MPCA: Simon Dart still hitting centuries at 46 but one goal remains
One-time Australian under-19 vice-captain Simon Dart is still hitting centuries at 46. He talks about his time at Red Hill, why he’s loving the game more than ever and the one goal remaining.
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When Simon Dart took over as Red Hill’s captain-coach in 2012, a local newspaper reporter asked him how he intended to approach the new challenge.
His forthright response was perhaps a clue to what lay ahead.
“I’d have to step out there straight away wouldn’t I, and face the first ball?’’ he told the Frankston Standard in May, 2012.
Dart did face the first ball of the 2012-13 season and proceeded to crack 108 not out against Dromana.
A sign of things to come? You betcha.
A week later Dart hit another unbeaten century, 100no, against Skye in Round 2.
A fortnight into Dart’s tenure and Red Hill’s committee was dancing a little jig, knowing it had the right man to lead it back up the ranks in the MPCA after a lean stretch.
Glenn Collett, who stood aside as Red Hill’s captain-coach to allow the club to bring in Dart, said the former Victorian batter was the perfect man for the job.
“When Darty came to Red Hill we had a massive group of lads who were 17, 18, 19 and all they wanted to do was learn,” he said.
“It was almost a perfect storm and all they wanted to do was get better.
“The standards that Darty brought back from Premier cricket were sensational.”
Fast forward 12 years and Dart has ticked nearly every box in his time in the MPCA.
With 15 centuries, over 7000 runs and almost 200 wickets, he’s broken club records and won association accolades.
Under Dart, Red Hill has climbed the grades, winning premierships and regaining its reputation as an MPCA leader.
Setting high standards, Dart has had a positive effect on a generation of Red Hill cricketers.
At 46, he is chasing one more goal — to be part of a Hillmen premiership in the MPCA’s top flight, Provincial.
Red Hill is currently fourth on the ladder.
As a teenager Dart was a cricket prodigy, playing for Melbourne at 15 and attending the national cricket academy under Rod Marsh.
He represented the Australian under-19s for two years (he was vice-captain to Brad Haddin).
Dart went on to plunder 17 centuries and 8950 runs at 43.8 during a stellar Premier Cricket career with Melbourne and Hawthorn-Monash, peaking in 2004-05 when he won the Ryder Medal after making 1098 runs (at 88).
Dart also played 10 one-day games for Victoria.
Many believe he deserved to play a lot more at a higher level.
Local clubs chased Dart hard as his Premier career came to a close but Red Hill was a step ahead, with inside knowledge he had moved to Rosebud.
It was Red Hill’s lucky day when he agreed to join the Hillmen.
Collett said Dart’s professionalism as coach and his one-club approach gave Red Hill structure and set it on the path to success.
“He would have the entire first to fourth XI on his spreadsheet moving guys around, who’s available, unavailable,’’ he said
“On Tuesday nights you think he’s gone home. No, he’s off in a room at the club working out teams.
“He’s so meticulous with everything he does…we’ve been so lucky.”
Dart has relinquished the coaching and captaincy duties this season and is enjoying the freedom of being a player-only.
He peeled off 106no a couple of weeks ago and is relishing opening the bowling.
“I’m still enjoying the challenge, enjoying a different role I’ve got this year,’’ he said.
“I’ve stripped back a lot of those leadership roles…I’m not coaching, not managing people as such. I’m still leading from the front and educating. And probably having better conversations to be honest with people in the group because I’ve got more time up my sleeve.
“(Red Hill captain) Chris Weekes has been outstanding for us, the energy he’s brought and his cricket IQ, and just his style and structure, his game plan, has been outstanding.’’
Dart says his appetite for runs remains as high as it was when he was a kid in the Australian under-19s.
“There’s no ceiling from my end,’’ he said.
Dart has set no end date for his glittering cricket career.
If anything, he’s enjoying this season more than ever, with his son Freddie starting to play.
“It’s gone full circle for me. Freddie is playing junior cricket and enjoying the game for what it is and having fun with his friends. It’s beautiful moments like those that just remind you why you play the game and why you got into it.”
*On Saturday, February 23, Red Hill Cricket Club will celebrate its centenary at the Epicurean in Red Hill.
It’s been a ton of fun on the Hill.
The 100 year celebration evening will bring together many of the club’s past and current champions, including Andrew Brown, Simon Dart, Gary Martin and Terry Doyle.
Red Hill CC was established in 1921. The club had to postpone its 100 year celebrations due to COVID-19. But that has only built anticipation as the club plans to unveil its team of the decades from the 1920s to present, as well the much coveted team of the century, which promises to host some high calibre names.
SIMON DART
Memorable Red Hill moments:
*In 2013-14 season, Dart went on a stunning scoring spree, making 111 against Frankston YCW in the final round to get Red Hill into the finals. In the semi-final, he made 135no against Balnarring — and then in the grand final, he made 100 to guide the Hillmen to the premiership. The following season, he began with a duck in Round 1 but then made 93, 106no and 173.
*In the 2016-17 MPCA District flag decider, Dart produced one of the greatest grand final innings in MPCA history to guide Red Hill to its first District premiership in 31 years. A defiant Dart made 133 not out — batting for almost 100 overs — as the Hillmen chased down Delacombe Park’s 307 at RH Hooper Oval to hoist the flag.
*Dart took a hat-trick against Dromana in 2013-14, nabbing 5-11.
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