VSDCA 2023-24: Former Frankston Peninsula spinner Jack Conroy to lead Croydon

There’s been significant change at the top at the Subbies club, with a former Premier man stepping into the captain-coaching role.

It’s a changing of the guard at Croydon, with the Subbies outfit unveiling a former Premier cricketer as its new captain-coach.

Ex-Frankston Peninsula spinner Jack Conroy will lead the Cockies next season, taking over from outgoing coach Tom McQuinn and long-serving skipper Steve Wright.

Conroy spent five years at Premier level, carving out 40 top-flight matches before returning to junior club Lysterfield in 2022-23 in the FTDCA, helping the suburban power to a preliminary final.

The 21-year-old is no stranger to the Cockies having been heavily involved in the junior program across a number of years, coaching the A-grade under-15s to a flag last season.

A connection with president Tom Murphy helped land the former Premier cricketer’s signature.

Jack Conroy bowling for Frankston Peninsula. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“Obviously being linked at Croydon with the junior program, I thought what better way than to play there and I’ve been fortunate enough to get the captain-coach role as well,” Conroy said.

“I know they’ve been pretty successful the last few seasons with most senior teams making finals, and the junior teams, so there’s a lot of good cricketers around and I just want to help bring the best out of everyone and do the best I can.”

While family commitments spearheaded McQuinn’s decision to relinquish the role, the outgoing coach declared it was a “good time for a new voice”.

“For the development of our group to have a new voice and a new challenge put in front of them with a new set of ideas, (the change) was always going to be a positive for our group,” he said.

“My goal was always to get our group to a point where our training standards and commitment matched the level of where we’re trying to play, and I think that’s in place now.”

Tom McQuinn bowling for Croydon. Picture: Stuart Milligan

McQuinn led the Cockies to the finals in 2021-22 after taking on the coaching gig in August 2020.

He says he’s “most proud” of his promotion of youth after a wealth of experience exited the club ahead of his appointment.

“We worked it out, I think it was something like 17 debutants under 20 in the last three years,” McQuinn said.

“To lose a lot of experience just before I took over and to regenerate our list with young guys, that’s what I’m most proud of.”

McQuinn’s legacy is one the incoming mentor is excited about building on as he looks to next season, citing a mix of experienced and emerging names to work with.

The First XI finished 14th of the East-West group’s 16 teams this season with five wins, but the lower middle-order batsman is confident it’s a mix that can drive the club’s First XI finals push in 2023-24.

“I’m a massive advocate for the young guys and they’re the future of the club, (and) for me to see them first-hand in the junior program by coaching them, I know that Croydon is in great stead for the future,” Conroy said.

“There’s some really good experienced heads in the top grade, obviously Tom, Steve Wright, (Jake) Marnie … and I hope I can add a bit of youth into that mix and bring out the best in all of them.”