Dan's our man

First Eleven all-rounder Daniel Comande mesmerised the Sanctuary Lakes batsmen on October 19 to take his maiden five-wicket haul for Moonee Valley.
Leg-spinner Dan didn't bowl at all in Round 1 as spin twins Shiwantha Kumara and Sameera Vithana did all the damage, but was in his element in the second round - particularly as Sameera had to go off with a groin strain.
At right: Seven wickets - Alec McIntyre (left) took two in his Firsts debut and Dan Comande got 5/19.
Dan took 5/19 off six overs. He was well backed up by First Eleven debutant Alec McIntyre, with 2/2 off 2 overs.
Moonee Valley won the match, out for 254 off 39.2 of our allotted 40 overs. We bundled Sanctuary Lakes out for 87.
DC is probably Moonee Valley's most aggressive and threatening bowler when the batsmen try to shut up shop and let him dictate terms, and he used all his guile and skill to constantly attack the stumps and ask questions.
His fifth wicket was a caught and bowled - smashed back at him, DC knocked the ball up into the air, and was able to double back towards the stumps and take it comfortably.
Bowling partner Alec McIntyre looked assured in his First Eleven debut, making a controlled 12 with the bat at No. 9 and taking two important wickets, including the Sanctuary Lakes captain LBS for 20 when he was looking to hit out.
Moonee Valley has now won the first two First Eleven games of the season, against the VTCA's two new clubs - Sunbury and Sanctuary Lakes. As coach Tony Gleeson says, getting the points early in the season is all-important. Keep it up lads!


VALLEY'S MORLEY MAULERS

Liam Shaw and Jarrad Sims played a season together at Perth's Bedford Morley Cricket Club in 2017/18, and now they're together again at Moonee Valley - with devastating results.
Jarrad and Liam each hit centuries within a day of each other to start off the season.
At left: Ton-up teammates - Liam Shaw (far left) and Jarrad Sims.
Liam marked his return to our Fifths with 101 not out against Maribyrnong Park St Marys on October 12, and Jarrad scored an even 100 not out the next day against Shakti Lions, after "doubling up" with another game after his Saturday hit-out.
Liam is the only player in Moonee Valley history to hit three centuries in a row, which he did the season before he headed to Perth for work.
He joined Bedford Morley - and met Jarrad - after being invited there by former Moonee Valley teammate Chris Rebeiro.
Liam was based in Sydney last season, but still found time to play a few games for Moonee Valley as a fly-in player.
We're certainly  happy that the two team-mates are reunited at Moonee Valley - and hope there are plenty more runs to come.


Our winter warriors

It takes a special type of cricketer to brave the winter weather, and Moonee Valley's Winter Warriors did it again.
We held our presentation night in the new Ormond Park clubrooms on spark on October 16, with close counts for both the Most Valuable Player and the fielding awards.
At right: Jordon McDonald (left) won the batting award while Matt Thomas won the bowling by the tightest of margins.It came down to the last game before Jordon McDonald was confirmed as the winner of the Moonee Valley Black MVP with 23 votes, two in front of skipper Matt Esmore.
Lachlan Campbell was third on 16 votes, from Akshat Sehgal on 14.
Xavier Cahill won the Black fielding award with 11 votes, from Joshua Norsetter on seven and Jordon McDonald on six.
The voting from Pat Taylor's Moonee Valley White team is still being finalised.
Jordon McDonald was the runaway winner of the Moonee Valley Black batting award with 284 runs @ 94.67.
The bowling was a much tighter race, with both Matt Esmore and Lachlan Campbell taking nine wickets.
Matt took 9/148 for an average of 16.44 - just one run better than Lachlan's 9/149.
You can't get much closer than that!

Above: Channa DeSilva opened the batting for the Firsts and made 64 in our first turf game from our new pavilion. We beat Sunbury.

FIRST GAME BACK

Below: Luke Brock opened the bowling in our first turf game out of our new pavilion - versus Sunbury. The view is
from our scorer's box.

Moonee Valley's first turf game from our new pavilion was the First Eleven fixture v Sunbury on October 12. It was originally fixtured for a Seconds home game, but the VTCA changed the fixture and the opponent two days before the match, and the Firsts got the gig.
We played Sunbury - a new team to the VTCA. Batting first, Moonee Valley made 8/150cc on the back of 64 from Channa DeSilva and 45 from Anthony Cafari. We then got Sunbury all out for 135, with Sameera Vithana and Shiwantha Kumara each taking three wickets.
**For a photo of the team, click HERE.

New coach, new committee, new season, new clubrooms, new players - get on board

Moonee Valley Cricket Club enters the 2019/20 season on a roll - with a new coach, a revamped committee, our new $2.5 million showcase clubrooms, new players and a determination to get the job done.
And if YOU want to be part of it, get on board now!
We've got:
*  New coach Tony Gleeson (right), who oversaw Carlton's Premier Cricket flag in 2018/19 as First Eleven team manager.
*  A new and revamped committee running our club, with new members Liam Shaw and Joshua Gorry.
*  Our $2.5 million new clubrooms - sure to be the envy of every other club in the region.
*  New players - including Carlton Fourth Eleven premiership captain Sam Walker; Jacana club champion Sameera Vithana, Sri Lankan import Suraj Weerasinghe, and Sri Lankan international Nadeera Thuppahi, who starred at Moonee Valley several seasons ago.
*  A core of returning players to build a First Eleven team around, including captain Jack Newman and Sri Lankan first class player Shiwantha Kumara.
*  A group of exciting teens from our junior program, already pushing high into our senior grades.
There's a real buzz around Ormond Park.
Coach Tony Gleeson is keen for players to be challenged, so there are plenty of opportunities for more new players to come on board and push for spots.
So anyone keen to come down to - or come back to - Moonee Valley should phone Tony Gleeson on 0427 043 891, Vice President Mark Gauci on 0457 778 335 or President Charlie Walker on 0411 705 381. You can also email us at mooneev@club.cricketvictoria.com.au

    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: October 21, 2019.
For more of our history, including our Premierships, click HERE