MPCA: Mt Eliza appoints Nick Baron as senior coach

The Mounties’ new coach is a passionate club man with a firm plan to lead the club back to the top. And the list changes have already begun.

Nick Baron batting for Mt Eliza. Picture: Chris Eastman

A new era is dawning at Mt Eliza Cricket Club.

And a loyal and passionate Mounties man will lead the way, with Nick Baron announced as senior coach at the club’s presentation on Saturday night.

The 28-year-old says he’s “stoked” to be given the opportunity to head up the club he’s played at since he was 10.

And he’s already flagged his intention to put faith in Mt Eliza’s crop of young players.

Mt Eliza was relegated from MPCA Provincial this season, despite finishing with a flurry, winning its final three games.

Baron said the Mounties would take stock and attack Peninsula division with gusto next season.

“We will sit down and see what direction we want to go, obviously going into a new competition,” he said.

“I think we’re just really trying to get our junior program roaring to go and really back the youth in.”

Nick Baron in action.

Baron has been one of the Mounties’ leading wicket takers in the past decade, capturing over 170 scalps.

While he will be senior coach, he won’t captain the side — that role will continue to be performed by his older brother, Tom.

Nick said Mt Eliza would look to recruit another frontline bowler to replace paceman Shaun Knott, who has decided not to play next season.

Talented batsman Josh Goudge will miss next season after suffering an ACL injury in a football practice match. He will undergo a knee reconstruction.

Mt Eliza champion Lyle House is likely to return to the club after two seasons coaching Rosebud.

Josh Goudge will miss next season with a knee injury. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Mounties premiership paceman Chris McDonough will be an assistant coach next season.

It will be Nick Baron’s first senior gig but he’s got vast coaching experience guiding the club’s junior teams for more than a decade.

“I’ve been doing junior coaching for so long and to transform that into the senior cricket, yeah, definitely looking forward to it,” Nick said.

Many of the kids Baron coached in juniors are now playing seniors at Mt Eliza.

Three of them made their First XI debut this season, Oliver McGinley, 13, Jack Newgreeen and Billy Ross.

Tom Baron said Nick already had the respect of the players.

“All the young blokes love him,’’ Tom said.

“He’s coached them all through juniors so it’s going to be really good for the club.’’

Nick said he would coach from the heart and draw on past experiences.

“I’ve always been at Mt Eliza so I’m pretty passionate about the club,” he said.

“I’ve had a lot of good, experienced people around me in the past when I came through cricket.

“Obviously Lyle House was a big part of that, Juzzy Grant, Jason Mathers…so I’ve learnt quite a bit off those guys.”