Our Most Valuable Player and Fielding

Award winners - our vote count

The Moonee Valley 2023/24 Most Valuable Player and Fieldlow vote count was held at the Ormond Park pavilion on March 10 - and we had plenty to celebrate.
The Firsts and Seconds earlier in the day had won their way into their Grand Finals - so the vote count was a chance to let the hair down before the serious business of concentrating on the game ahead.
There was plenty of enthusiasm from the gathering as Brendan "Jonty" Rhodes ran through his slide show of the vote count and provided expert commentary on the games.
Above: Some of our winners celebrate: L-R Suraj Weerasinghe, Ruwan Jayaweera, Jim Polonidis, Zac Nilsson and Tom Janetzki.
The winners are:
Most Valuable Player 2023/24 - Firsts Ruwan Jayaweera, Seconds Jim Polonidis, Womens Sandra Verschoor, Thirds Prashant Hirani, Fourths Prem Janarthanan, Fifths Minh Vo.
Fielding Awards 2023/24 - Firsts Luca Nimorakiotakis tied with Suraj Weerasinghe, Seconds Zac Nilsson, Womens Sarah Fenn, Thirds Tom Janetzki, Fourths Prem Janarthanan, Fifths Minh Vo.
For the full vote count in each grade and category, click HERE



Announcement: Moonee Valley Senior Coach appointment 2024/25

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Brayden McGregor as Moonee Valley's senior coach for the 2024/25 season.
Brayden joined Moonee Valley as a player half way through the 2022/23 season, and has become 

an integral part of our First Eleven. 
He has played First Eleven cricket for Premier club Carlton, and has been keen to expand his role at Moonee Valley.
His appointment was announced to the players at Ormond Park on March 7 by club Vice-President and 2023/24 coach Mark Gauci.
Gauch was not seeking reappointment as coach, and was actively involved in interviewing Brayden and recommending his appointment to the club executive.
Brayden has been running skills sessions at training throughout the season and has already made an impact on skills development, particularly with the players in the First and Second Elevens.
Above: The appointment of Brayden McGregor (left) as our 2024/25 coach was announced at training by Mark Gauci.

LANKAN CUISINE COMES TO THE VALLEY

Thanks to our Sri Lankan First Eleven players for a taste of their national cuisine - Rusiru Jayasiri, Suraj Weerasinghe and Ruwan Jayaweera took over the Ormond Park kitchen on March 7 and cooked the evening meal.
There were lamb and chicken dishes - suitably spiced - and our trio fed the hordes on selection night for the semi finals.
                 
Above: The meals and our chefs - L-R Suraj Weerasinghe, Rusiru Jayasiri and Ruwan Jayaweera.

HONORING

OUR HEATH

The Moonee Valley Cricket Club hosted Moonee Ponds on February 29 for the Webb-Johnson/Pascu Cup - held to draw attention to men's health issues.
Moonee Ponds took out the game - played 16 overs per innings - after the Valleys had won the three previous encounters.
At right: Lezanne Webb-Johnson with Reid and Bree and the Webb-Johnson/Pascu Cup.
Moonee Valley couldn't get its innings on track and lost its 10th wicket in the final over for a total of 82 - which was never enough.
Moonee Ponds chased down the target four wickets down - and now holds the Cup - until we win it back next season!
Heath Webb-Johnson's widow Lezanne and their children Reid and Bree were there to watch proceedings, along with good attendances from both Moonee Valley and Moonee Ponds.
The Cup was first contested in 2020/21 following the passing of Moonee Valley's Heath and Moonee Ponds' Gary Pascu, and both clubs saw the need to promote and highlight men's health.
It is a perpetual reminder of two loved and respected players and mates no longer with us.
Both clubs had been hit hard by the loss of much-loved members to men's health issues in recent seasons, and determined to stand up and be counted. The inscription on the cup says everything - "their passion and legacy transcends cricket and will be forever celebrated".
Above: Reid and Bree Webb-Johnson in Heath's old Valley shirts - and our team which played the match. L-R Rusiru Jayasiri, Suraj Weerasinghe, Ruwan Jayaweera, Tom Janetzki, Henry Thomas, Luka Anderson, Zac Nilsson, Tom Morrissy, captain Jack Newman, Tain Piercy and Joe Adams.
Up to now we have contested the Cup each time we met in the regular VTCA season, but as Moonee Valley is now in a higher grade we agreed to play off-fixture on a training night. Thanks to accredited umpires Paul Simon and Marcus Lee for donating their services.
Watch this space - more photos HERE

Full House for our poker night (not quite)

We had plenty to celebrate at the Moonee Valley Poker Night at the Ormond Park pavilion on March 3, as both the Firsts and Seconds set up their finals campaigns earlier in the day.
We had around 20 players on the tables with the Wild West Poker theme, and plenty of non-card sharps watching from the sidelines.
Congratulations to our winner, former junior Jesse Maljanek-Smith, with runners-up Brendan 'Jonty' Rhodes and Luka Anderson.
Thanks to the key organisers and facilitators for the event, Luke Brock and Brayden McGregor.
Above: They kept a poker face while the action was on, but not after the final hand: L-R Brendan Rhodes, Jesse Maljanek-Smith and Luka Anderson.
The event was a boost for the MVCC coffers, with a portion of the prize pool going back to the club and plenty of patronage across the bar.
****More pictures - click HERE


Senior training - Tuesday/Thursday

Senior training is held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, starting 6pm.
Moonee Valley is open to new senior and junior players as the season progresses.
Our senior training sessions are at our home ground at Ormond Park, Pattison St, Moonee Ponds.
We field men's teams on both turf and hard wicket, and both Saturday and Sunday grades.
Our premiership-winning women's cricket team plays in a Twenty20 competition on Sundays.
We have juniors at Under 16, Under 14, Under 12 and Under 10 level, and these teams play Friday evenings.
Anyone interested in playing for Moonee Valley - seniors, juniors or our women's team - can phone or text Coach Mark Gauci on 0457 778 335 , Junior Co-ordinator Paul Sevenson on 0407 556 950 or President Charlie Walker on  0411 705 381.
* Players now have to self-register through a new cricket registration system, PlayHQ. Here is the link to get into the system. Only register for one association - not all the associations we play in.  

Buy club clothing, pay your membership, buy tickets to club functions - do it all at www.mooneevalleycricketstore.com.au

Junior Registration - link here - https://play.cricket.com.au/club/moonee-valley-cricket-club/147223ea-86d8-eb11-a7ad-2818780da0cc

     Main Club contact details:

* Charlie Walker - President 0411 705 381; 9370 1802
* Allan Cumming - Treasurer 0438 380 990
* Brendan "Jonty" Rhodes - Secretary 0419 491 174
* Mark Gauci - Vice President 0457 778 335 
* Paul Sevenson - Junior Co-ordinator - 0407 556 950   

Emails: mooneevalleycricket@gmail.com
        charlie.walker@optusnet.com.au 

For more contacts, see " Office bearers & Officials " under "Club News & Info" at the top of the page

Last updated : March 11, 2024.
For more of our history, including our Premierships, click HERE