We're cheering on the Bulldogs at the Valley


The legions of long-suffering Bulldogs supporters had their day when Moonee Valley held its annual Grand Final day at the Ormond Park clubrooms.

Valley players and supporters who had not been born when the Scraggers won their last flag in 1954 - or even when they played in their last Grand Final against the Mighty Hawthorn in 1961 - came together with a mixture of pride and trepidation when the Western Bulldogs challenged Sydney in the game that mattered.
At left: Bulldogs supporters (some of them real supporters) L-R Ben Thomas, Jesse Nankivell-Sandor and partner Nysaa, and Matt Thomas (Bulldog impostor).

About 40 Valley players, supporters and family were together for the event, with a spit roast and salad, plenty of drinks and games for the kids - and of course a big screen TV to watch all the action.

Lifelong Footscray supporter Dean Jukic was at the clubrooms early to get the spit going and to give instruction on how to cook it, before heading off to the MCG for a "prior commitment".

Partner Agatha Soccio was at Ormond Park with the crowd, who were overwhelmingly Bulldog barrackers and cheered every goal, every defensive mark and every strong tackle, and groaned whenever Sydney gained the ascendancy.

At right: Real Bulldogs supporters - Ben Thomas (left) with Dean Jukic - who returned triumphant to the Valley after the game.

Club President Charlie Walker acknowledged how gracious the Mighty Hawthorn was, to step aside in the finals this year and allow two other clubs the chance of winning a premiership for a change. This time, it was the Western Bulldogs. Congratulations to all our Moonee Valley members and supporters who saw and lived the dream.

SEE THE PLANS! OUR NEW ROOMS SET TO

BECOME A

REALITY

THANKS TO

OUR

COUNCIL

REPS

The $2 million redevelopment and expansion of our Ormond Park pavilion has entered an exciting new phase, with the project plans signed off with the Moonee Valley Council.
Councillors Nicole Marshall and Jim Cusack had a final meeting at Ormond Park on September 22 with Moonee Valley cricket and football presidents Charlie Walker and Steve Radford to review the final plans.
Above: Looking over the signed-off plans in our Ormond Park clubrooms: L-R - Cricket Club President Charlie Walker, Moonee Valley Councillors Jim Cusack and Nicole Marshall, and Football Club President Steve Radford.
Cr Marshall and Cr Cusack have been the driving force behind our redevelopment, since a first-hand inspection late last year showed how the old pavilion had passed its use-by date in terms of amenity and space.
“Our cricket and football clubs had been agitating and advocating for years about the inadequacies of our pavilion, but it wasn’t until Nicole Marshall and Jim Cusack took up the cause that things started to happen,” Charlie Walker said.
“We had been of the understanding that any works were still a number of years away, and were delighted that strong advocacy from Jim and Nicole was able to get our new pavilion promoted to a priority spot and turned into a reality in this year’s Council budget.
“They both understood what our clubs needed, and as a result the final plans include much-needed amenities such as a significantly expanded social area, an upstairs scorers/timekeepers box, a functional kitchen and plenty of storage space.
“I note that Cr Marshall and Cr Cusack are standing for re-election in our Myrnong Ward in this year’s Moonee Valley Council elections.
“They have played an integral role in progressing this exciting redevelopment of our pavilion, and on behalf of the Moonee Valley Cricket Club I am keen that they are able to see it through to the end.
“There is still a lot more to be done before construction starts and the finer detail of our new pavilion becomes a reality, and it is important that we continue to have a direct line into Council,” Charlie said.
Cr Marshall is a former cricketer, while Cr Cusack had a strong connection with our club as his son Kilian came through our juniors and into senior cricket.
Steve Radford also thanked the two councillors for their ongoing role in the project, and pointed out that the expanded change rooms, including facilities to enable women and girls to play sport, set a firm foundation for future growth in participation.
“This is an innovative redevelopment which sets up our clubs and our park for an exciting future, and I thank Jim Cusack and Nicole Marshall for taking the lead and piloting it through the Council,” Steve said.
Cr Cusack said the pavilion was one step in the overall strategy plan for Ormond Park, and he was keen to continue working with Cr Marshall and our clubs to see it develop and progress over the coming years.
***To see a more detailed version of the plan, click on this LINK.

