Dejan's big day out

Dejan Gilevski picked the best time to take his hat-trick - with his team the Sixths in a tight tussle for the last spot in the finals.
Pascoe Vale Central looked a chance to get away in the back half of their innings, but Dejan's February 22 hat-trick - two bowled and an LBW - put the brakes on.
At left: Dejan Gilevski shows off his hat-trick ball with teammates L-R Jackson Price, Mitchell Britton, Tomas Morrissy, Dan Terzini, Murray Price, Ben Skok, Allan Cumming, Jesse Felle and Yashwanth Kanduri.
The game is evenly poised leading into Day 2, chasing 197.
Dejan is in his first year of Under 16s and has picked up plenty of experience playing with Danny Terzini in our Sixths all season, so things look promising for the future.
Dejan's hat-trick was just one of several major contributions from junior players over the weekend.
Bevan Holder hit his second successive century in Under 16s on Friday, becoming the first player in our junior history to double up on tons.
And Luca Nimorakiotakis from the Under 16s made a big impact in our Seconds must-win game v Footscray ANA, taking 6/28 - all wickets bowled.
In the Fourths on the Sunday, our two top scorers were Under 16s players Nam Nguyen with 39 and Felix Fischer with 26no - and the two juniors combined for a runout.
Even though he's still in Under 16s, Joshua Norsetter on Sunday brought up his 100th senior game for Moonee Valley - a remarkable achievement.
And playing alongside Dejan in the Sixths, Tomas Morrissy took 3/29.

Sporty Jim's 300th game        
Moonee Valley legend Jim Polonidis has become the seventh player in our history to play 300 games.

Teammates and long-time clubmates formed a guard of honor for Jim to take to the ground in the Seconds game on January 25 - fittingly on our own turf at Ormond Park.

The tributes to Jim’s milestone on social media showed just how respected and revered he is around our club.

At right: Moonee Valley great Jim Polonidis runs onto the ground through a guard of honor of teammates and clubmates.

A former vice-president, Jim has been selfless in his commitment to Moonee Valley.

An accomplished player with bat and ball, Jim last season brought up 4000 runs for the Valley, and this season became just the fourth player to top 400 wickets.

He joins illustrious company with his 300 games – Darren Nagle, Ian Denny, Mark Gauci, Danny Terzini and Joe Ansaldo.

For a while he was jokingly known as Mr Ha – Jim’s wife Tien played 46 games for the Valley, and in 2009/10 won the batting, bowling and fielding awards in our Women’s First Eleven – and the MVP medal.

Jim’s a three-time Premiership player – including a flag in the Firsts, and a five-time Wisden Cricketer of the Year.

He’s won the Second Eleven bowling award the last four seasons in a row, and for good measure won the batting award as well in 2016/17.

At left: Teammates and clubmates gather with Jim in the rooms before the game. L-R: Back - Michael Ozbun, Mark Gauci, Danny Terzini and Tony Gleeson. Front - Daniel Phillips, Dean Lawson, Bob Sciacchitano, Sean O'Kane, Darren Nagle, Dean Jukic, Jim Polonidis, Geoff McKeown, Jesse Nankivell-Sandor, Stephen Ward, Joshua Norsetter and Jaykumar Patel.

He’s been in our Moonee Valley Team of the Year four times – three as captain, and won the revered Lindsay Jones Best Clubman award in 2000/01 – is there anything that Jim hasn’t done?

Congratulations to a great bloke. And the way Jim’s going, 400 games is in his sights.

