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Front Page - up to November 30, 2020

Men's health - our joint tribute

Moonee Valley and Aberfeldie Park cricket clubs have both been hit hard by the loss of much-loved members to men's health issues in the past couple of seasons, and have determined to stand up and be counted.
Rather than let tough questions go unanswered the two Moonee Ponds-based clubs came together for a perpetual reminder of two loved and respected players and mates no longer with us - Heath Webb-Johnson of Moonee Valley and Gary Pascu of Aberfeldie Park.
The Second Elevens of the two clubs played off for the Webb-Johnson/Pascu Cup on November 21, and it was a hard-fought contest all day - Aberfeldie Park won by three runs off the last ball of the day.
It was played between the Second Elevens because close mates of the two were in that grade for the round, and it was appropriate they were part of it.
The inscription on the cup says everything - "their passion and legacy transcends cricket and will be forever celebrated".
Heath's widow Lezanne and their children Reid and Bree were at the game - played at Aberfeldie Park - for the beginning, while his parents Neville and Gloria visited during the game and then briefly called in at Ormond Park.
Heath's father Neville passed on the thanks from the family for the ongoing honor and remembrance of our much-loved teammate.

Debut win was in Saif hands

The debut game of our Eighths this season was delicately poised at the half way mark on November 22, with our team on 1/79 at the 20 over mark.
The loss of a wicket soon after drinks brought Saif Shafqat to the crease, and the trend of the game changed in a twinkle.
Saif brought up his century in not too many balls of power hitting, and became just the seventh player in our 50-year history to score a century on debut.
At left - Saif Shafqat raises his bat walking off after his unbeaten century.
The Eighths is our partnership between the Moonee Valley Cricket Club and Victorian Institute of Technology. The players - most of them international students - proudly wear the Moonee Valley emblem alongside their VIT logo on their shirts.
Saif had to retire on 100 not out, in accordance with the rules of the NWMCA one-day grade, but set up a platform for the following batsmen to hit out and take the score to 4/241.
Our opponents RMIT also had a bit of a dip after the drinks break but were all out for 181.
Club President Charlie Walker attended the match, and welcomed the partnership with VIT with a view it would be a long one. VIT - welcome on board.

Our best-in-comp winners get their trophies

It's been a long winter for all Victorians with the coronavirus pandemic, and the impact it's had on local sport.
Traditional post-season activities were put on hold as the coronavirus took hold in March, and that included club and competition presentation nights.
For two members of Moonee Valley's Premiership-winning Fifths, that meant a big delay in getting their hands on their best-in-comp awards - Liam Shaw won the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association Girolami Shield batting award while Cassidy Box took out the bowling trophy.
Cassidy Box (far left) and Liam Shaw with their NWMCA trophies.
The NWMCA passed on the trophies to Moonee Valley, and we were able to present the trophies to Liam and Cassidy after their season opener on November 21.
Cassidy took 29 wickets @ 10.31 while Liam plundered 371 runs @ 74.2.

Our Se ason laun ch 2020/2 1 - cricke t's on!

From Premiers to bottle-washers! Fifths Grand Final winners Paddy Shelton (left) and Sam Kater cooked up a feast for the guests. Moonee Valley's first function of the 2020/21 Season was a big success, with November 21 heralding in the Premiership defences of the Firsts and Fifths on our home turf - for a close win to the First Eleven and a tie for the Shiners.
Patrons had to observe the strict COVID-19 safety protocols, including limited numbers of guests seated in the pavilion and others being accommodated outside within the numbers cap set by the Government.
We had live music with Rick Gauci in the pavilion, while the Fifths took control of organising, cooking and dishing out the excellent barbecue and salad meal.
At right: From Premiers to bottle-washers! Fifths Grand Final winners Paddy Shelton (left) and Sam Kater cooked up a feast for the guests.
The juniors also had their own celebration earlier in the afternoon, with a barbecue for our players and families.
Both day and night events were an opportunity to welcome everyone back to the club for the season opener for the Firsts, Seconds and the Fifths.
The November 21/22 weekend also marked Round 2 for the Thirds, Fourths and Sixths, as Mercantile and the NWMCA started a week earlier.
The Sevenths and Eighths kicked off their 2020/21 season the day after the function while our Women’s team and the juniors have a start the following week.
For those new to the club, the function was a great chance to meet everyone - and hopefully share a few tales of the first games, or seasons past.
***More pictures from the night - click HERE

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

Senior cricket training – Tuesdays and Thursdays

Moonee Valley seniors are training Tuesdays and Thursdays - with our women's team booked to train Wednesdays.

Coach Glen Courts is at Ormond Park early to get training under way by 5.30pm, and we are training in accordance with COVID-19 compliance and safety.

There are strict requirements from the Victorian Government and from Cricket Victoria which have enabled us to return to play, and they have been endorsed by our Associations.

As part of staying safe:

*Players should come dressed ready to train or play - minimise use of change rooms.

*There is no sharing of food or drinks. Players should bring their own food and drink - or can buy an individual, clear-wrapped meal at the canteen.

*Sanitizer is provided at the ground, and players are expected to sanitize hands on a regular basis.

*Any shared equipment has to be sanitized before it can be passed to anyone else.

*Balls will need to be regularly sanitized.

*Social distancing is required, and players are required to wear masks at all times unless batting, bowling and participating in drills which require exertion.

*We all have masks from the lockdown, so players should bring their own mask.

*Players and anyone staying on game day or for training more than 15 minutes MUST sign in and sign out for training with the QR code – and this can be done on mobile phones. People who come into the pavilion must also sign in and out with a separate QR code.

*Under the return to play provisions, players MUST train in groups of up to 11 on each night, and are not allowed to mingle or interchange with the other groups at the session.

*Anyone who feels ill or has any symptoms of COVID-19 must stay away from Ormond Park and other players, and as per Government directives should get tested.

Players interested in joining Moonee Valley can ring Glen Courts on 0403 329 652 or club President Charlie Walker on 0411 705 381.

See you at training.

Charlie Walker.
President,
Moonee Valley Cricket Club

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
* Peter Pickering - 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 : November 27, 2020.
For more of our history, including our Premierships, click HERE