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.

A GRAND OLD TIME

Moonee Valley players, family and supporters got together on AFL Grand Final day to cheer on the winners and the losers, in our first function in our new pavilion.
It didn't matter who won or lost on the big screen - we were all winners in our grand new home at Ormond Park.
More than three dozen people attended across the day, and our "trial run" of the new facilities shows there will be plenty more on offer.
It was a good fundraiser for our Club this early in the season.
Thanks to the Mr Quick Whip company, which donated the use of a slushie machine which proved popular with the younger supporters - and also with the adults when the cups were topped up behind the bar.
Above right: Peter Golding took charge of the slushie machine at the GF Day.
Thanks to Vice President Mark Gauci for organising with Mr Quick Whip for the machine.
Thanks also to Joshua Gorry for organising a meat sponsor for the day, and for also organising the Beer of the Day promotion at no cost to the club.
And finally thanks to Channa DeSilva and Nick Brelis for their time on the barbecue and in our flash new-look canteen, and for Peter Golding, Kevin Gardiner and others in the bar.
The Grand Final function came after a solid Saturday morning training session with coach Tony Gleeson, which saw about 30 players out on the track and putting in the effort in the lead-up to the season start.
If the hard training session and the cameraderie at the function are any indication, we're primed for a good season.
**More photos HERE

A good win on our Barooga Pre-season trip

                                    
Above: Our Barooga practice match winners: L-R Coach Tony Gleeson, Stephen Esmore, Nick Brelis, Jack Newman, Muhammed Ashraf, Channa DeSilva, Abhishek Mehta, Anthony Cafari, Ben Thomas, Suraj Weerasinghe, Sameera Vithana and Shiwantha Kumara.

Moonee Valley ventured to Barooga on September 21 for a pre-season practice match on turf, and came up trumps.
Playing against the Barooga Cricket Club, we posted 172 - losing our last wicket on the last ball of the 45th and final over - and in reply got them all out for 118 in the 30th over.

Barooga has two excellent turf grounds which are regularly used pre-season by the NSW Sheffield Shield team and by State rep junior teams, so we thank Barooga CC and their President Wes Sutton for fitting us in.
It's the third time we've had a pre-season game in Barooga over the past few years, and following discussions post-game we're close to locking it in with Barooga CC as an annual event.
Moonee Valley has also entered the Barooga Masters over 35s tournament in January for the past six years.
Thanks also to the "link" between the two Clubs - Moonee Valley Life Member and Premiership player Sean O'Kane has been instrumental in developing the relationship with his home-town club.
Moonee Valley fielded a strong 11 for the match, with about six other players and supporters making the journey to the NSW border town for the weekend away.
The game gave us a chance to look at some new players under match conditions, and it was a good pointer to the season.
Sri Lankan international player Suraj Weerasinghe only got off the plane mid-week, but showed his class with 26 runs and an excellent game behind the stumps, making three stumpings and taking a top catch.
Recruit Sameera Vithana, previously with Jacana, opened the batting aggressively for 35 runs.
Our other Sri Lankan international Shiwantha Kumara, in his second season, hit a towering six before being beaten by a top ball. He took 1/3 off four overs, and the Barooga batsmen said he was turning it sideways.
New recruit Abhishek Mehta is a livewire between the wickets and made 22 excellent runs, and backed up with 2/6 from five overs. Barooga's wise heads on the boundary remarked on his excellent footwork and predicted a big season from him.
And our other recruit Muhammed Ashraf, who arrived from Pakistan in June on a study visa, made nine runs and took 2/29 - and was on a hat-trick. 

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 16, 2019.
For more of our history, including our Premierships, click HERE