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Postcode and Mickster - their 250th games
Two Moonee Valley stalwarts - "Postcode" Peter Smith and Michael "Mickster" Cumbo - played their 250th games for our great club on the January 29/30 weekend.
 While the results didn't go quite as planned - the Sixths went down off the second ball of the final over in Peter's game, and the Sevenths weren't able to put together a competitive total in Mickster's milestone match - it was still wonderful to see our players recognised for their service to the club.
Above: Postcode Peter Smith and his autographed hat in front of teammates and clubmates before the game - L-R: Eden Del Citto, David Lubansky, Minh Vo, Graeme Bloom, Mark Gauci, Mitch Britton, Danny Terzini, Michael Ozbun, Shaun Rayment, Murray Price, Allan Cumming, Jackson Price, Andreas Skiotis and Pat Taylor.
Postcode's milestone game was the Saturday, and he backed up for game 251 to help Mickster celebrate his game the next day.
Peter has been a constant at Moonee Valley since he came down in 2001/02, although work commitments and injury have made some of his seasons a bit sporadic. He's inching towards 1000 runs, and is well placed to get to the 350-wicket mark by the end of this season.
At right: 250-gamer Michael Cumbo (left) with teammate Andreas Skiotis and the mini bat signed by the players in his milestone game.
Mickster joined the Valley the season prior, and his more than 2500 runs and a respectable 37 wickets to his name - as well as a Premiership flag, a hat-trick and a century.
He's been playing the last couple of seasons closer to his Werribee home, but decided to come back and bring up his miletone game with the Valley.
**It was Valley's Back to Ormond Park day
 The Moonee Valley Cricket Club’s “back to Ormond Park” day on January 30 was a great success, with our reverse raffle as a highlight.
Past and present players, Life Members, supporters and friends all flocked to the park to enjoy the cricket action from the Fourths and Sevenths, the food drink and camaraderie.
At left: Some significant players - past and present - who have contributed to Moonee Valley's history - L-R: Back: Allan Cumming and Rex Bennett. Front: Greg Peters and Darren Nagle.
And the raffle. The last five ticketholders agreed to combine the prize, so it was shared across Doug Cumming, Peter Butler, Michael Harvey, John Talone, Jack Newman and Sandro Capocchi.
Other $100 prizes were won by Stephen Esmore, Charlotte Gibaldi, Jason Walsh, Graham Bowden, Jimmy Holt and Garry Dudderidge.
Special thanks to Chris Sherer and Peter Bevis for running the kitchen and keeping the hot food up all afternoon, Peter Golding, Jack Cumming and the others behind the bar, Ian Denny and Dom Rettino for conducting the raffle, and Agatha Jukic for a hand in everything along with Vanessa Schuller.
The Back to Ormond Park day was meant to be the second part of a big weekend with our 50th Anniversary ball, but we had to postpone that due to the spike in coronavirus. We expect that to be on later in the year, possibly in October.
Our Teams of the Decade for each decade of our first 50 years were posted in the clubrooms for the Back To event, and were keenly read.
Each decade had its Team of the Decade drawn from First Eleven players from that era. There was also an “Other” team comprising players who played most of that period in the other grades, plus a couple of significant contributors in other areas.
*****For more pictures and detail of the Team selections, click HERE
 Juka - we congratulate you
Dean Jukic has become just the eighth player in Moonee Valley’s 50-year history to reach the 300-game milestone.
Playing in the Thirds – fittingly at home – on January 16, Deano put in a typical strong performance to help notch up a convincing win.
A solid batting score and a couple of wickets were more than enough to help the team over the line. Deano also had the privilege of being able to play his milestone game with long-standing club and team mates in Jim Polonidis, Mark Gauci, Ian Denny and Dean Lawson.
At right: Captain Sunny Sharma with a few well-chosen words about the great Dean Jukic's 300th game - and his memento bat to honor the occasion.
A two-time Premiership player, Deano has won four batting and five bowling awards across the grades from the Seconds down since he first pulled on the whites for the Valleys in 1998/99.
He’s now just a handful of runs away from the 5000 mark – ninth on our all-time list – and has more than 360 wickets to be sixth on our table.
He’s been recognised with Life Membership, is the 2019/20 winner of the Sean O’Kane Award for best player across all grades (other than Firsts), and has been selected four times as one of our Wisden Cricketers of the Year.
Deano has been chosen six times in our Wisden Team of the Year.
To top it off, he’s a four-time Most Valuable Player award winner – twice in the Thirds, once in the Fourths and once in the Fifths.
Dean is a bit of a quiet achiever around the club with wife Agatha, quietly putting in and not seeking the limelight as he goes about making it a better place.
He’s earned every accolade that’s come his way across his 300 games, and we all look forward to celebrating his 5000th run when it inevitably ticks over in the coming weeks.
****For a team photo and other pictures, click HERE
 EDEN'S ENCOUNTER
WITH THE ENGLISHMEN -
See the item in "Latest News" - click on "View All Articles"
MOONEE VALLEY CRICKET SENIOR TRAINING
Moonee Valley’s senior training is on each Tuesday and Thursday, following COVID-safe requirements.  We have QR code sign-in posters and hand sanitiser. Cricket Victoria is strongly encouraging all players or participants to get vaccinated. We are asking our players to show evidence of their vaccination status, as there are mandated requirements on using our facilities.
If you feel comfortable, please complete the information in this form (click here) , including uploading your vaccination certificate. Your information will be held securely with the club secretary, Michael Ozbun, until the time that it is needed.
Anyone interested in playing for Moonee Valley this season - seniors, juniors or our premiership-winning women's team - can phone or text President Charlie Walker on 0411 705 381 or Senior Coach Glen Courts on 0403 329 652
Our 50th anniversary ball - POSTPONED due to COVID
 The Moonee Valley Cricket Club 50th anniversary ball, due to be held on January 29, has been postponed due to the spike in COVID cases at the start of January.
We have had discussions with the Ultima Function Centre in Keilor Park, and will reschedule when the health situation settles down.
The Back to Ormond Park and major raffle event on Sunday, January 30 will still go ahead.
****Watch for more details.
Buy club clothing, pay your membership, buy tickets to club functions - do it all at www.mooneevalleycricketstore.com.au
Main Club contact details:
* Charlie Walker - President 0411 705 381; 9370 1802
* Peter Golding - Treasurer 0419 009 721
* Michael Ozbun - Secretary 0448 548 860
* Mark Gauci - Vice President 0457 778 335
* Charlie Walker - Junior Co-ordinator - mooneev@club.cricketvictoria.com.au
Email: mooneev@club.cricketvictoria.com.au
For more contacts, see " Office bearers & Officials " under "Club News & Info" at the top of the page
Last updated : February 7, 2022.
For more of our history, including our Premierships, click HERE
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