Gisborne is hoping new international recruit Danza Hyatt will have an impact on the field, but the Dragons believe that his greatest asset may be off the field at the Gisborne and District Cricket Association club.
The Dragons announced on Monday night, that Hyatt who played nine one-day internationals and five T20 matches for the West Indies, had signed with the club for the upcoming season.
Dragons’ president Andrew Headberry said there was plenty of excitement following the announcement.
“We kept it under wraps until Monday night,” Headberry said.
“Only two of us knew it was happening and it was hard to keep it quiet. We got put on to him through various contacts.
“We’ve exchanged some emails back and forth and looking forward to meeting him.”
Headberry said they were excited to see what the big hitter could do on the field, as well as a coach. The president said the fact that Hyatt is seen as a great coach made the decision to bring him to the club even easier.
“He’s definitely a big hitter in the T20 stuff, but he’s played a lot of longer form cricket. He’s also a handy bowler too.
“He will help out coaching our junior ranks. We want to keep lifting the bar and our coaching panel is bigger and better than ever.”
Hyatt joins the Dragons coaching panel which includes newly appointed senior coach Glenn Waites. Waites, a premiership player with the Dragons, returns to the club after a number of years away.
Former Dragons coach Daniel Trevillian is also part of the coaching team, which Headberry says is one of the strongest coaching panels in the region. The Dragons have had several junior players as part of Victorian under age teams in recent years.
“We want to make sure our juniors coming through maximise the use of great coaches,” he said.
“Daniel is now a level three accredited coach and there isn’t many of them, let along in bush cricket.
“Danza has international experience and Glenn is really experienced as well. It’s a pretty impressive for the juniors kids, as not many clubs get that much experience to help them.”
While the Dragons have signed Hyatt, they have lost four members of last season’s premiership side.
Roby Lane and Riley Vernon have both moved onto premier cricket, while Jason Wilson and Beau Valka are unlikely to play.
Headberry said they would continue to push youth into the senior team.
“We gave a couple of under-17s at McIntyre cricket the last few years, they didn’t set the world on fire but we will look to give another opportunity.
“Clinton Young didn’t play much last season and we’ve got Danza coming in as well.”
