New Grand United coach Andrew Warrick is looking forward to a fresh challenge.
The Gorillas announced Warrick as senior coach for the next two Victorian Turf Cricket Association seasons.
He joins the club from Golden Point in the Ballarat Cricket Association where he has previously led the club to premiership success and has been one of league’s top performers with ball in hand for many years.
He also has Victorian Premier Cricket experience where he previously played for Essendon in the first and second XIs.
Warrick said having done a lot of travelling to coach at Golden Point it was nice to be able to coach closer to the home, being based in Melbourne.
“It’s a bit of a fresh challenge,” he said. “I’m looking forward to getting down there.
“I know Alan and Jack Hale. I worked with Alan [Grand United president] and I did a bit of coaching at their club through the Australian Cricket Institute.
“My wife and I just had a baby and it was a big time commitment driving to Ballarat a couple of times a week.
“Grand United made a good pitch and it was a good opportunity.”
Warrick says he knows a little bit about the club coming into the role and would start meeting the majority of the playing group the next few weeks.
He said he’s keen to build on what the club has been able to do the last few years. The Gorillas finished runners-up in the division 2 competition in the 2023-24 season after winning the division 3 title the season before.
The club has played off in three straight grand finals.
“The last couple of years they’ve had a good young group,” he said. “The first and second XI are hungry for success.
“I can bring in a bit more experience to the group and help take the next step. The club is looking forward to having a bit of consistency with a coach in place that can bring in a few different ideas to training and game day.”
Warrick will be a playing coach which will help strengthen the Gorillas bowling unit.
He said there were others at the club talking to existing and new players in regards to what the squad looks like next season.
Warrick said they would look to start pre-season in August and then start to ramp things up.
Tara Murray
