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PRE-SEASON TRAINING: Change of time and venue for THIS SUNDAY, August 8 only. This Sunday's training is at ASG, Unit 12/640-680 Geelong Rd, Brooklyn from 9 to 10am. After this week training reverts to Footscray. For more details see the item in our News Pages above.

Lou Raffaele reappointed as our senior coach 
Moonee Valley Cricket Club has reappointed Lou Raffaele as our senior coach for the fourth season.
Lou's reappointment was ratified by the Club Committee following interviews at the North Suburban Club on July 13.
In announcing the reappointment, president Charlie Walker said the Club had shown marked improvement under Lou's leadership - with the top four teams making grand finals in 2009/10 and the Firsts and Seconds winning their flags.
"Stability and communication have been vital in our onfield improvement in recent seasons, and Lou's reappointment will ensure that this continues," Charlie said.
Lou (left) is congratulated by Charlie
at the NSC after the decision.
Lou said he was excited with the next phase in Moonee Valley's development, with our Firsts to play in the North Division in 2010/11 - just one rung below the top, metropolitan-wide division in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association.
Lou said he was just as excited by the young talent coming through the Club, with seven players aged 18 or under having played off in our Thirds Grand Final team on turf.
Lou is now finalising the pre-season training roster, and it will be posted on the website shortly.
We have not been able to have our return matches against the Lucknow Cricket Club at Bairnsdale this season, as we were unable to find a date that suited both clubs.
***Lou says new players are needed NOW for season 2010/11. Anyone wanting to play for our progressive and successful club, at any level, should ring Lou on 0433 383 387 or Charlie Walker on 0409 237 543. 

Mark Gauci's back as Firsts captain
Moonee Valley has reappointed Mark Gauci as our First Eleven captain for 2010/11. Mark captained our Firsts to a Grand Final last season in what was his fifth season in charge, and he now leads us where we've never been before - one division below the top grade in VTCA North Division.
Club Secretary Richard Cooney said Mark (left) has impressed with his plans for the future and his excellent ongoing working relationship with coach Lou Raffaele.
A hard-hitting middle-order batsman, Mark curtailed his natural instincts in the second half of last season, anchoring the innings and accumulating runs.
A typical gritty performance in the Grand Final ensured that we were able to build a score that proved too hard for Werribee Centrals to overcome.
"Mark had excellent credentials as captain and his efforts last year to see us to a premiership make him an excellent reappointment as First Eleven captain at our Club," Richard said.
"With quality leadership already in the team, as was demonstrated by players we interviewed for this position, we are expecting another sound performance this coming season."

Season 2010/11 - New Players Welcome at Moonee Valley
New players for all our senior and junior teams will be welcome at Moonee Valley Cricket Club for the forthcoming season.
We have again entered 10 senior men's teams - four teams on turf, two two-day matting teams and four one-day teams. Two turf teams and several of our matting teams play Sunday home games, so we have a range of options to suit our players in terms of availability.
We also cater across the spectrum with our senior players, from top-grade cricketers in our highest teams through to occasional and social cricketers wanting to have a hit or roll the arm over in our one-day teams.
Seven of our 10 men's teams played finals last season - four through to Grand Finals - with flags in our Firsts and Seconds.
MVCC Committee member/Junior Co-ordinator Kevin Gardiner (right) said Moonee Valley also fields women's teams in the Victorian Women's Cricket Association one-day grades, and new players of all levels of experience, starting from beginners, are welcome.
Kevin pointed out that Moonee Valley also has a well-developed junior program, which won two premierships last season.
We field Under 10s (Friday evening games), Under 12s (we have grades that play home games on Friday evenings, Saturday mornings and Sunday mornings), Under 14s (both Saturday morning and Sunday morning grades) and Under 16s (also Saturday and Sunday grades).
Moonee Valley's innovative program also provides opportunities for girls to integrate in junior cricket.
Anyone interested should phone Kevin Gardiner on 0417 536 896 regarding juniors, or MVCC president Charlie Walker (0409 237 543) or Senior Coach Lou Raffaele (0433 383 387  or  0450 181 948) for all other teams.
See you at the Valley in 2010/11!