ended up making 751 at an average of 93.88 to also claim the batting award.
Vernon also took 24 wickets for the season, the sixth most.
“I think I got that consistency and the team was able to get that as well,” he said.
“We had a very good team and you don’t win it without having good teammates. We were able to perform well as a team.”
The medal caps off a return to his junior club, having played with Spotswood in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association last season.
Vernon said the decision to return home was to put his family first.
“It was more about the travel,” he said. “We’ve just had a young kid and it’s a lot easier for my family when I’m training five minutes from home.
“I loved it at Spotswood, but I didn’t know what I was in for so I wanted to be closer to the family and home.”
While Vernon claimed the Sullivan medal and batting award, Allen claimed the bowling award, taking 23 wickets at an average of 10.43.
Vernon said it was pretty nice to see his teammate recognised as well.
“I think it’s the first time he’s won a bowling award,” he said. “He’s someone who has played a lot of cricket, so he was pretty happy to win it. To come runner up and have the two of us up there was an achievement as well.”
While the personal success is nice, Vernon said team success is what he would have loved more.
The Dragons spent all season on top of the ladder, before being knocked out in the semi finals to eventual premiers Romsey, in just their second loss for the season,
“At the end of the day, individual stuff is nice, but you play a team sport and you want to win the premiership,” Vernon said.
“I’ve already spoken to a few of the guys and we look like we’ll keep 90 per cent of the time.
“Hopefully we can add to the squad as well and get a bit more depth and make our team stronger and the club stronger.”
Vernon was named as captain of the team of the year. Allen and Way were both named in the team also.
Woodend’s Marcus Stewart, Wallan Kieran Atkin and Bryan Vance, Bacchus Marsh’s James Lidgett, Diggers Rest Bulla’s Milinda Sepala and Gayan Welikalage, Sunbury United’s Senura Perera and Rajitha Mendis, and Rupertswood’s Andrew Pizaro round out the team.
