BRAIDYN Turner has been driving the 170km round trip from Euston to Mildura two or three times a week during the summer cricket season since 2007.
It was all in the name of building a career with the modern-day dominators of Sunraysia cricket, Mildura Settlers.
He rose through the ranks to become captain of the top-grade Setts team, who in March captured their 10th First Division title in the past 15 seasons.
Turner, however, has decided to pull stumps on his Setts career at the age of 25, signing on as a boom recruit for Robinvale Euston in the Red Cliffs Cricket Association.
It may not be forever, he said, but he has made the decision for “family reasons”.
Turner and his wife, Shania, are expecting their first child in February.
Additionally, one of the nice guys of Sunraysia sport is “flat out” with his father, Justin, on the 160ha and 8ha farms near Euston, where they grow table grapes.
“We have our first little one on the way and there’s a lot of work to do on the farm,” he said, following his five-goal, best-on-ground effort for Robinvale Euston in the SFNL last Saturday.
“I’ll just be happy playing for Robinvale this summer. I’ve been travelling up and down the highway for 15 years during the cricket season, so it’s time for me to put family first.
“I started with Richie (Wyld) and ‘Clears’ (Mark Cleary) when I was 13 and they saw me develop from a fat kid into (a top-grade captain of the club, batting at No.3).
“It was great that I could finish up with them and win another premiership last season.”
Shania is Braidyn’s Robinvale high school sweetheart. They have been together for eight years and been married for three.
There’s a twinkle in his eyes when he talks about the love of his life.
“She’s so great. She watches every game I play,” he said.
“She loves footy. Aside from cheering me on, she’s a big Collingwood supporter. So, she’s been up and about lately with both us and the Magpies going well.”
