MPCA: Red Hill regains Simon Dart for Provincial season

What a boost for the Hillmen, with their greatest player returning from overseas to play in the MPCA season. Here’s when he’ll pad up.

Red Hill champion Simon Dart lifts the premiership cup. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The yahooing and loud cheering you may have heard last week was probably coming from Red Hill.

The Hillmen had just received news that their champion Simon Dart — dubbed the “Little Master” and “The GOAT’’ — was on his way back from Japan.

It was game-changing news for Red Hill on the eve of the MPCA Provincial season.

Dart has been in Japan for the past year working as Japanese Cricket Association high performance manager and national coach.

After successfully fulfilling his duties there he’s on his way home.

“It happened pretty quick,” Red Hill captain-coach Adam Slack said.

“I think things changed pretty quickly for him once you were able to get back into Australia from overseas.

“This wasn’t on the radar, we weren’t planning for it.

“It’s a big bonus to have someone like him to come back when you weren’t planning for it.”

Simon Dart during his match-winning 133 not out in the 2016-17 MPCA District grand final. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Slack said Dart was due to arrive home at the end of November and, all going well, will play in Round 4 — and for the rest of the season.

Red Hill recruited Frankston Peninsula all-rounder Chris Dew in the off-season.

The prospect of a Red Hill top order with Dew and Dart makes the Hillmen a genuine contender in Provincial.

Chris Dew hits a big one.

“With him and Dewy together it will certainly be our strongest batting line up,” Slack said.

“It is huge for the club. The amount h (Dart) has done for the club, on and off the field, it’s a huge bonus to get him back.”

Slack said Luke Robertson and Luke Jackson, a successful opening combination from last season, would likely continue to face the new ball this season.

Dart and Dew would bat in the top five, with Slack, Damien Sullivan and Riley Shaw making up a talented top seven.

Dart scored nearly 9000 runs at an average of 43.87 at Premier Cricket level with both Hawthorn Waverley and Melbourne.

In a recruiting coup, Red Hill secured Dart in 2012, appointing him captain-coach.

In a golden decade at the Hill, he steered the club to three premierships — including the 2016-17 MPCA District grand final win when he scored 133no — while making over 5000 runs, at an average of 58, with 13 centuries and 33 half centuries.