Dan's the Man - in his 150th game

Dan's the Man

Daniel Phillips turned the game on its head in his 150th club game, and on the way helped set a new record for the Thirds.
Opening the batting in the November 6 game against Old Camberwell Grammarians, Daniel compiled a solid partnership with Dean Lawson before the innings fell away and we were all out for 108.
That's when Dan really came into his own - his 5/6 off six overs routed the Grammar boys, and they were all out for 47.
It was a new record for the lowest total successfully defended in the Thirds, beating the 123 we successfully defended against East Keilor back in 1981/82.

At right: The scoreboard only tells half the tale - Daniel Phillips' 150th game, but not his 5 for 6!

Daniel bowled first change in the defence, taking over from the miserly Paul Bannister, who took a wicket and conceded just two runs from his five overs.

Daniel made an immediate impact - right on the money, and clean bowling two batsmen in his first over. His next two overs went for one run each, his fourth over netted another wicket with an excellent slips catch from Dean Jukic to give him the figures of 3/3. Dan's fifth over saw two catches from Paul Bannister at mid-off, and the excellent figures of 5/6.

At left: The team which broke a Thirds record dating back to the 1980s for the best total defended: L-R: Jordon McDonald, Clyde D'Cruz, Adam Patchell, Ben Skok (rear), Ed Rayner, Daniel Phillips, Jeremy Davey, Dean Lawson, Paul Bannister, Geoff Shiell and Dean Jukic.

Daniel has worked hard for Moonee Valley, captaining the Seconds for a number of seasons then missing the 2009/10 Premiership when he took a year off. He got his reward in the 2014/15 Premiership.
He travels from his home at Kilmore to play for the Valley, and when he was skipper of the Seconds would often have a sleep in his car after shiftwork before rousing for training.
Congratulations to a great bloke for a significant milestone and a great performance to cap it off!