“To now have the opportunity to lead this club is incredibly special,” Riley Vernon commented after his appointment as Gisborne Cricket Club’s new senior coach last week.
He succeeds his older brother Jarryd in the key role, and will have a powerhouse team at his disposal.
An extremely talented all-round cricketer, the 25-year-old home grown product has served a great apprenticeship for the senior coaching role.
Announcing Riley’s appointment, the club said Riley brought an exceptional cricketing resume, a deep understanding of the modern game, and an unwavering passion for helping players develop and reach their potential.
With an extraordinary playing record, the club said his energy, standards, leadership and commitment to developing others made Riley the ideal person to lead the club into its next chapter.
DEEP FAMILY CONNECTION
Riley said his appointment as senior coach with GCC was deeply personal.
“This club has been part of my family’s story for generations. My grandfather Robbie Rymer was part of Gisborne’s 1971-72 First XI premiership said, while my dad and uncle both proudly wore the red and white.
“Gisborne Cricket Club means so much to my family and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to help shape the next chapter of our great club.
“I’m excited about the future and committed to helping our players and teams continue striving for success both on and off the field.”
Riley’s cricket journey has seen him spend time with Victorian Premier Cricket clubs Richmond and Essendon and play professionally in the United Kingdom across three seasons.
His development has also included two tours of India, where he trained within the Chennai Super Kings Academy system, and gained valuable experience in high-performance cricket environments.
Riley’s achievements on the field speak for themselves.
They include being a four-time Gisborne First XI premiership player, two-time club champion, GDCA Kevin Sullivan Medallist, multiple batting and bowling award winner, numerous GDCA Team of the Year representative (including team captain), Victorian Country vice-captain, and holder of the GDCA record for most runs in the season with an incredible 1150 runs.