By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE Gembrook Cricket Club has found its ideal coaching panel much closer to home than some may have expected.
Favourite son Jeremy Everett has been appointed as the club’s playing coach for the new season, with first XI team mate Dean McPherson named fielding coach.
Seamer Darren Petrie will guide the club’s bowlers, while club president Cris Deacon will look over Gembrook’s batting stocks in specially defined roles.
Reuben Wakefield rounds out Everett’s coaching panel.
Deacon, himself an experienced player, and his committee of 13 earlier this year outlined three main objectives for the new season – to improve the club’s financial viability, to make it more prominent in the local community, and to be seen as a club that develops its players and coaches from the ground up.
The committee has already delivered on the latter, with Deacon describing Everett as the “clear preferred candidate”.
The new coach’s mandate upon his appointment was to have a team of coaches by his side – to spread the load and create a kind of ‘team within a team’.
As part of the new leadership structure, 20-year-old opening bowler Geordie Scott will take on the responsibility of captaining Gembrook’s first XI.
He can’t wait to get started in his new role alongside a group of “great mates” but, like Everett, he’s hell-bent on winning.
The pair was upfront on the weekend in saying their 2013-14 goal is the B Grade title.
Everett was buoyant about the strength of the Brookers’ first team, which he said will have a positive impact on the club’s lower grades.
“If the first XI has success, it’ll spread,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot of youthful energy – both with our batting and bowling – and I think our depth has improved.”
Gembrook has applied to field B Grade, E Grade and F Grade sides in the West Gippsland Cricket Association’s upcoming season.
Anyone interesting in joining the ranks should call Cris Deacon on 0408 324 398.
