Recruits strengthen Red Hill ahead of 2019-20 MPCA season
If Simon Dart has his way, the Hillmen will be scoring a torrent of runs this summer.
South East
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Red Hill coach Simon Dart says it’s all about “batting big” for his side next season.
Stung by a disappointing semi-final loss to Main Ridge last season when Red Hill was skittled for 115 in reply to 157, Dart set about strengthening the batting.
Mt Martha left-hander Mitch Darville, former Hawthorn batsman Adam Slack and Pakenham grand final player Luke Jackson have joined the Hillmen.
“You don’t lose a semi-final without trying to fill a gap so we are big on batting well, and batting big, and obviously these guys will contribute towards that,” Dart said.
Darville committed to Red Hill at the end of last season and attended the Hillmen’s presentation night.
“Really excited, absolutely stoked to get his commitment pretty much at the end of last season,” Dart said.
“He has integrated well with the guys, seamless.”
Slack, a Glenn Maxwell lookalike, played with Dart at Hawthorn many seasons ago and more recently has been captain-coach of Templeton.
Dart said Jackson, an Australian triathlon competitor, is a promising batsman with a lot of “scope” for improvement.
The recruits will bolster an already talent-filled Red Hill side that includes Riley Shaw, Matt Merifield, Luke Robertson, Glenn and Tom Collett, Brent Martin, Lincoln Toy and, of course, Dart, who has been a run machine at Red Hill, belting 12 ce nturies and almost 5000 runs in seven seasons in the MPCA.
Determined to get his players prepared for the season, Dart has mapped out a comprehensive pre-season program.
Red Hill has practice games against Mt Eliza and Flinders on September 14-15.
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The Hillmen will spend the following weekend in Echuca, bonding and playing a practice match against Echuca South.
Dart hopes the trip away will get the players “loving each other”.
“Strong relationships, that’s the key in pressure moments and also in the club,” Dart said.
Dart has also organised for Red Hill to take part in an elite training session at the CitiPower Centre at Junction Oval in early September.
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