Sevenths give it a shake

Moonee Valley's Sevenths were upbeat and proud when they bowed out of the finals in the NWMCA Sunday one-day grades on February 16. We'd had a disjointed season and didn't get much regularity until after the Christmas break, but turned in our better performances whe we promoted juniors.
At right: Our Sevenths team in the finals: L-R Yashwanth Kanduri, Shaun Rayment, Luca Nimorakiotakis, Felix Fischer, Bevan Holder, Andreas Skiotis, Noah Nimorakiotakis, Michael Ozbun, Bill Nimorakiotakis, Tomas Morrissy and George Manousas.
In the final Aintree 4/284 def Moonee Valley 5/118, and we batted resolutely to ensure we didn't give up all our wickets.
We went into the final with a plan hatched by captain Michael Ozbun, vice captain Andreas Skiotis and team tactician Bill Nimorakiotakis, and were able to play to our strengths.
Bill had the enjoyment of playing finals cricket with his MVCC juniors sons Luca and Noah and his best mate George Manousas, who Bill cajoled into playing after Christmas despite 20 years out of the game. George topped our bowling for the season.
Juniors to get valuable senior finals experience were Felix Fischer, Bevan Holder, Luca and Noah Nimorakiotakis and Tomas Morrissy.
Guys, we're proud of you.

OUR SENIOR WISDEN 2018/19 - ALL 122 PAGES OF IT, WITH STATS, RECORDS, PHOTOS AND COMMENTARY. CLICK HERE TO SEE IT

Our Apple Isle style

Mitchell Britton and Markus 'Baz' Harris have been long-time mates and sports buffs from their time growing up in Tasmania, but it's not until they knocked on the door at Moonee Valley that they've actually played together. And now that's changed.
They've quickly established themselves at our club, and Mitch has been rewarded with the first five-wicket haul of his career.
And it was fitting that he was playing with Markus when he achieved it, in the Sixths on February 8.
Mitch's 5/30 has put the team in a solid position in the two-day match, and a win could spearhead a push into the finals.
At right: Mitchell Britton with his five-wicket ball and great mate Markus Harris.
And Mitch's five-for means that Markus hasn't got all the bragging rights among our Tasmanian contingent.
Markus took five wicket hauls in consecutive days on November 16 and 17, playing in the Sixths and the Fourths.
And Mitch's 5/30 were the best figures.
But who's counting?
If Mitch and Baz can continue with their form - and Baz in particular is handy with the bat - they may have more to celebrate with the Sixths come season's end.
And to round out Moonee Valley's Tasmanian connection, Charlie Jackson was part of a comfortable win in the Fifths on Saturday.



A milestone match - it's all that Matters

The 200 game milestone is the latest accolade for Moonee Valley’s Matt Thomas, who has spent more than half of his life at our club.
Matt started as a youngster and has been here virtually from the beginning of our juniors, when we started under-age grades at Moonee Valley in 1996.
At right:  The team which helped Matt Thomas celebrate his 200th game: L-R. Back - Channa DeSilva, Joshua Gorry, Ben Thomas, Matt Thomas, Shiwantha Kumara, Nadeera Thuppahi and Luca Nimorakiotakis. Front - Jack Newman, Bede Gannon, Suraj Weerasinghe and Samara Vithana.  
Already a Life Member, the 200-game mark is a testament to his achievements over more than two decades.
He’s played in a First Eleven premiership, captained the Firsts for two seasons and was selected captain of the VTCA Team of the Year in 2014/15.
He took to the field in the January 25/February 1 fixture against Sunshine YCW, and was one of the not-out batsmen when the game was called on Week 2 due to rain, with Moonee Valley in a dominant position.
Matt won the First Eleven bowling awards in 2013/14 and 2014/15 and was Club Champion in those seasons – his captaincy years – proving he leads from the front.
He's one of only nine Moonee Valley players to score centuries in consecutive innings, in 2006/07 – 131 not out in the Sevenths, followed up with 126 in the Seconds. 
Matt’s been selected four times in the Moonee Valley Team of the Year – twice as vice-captain.
He’s also spent time on the MVCC Committee, so he has truly made a lasting and important contribution to our club both on and off the field.

     Main Club contact details:

* Charlie Walker - President/Secretary 0411 705 381; 9370 1802
* Peter Golding - Treasurer 0419 009 721
* Mark Gauci - Vice President 0457 778 335
* Peter Pickering - Junior Co-ordinator 0414 800 145  pjp@vicbar.com.au  
* Channa DeSilva - Membership Co-ordinator 0402 833 592

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 24, 2020.
For more of our history, including our Premierships, click HERE