Deano’s delivered across 200 great games

Club stalwart Dean 'Possum' Lawson joined illustrious company when he played his 200th game for the Valleys on February 5.
Dean played his first game back in 2006/07, as part of a group of dads who decided to match the efforts of their sons in the junior ranks. But
Deano’s gone on with it, and is now just the 31 ^st player to reach the 200-game milestone in our 52-year history.

And it’s been an exciting journey, as Dean has never been one to let the bowlers settle or dictate terms – he’s at them from the first ball.
At left: Dean Lawson played with four other members of the 200 club when he played his 200th match. L-R Allan Cumming, Mark Gauci, Danny Terzini, Dean Jukic and Dean Lawson.
He’s eighth on our all-time run-scorers list with 5193 runs, and has never knocked back the chance to have a bowl – and the wicket he took to secure the win in his 200^th game was his 44^th for the club.
For the record, the Fifths did Deano proud, with 6/234cc to defeat Flemington Colts 128.
Dean has won batting awards in the Thirds, Fourths, Sixths and Eighths. He has four tons to his name - and Deano is one of only four players to have hit a double century for the Valleys.
He’s been a member of our Moonee Valley Wisden Team of the Year a remarkable eight times over 16 seasons. He scored 632 runs in the 2014/15 season – the equal 13^th-best tally in a season in our history, putting Dean in elite company.
At right: Dean Lawson listens in as former teammate Paul Hobbs recounts some stories of his career.
He put on a 212 run partnership for the first wicket with Steven Ball in the Sixths in 2008/09, and for good measure racked up a 156 run opening stand with Joe Carroll in the Eighths in 2006/07.
Dean was also part of the Sixths team which racked up our highest-ever score across any grade - 6/540 declared v Ascot Vale in Barron Shield in 2014/15. Three players tonned up in that game - but Deano wasn't one of them. He contributed 7 runs to the score. 
A champion bloke and a really important part of our Past Players committee, well done Possum on this fine achievement.
***You can see a video of Hobbsie's speech on Dean's career by clicking on this link.