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Junior registration day: It's on this Sunday, August 30
Our junior registration  day is being held  at the Ormond Park pavilion on Sunday, August 30, with a sausage sizzle and all the information you need for our young stars of the future to sign up for season 2009/10 - in what is now our 14th year of junior cricket at Moonee Valley.

Junior Co-ordinator Kevin Gardiner (left) - one of the committed parents at our Club - said the registration will run from 11am to 1pm. While it's not compulsory for players from past years or new players to attend, the day gives us an excellent opportunity to get information to players and parents and give them some indication of what we expect from the season.

Kevin said the Club expects to field four Under 16 teams this season, as well as three Under 14s, four Under 12s and at least three Under 10s. Moonee Valley will again run its Friday evening Milo In To Cricket program for the youngsters.

New players are welcome.

Kevin said it was again intended to field one team in each age group in the highest possible grading, while the other teams in lower grades would enable up-and-coming cricketers and friends to play together and develop their skills.

While the local competition no longer had junior girls teams, Moonee Valley has successfully integrated girls into mixed competition and will provide opportunities for girls again this season. The North West Cricket Association this season plans to follow Moonee Valley's example and nominate grades in each age group where mixed teams can compete.

Kevin is also calling for applications from parents or other interested people for the positions of team coaches and other junior officials.

Anyone wanting more information about our junior registration day can ring Kevin Gardiner on 0417 536 896 or email him at kevingardiner@hotmail.com or click here for a print-ready flier.

Fill in your forms and bring them along

To help streamline the registration day, parents or intending players can print out their forms now, fill them in and bring them along on the day.
Forms that are ready now are:
NWCA junior registration form (you don't need one if you're already registered for cricket at Moonee Valley)
NWCA clearance form (you need it if you're coming from another club)
Family information (to help us know our families and preferences)
Higher age group permission (you need it if you're playing in an age group higher than the one you're eligible for) 

Valley's Seniors Pre-Season now in full swing
We're now into pre-season for another big year of cricket at the Moonee Valley Cricket Club.
We've had our four Sunday indoor training sessions, and now's the time to get some work under our belts in practice matches and down at Ormond Park for current players and interested or intending new players.
Club vice president Sandro Capocchi (right) said we still need players for two teams for practice matches at Bairnsdale on Saturday, September 12.
Intending or potential new players can ring coach Lou on 0433 854 549 or president Charlie Walker on 9370 1802 or 0409 237 543.
On Sunday, August 30 we're down at Ormond Park from 10am to midday, with another Sunday session on September 6.
Regular Tuesday sessions start at Ormond Park from September 1 onwards, with a 4.30pm start.
Regular Thursday sessions will run from September 10 at 4.30. 
For more details of the pre-season and other important information about our Club, click on the link here to our senior Newsletter.

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We're the mighty Moonee Valley - the biggest cricket club in Victoria!
Moonee Valley is officially Victoria's biggest cricket club. Our North West Region's Cricket Victoria Cricket Manager, Stuart Clark has advised that with the 26 teams we fielded in 2008/09, we're officially the State's biggest.
Stuart advised that the club census carried out by Cricket Victoria earlier in the season established us as the team on top.
MVCC president Charlie Walker (left) said it was a big feather in the cap for our Club, given our phenomenal growth over the past eight years.
"In 2007/08 Cricket Victoria advised that we were one of the four biggest clubs going around," Charlie said.
"Now, with an extra two teams added last season, we're the biggest club. Each week during the season we put some 300 men, women and juniors on the park.
"In 2008/09 we fielded 10 men's teams, two women's teams and 14 junior teams. It's a fantastic result for a fantastic Club. We retain our commitment to ensuring we have teams and spots available for anyone who wants to play for the Moonee Valley Cricket Club.
"We're already looking towards an exciting 2009/10 season, and having the honor of being Victoria's biggest club gives us extra impetus.
"We're officially the biggest Club. We want to make sure we do everything to enable us to also call ourselves the best Club," Charlie said.

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Lou and Mark are back as our two key onfield leaders
Moonee Valley Cricket Club has reappointed  Lou Raffaele (left) as our Senior Coach for the 2009/10 season, with Mark Gauci (right) reappointed as captain of our First Eleven for his fifth season.
It is Lou's third season in charge of the biggest cricket club in Victoria.
Club President Charlie Walker said Lou has led significant improvement in our playing group in his time at Moonee Valley.
"His coaching and leadership played a major role in our top three teams making finals in 2008/09, and other improvements across the Club," Charlie said.
"We welcome his reappointment, and we are sure that the improvement under Lou will continue."
Club Vice-President Sandro Capocchi said the combination of Mark and Lou provided stability to the Club last season and led to the First Eleven playing off in a Grand Final.Anyone looking for a great club to play in the comingseason should ring Lou on 0433 854 549 or Charlie on 0409 237 543.

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Our Assistant Coaches have taken charge
Moonee Valley's Assistant Coaches for the 2009/10 season have been appointed - and the roles have been taken by Arosha Perera (left) and Mark Gauci (right).
They have been appointed as Assistants to Senior Coach Lou Raffaele, who has been appointed to his third season in charge of MVCC.
Mark is in his fifth season as First Eleven captain, while Arosha has proved over four seasons to be one of the most outstanding batsmen and fielders in the whole of the competition.

Moonee Valley's new Committee for 2009/10 was elected at our Annual General Meeting, which was held at the Ormond Park bowls rooms on May 28. The Committee is already looking forward to an exciting season for 2009/10.

The members are:

President: Graeme "Charlie" Walker
Vice President: Sandro Capocchi
Secretary: Richard Cooney (top right)
Treasurer: Paul Comino
Functions & Events Manager: Kim Johnston (top left)
Sponsorship Manager: Ryan Fairclough
Junior Co-ordinator: Kevin Gardiner
Merchandising Manager: Steve Malone (bottom right)
Match Day Manager: Jim Polonidis
Funds Manager: Jenny O'Brien
Assistant Treasurer: Chris Micallef (bottom left)
Equipment Manager: Phill King

Our 2008/09 Valley Wisdens:
Look here now for all the detail!
Our 2008/09 Senior and Junior Wisdens are both here on our website now.
To read our Senior Wisden - 80 pages jam-packed with facts, figures and statistics, click here. You'll read all about the excellent season of Sean O'Kane (right), who was selected one of our five Wisden Cricketers of the Year for 2008/09 and also made the Moonee Valley Wisden Team of the Year.
And here's our Junior Wisden for 08/09.