Sport
Saints' exodus
Brad Beitzel
08Apr08
FIVE-TIME St Kilda Cricket Club premiership player Nick Jewell is favoured to leave the Saints.
Premiership coach Mark Ridgway is also tipped to leave and be replaced by seconds coach Tony Judd.
The Saints were scheduled to hold one of their most important executive meetings on Monday night which Jewell said he would attend and make a decision.
Ridgway said his contract would be decided too - the former Tasmanian fast bowler has had at least two offers to coach other Premier Cricket teams.
Jewell said he has moved from Bentleigh to the Mornington Peninsula and he had spoken with the Frankston Heat about playing there.
"I've got a second child coming in six weeks so time is becoming more valuable," the Bushranger said.
"It's also the changing face of the team, what with Graeme Rummans, Tim O'Sullivan, Shawn Craig and maybe Glenn Lalor and Maxie Klinger if he goes to South Australia leaving. Maybe it's time for a younger captain to lead all the way through (with the new group).
"I've got, what, two years left," Jewell said.
The batting all-rounder has a Thursday-night spot on SEN and he said this fitted in well with travelling from the Junction Oval on that training night, so that was in favour of him staying.
He didn't dismiss supporter rumblings about his decision in the quarter-final loss to Ringwood when he came in at number-six.
Jewell did not attend the Cricket Victoria awards night, which is unusual for a club captain.
"I will leave on good terms," he said. Then proudly the former Richmond footballer rolled out his statistics: 12 years, three club championships, twice the best batting average, and of course, five premierships. "Good times," he said.
Ridgway said he was waiting for an offer from the Saints but was otherwise reticent. In his three seasons Ridgway snared a flag, runners-up and this season the Saints finished eighth after having likely premiers Ringwood, in the quarter final, 201 but collapsing for 150 in reply. Ridgway also won two one-day titles.