KERN HAS

HIS TURN

Kern Kapoor has been our heaviest-scoring batsman across our four seasons of winter competition, but each year managed to get pipped for the batting award - until this year!
He has scored a massive 797 runs - 77 more than the next most prolific batsman, Ben Thomas, but the big trophy always seemed to elude Kern.
At left: Some of our award winners at presentation night: L-R Neil King, Ben Thomas, Kern Kapoor, Michael Ozbun and Channa DeSilva.
He snapped up the Most Valuable Player medallions in each of the first two seasons, and now has a batting award to show for his great efforts out in the middle.
Our Mid Year Cricket Association presentation night was hosted by Kern and his family at the excellent L'Osteria Restaurant in North Fitzroy on September 18.
For the first time we ran two teams in the winter comp - one in Central Division and the other in Inner North Division.
While we didn't have the wins that we've notched up in previous seasons - at times due to a shortage of players on the ground - it was a good learning experience and the hard work stands us in good stead for future years.
Skipper of our Central Division team was Michael Ozbun, while Channa DeSilva took the reins for the Inner North team.
Our full list of trophy winners is:

*Central Division Batting Award KERN KAPOOR 188 runs @ 37.6
*Central Division Bowling Award NEIL KING 9 wickets @ 10.33
*Central Division Fielding Award MICHAEL OZBUN 14 votes
*Central Division MVP BEN THOMAS 20 votes

*Inner NW Division Batting Award CHANNA DeSILVA 268 runs @ 67.0
*Inner NW Division Bowling Award CAMERON MORRIS 9 wickets @ 19.67
*Inner NW Division Fielding Award CAMERON MORRIS 11 votes
*Inner NW Division MVP JAYDEN SCHWARZE 12 votes

Pictured: Celebrating the night: L-R Ben Thomas, Neil King, Eddie Rayner, Kern Kapoor, Michael Ozbun, Charlie Walker, James Beilken and Peter Golding, with Channa DeSilva in front.

Practice makes perfect in Barooga for the

Valleys

Moonee Valley sent a strong team to Barooga for our practice match on September 24, and came away with a solid win.
Barooga, on the Murray in NSW, has hosted Moonee Valley teams for the last three Januarys in its Over 35s tournament, and this time invited our top grade players up for a pre-season hit-out on turf.
Our thanks to Barooga Cricket Club for organising and hosting the match, and to Valleys player Sean O'Kane for getting us the invitation to his home town and boyhood cricket club.
We played on the immaculate Barooga No. 2 oval, and the Valleys guys have already nominated it as the best ground they'll play on all  year. The ground is not used for winter sport, and the turf wicket was top notch.
Our victorious team: L-R Rear - Chanaka Silva, Dan Comande, Matt Esmore, Channa DeSilva, Matt Thomas, Jack Newman, Jake De Niese, Nate Wolland and Jordon McDonald. Front - Chris Pollock and Alex Davidson.
Moonee Valley batted first, and compiled 6/135 from our 40 overs.
Best performances were Nadeera Thuppahi 52, Matt Thomas, 20, Jack Newman a quickfire 17 despite being hampered by a bruised knee sustained in the match, and Chanaka Silva with 16.
Barooga was quickly in trouble at 3/3, with just one run off the bat, with our opening bowlers Chris Pollock and Nate Wolland both striking early.
Chanaka Silva bowled an immaculate line for 0/14 off eight overs, and Alex Davidson showed great discipline with the ball to take 1/4 off 4.
Jordon McDonald broke Barooga's back with two wickets in two balls, and Chris Pollock completed the team hat-trick with the first ball of the next over to have the home side 8/86 in the 32nd over.
Barooga lost its last wicket at 115 with one ball to go.
Our ground fielding was excellent on the bowling-green like outfield, with Jordon McDonald standing out with some excellent saves.
However, coach Lou Raffaele will have some work to do with catching, after a number of chances were put down.

Above left: Nadeera Thuppahi limbers up from a knee strain.

SENIOR TRAINING - TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS - Details - ph 0409 237 543

Main Club contact details:

* Charlie Walker - President 0409 237 543; 9370 1802
* Peter Golding - Club Treasurer 0419 009 721
* Simon Thornton - Vice President 0417 570 779
* Leigh Holder - Joint Junior Co-ordinator 0423 226 532 allleigh@bigpond.net.au 
* Peter Pickering - Joint Junior Co-ordinator 0414 800 145 pjp@vicbar.com.au 
* Channa DeSilva - Director of Junior Cricket 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 3, 2016.

For more of our history, including our Premierships, click HERE

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