By Tara Murray
New Gisborne Cricket Club coach Gavin Mackay will focus on continuing to bring youth through the Gisborne and District Cricket Association club.
Mackay was announced as the club’s new coach at its recent presentation night, replacing Glenn Waites.
Waites coached the side for two years, including taking the McIntyre Cup side to the grand final this season.
Mackay said it was a good opportunity to coach at a club he has been associated with on and off with for more than 20 years. His two sons also play for the club, one in seniors and one in juniors.
“I’m a local bloke and I think they were looking for a local fellow,” he said.
“I’ve coached at the Central Highlands regional level with the junior program.
“I’ve had a couple of years as an assistant coach at a Ballarat club and then in Flemington.
“It will be nice to be coaching local and not have to travel.”
It’s Mackay’s background working with the Central Highlands program that played a big part in his appointment, with the Dragons keen to develop their younger players.
Mackay has been involved with the Central Highlands teams for the state championships over the past four years. He said he was unlikely to continue in that role so he could focus on the Dragons.
“There’s so many kids with really good talent at the club,” he said of the Dragons.
“I’ve got a background in coaching juniors and I want to continue to bring them through. It’s part of the conditions of me coming here.
“I don’t want to just get to grand finals and have success as a result of recruiting from other clubs.”
Mackay said he wanted to make sure that everyone at the club got given the same coaching.
“Everyone will be looked after,” he said.
“Whether it’s seniors, girls, women’s or juniors.”
Mackay said they were due to discuss where they sit with the playing group for next season.
He said they would love to go one step further. The Dragons have made three of the past four grand finals, winning two of them.
“We need to develop a little further and give it another crack next year.
“We expect that Bacchus Marsh will be strong again.”
