Stars come out for our biggest night of the

year - Presentation at the Pavilion

More than 65 players, family and supporters gathered at the Ormond Park pavilion on March 29 for our biggest event of the year - our 55th annual presentation night.
We got to celebrate Premierships by our Women's team and the Under 16s, and near misses from the Firsts and Thirds. But just as importantly, we got to acknowledge a range of individual efforts and milestones across the course of the season.
Junior Co-ordinator Paul Sevenson was announced as the Lindsay Jones Best Clubperson, for his efforts both off and on the field - the re-set and rebuild of our junior program, his work as captain of the Fourth Eleven introducing young players to turf cricket, and a range of other backroom tasks he performs around the Club.
At right: Our 2024/25 Lindsay Jones Best Clubman Paul Sevenson (right) received his plaque from President Charlie Walker.
Dejan Gilevski was announced as Club Champion as well as winning his second First Eleven bowling award - not bad for a young man who worked his way through our junior program and is still only 19.
James Smith was awarded the Sean O'Kane Award for best player in grades other than the Firsts. His 946 points was largely based on more than 700 runs in the Fifths.
The Club was honored to have official Moonee Valley Legend Ray Storey and his wife Heather down from Leitchville for our big night - as the co-founder of our great club, Ray is always welcome.
At left: Our Club Champion Dejan Gilevski (right) received his award from Firsts captain Jack Newman. 
Thanks also to Brendan "Jonty" Rhodes for his excellent work as Master of Ceremonies for the night - Jonty's multi-media personality shines through on nights such as this, and he certainly does his homework to keep things ticking over with key facts and figures.
Jack Newman, who has captained our First Eleven for the past seven years, announced that he was stepping down from the role and would continue as a player.
The reappointment of Brayden McGregor as our Senior Coach was also announced.
Following suggestions from members we decided to self-cater the night and keep costs under control, and it worked out well for us.
Many thanks to those who gave up a considerable chunk of their night to ensure that the catering ticked over, including Paul Simon, Rebecca Lubansky, Peter Smith, Paul Sevenson and barman Marcus Lee.
***For more photos from Presentation Night and details on trophies, click HERE

OUR SPIDER ROLLS HIS LAST PITCH

Moonee Valley's much-loved and long-standing turf pitch curator, Ian "Spider" Beel has advised he is stepping down at the end of this season.
Spider has been our curator for more than a quarter of a century. He has prepared the pitch for the First Eleven Grand Final this season - and amazingly, when he first started his curating, only two of our Grand Final team were even born!
At left: Our long-standing curator Ian "Spider" Beel rolls the Ormond Park pitch for his last Grand Final.
Club President Charlie Walker paid tribute to Spider's commitment to our club over such a long period, and the support he has given our club since we first moved to turf teams in 1998/99 - first to the Moreland-Moonee Valley Cricket Association, and then to the Victorian Turf Cricket Association four seasons later.
Spider reckons he's had a fair innings as our curator, and stepping aside will enable him to better support his health.
He has also been a great supporter of the Moonee Valley Football Club, so it's no surprise that the cricket/football scoreboard has been named the Ian "Spider" Beel Scoreboard in his honor.

FOURTH FLAG FOR OUR MIGHTY WOMEN'S

                      TEAM

              

There might have been the odd anxious moment, but the Moonee Valley Women's team in the end won its fourth premiership in five seasons.
We had good support from the wider club for the March 9 home game, as Pascoe Vale Hadfield Panthers won the toss and elected to bowl.
Our girls were on the scoreboard quickly, with opening bats Fiona Bathie and Yasmin King scoring freely off the opening bowlers before Fiona was caught near the boundary.
Yasmin came back in for the last few overs and finished on 26 not out - her same score from the semi final - and we ended our innings on 2/148.
Pascoe Vale Hadfield also started brightly, and we were concerned that after their best bat retired, she would come back in early and up the ante with the run rate.
We bowled tightly to restrict them, and when their best bat did come back in our bowlers doubled down with their line and length. Although she scored an unbeaten 40, her innings when she came back in consisted of singles - not enough to push on towards our total.
We held them to 2/102, to continue our remarkable run in the women's game.
Yasmin King has played in all four of the Premierships. Katherine Baker, captain Sarah Fenn and Sandra Verschoor have played in three - and Darren "Spud" Nagle has coached three of them.
Above: Our all-conquering team: L-R. Back - coach Darren Nagle, Sandra Verschoor, Fiona Bathie, Abby Pruijmboom, Siobhan Donohoe, Katherine Baker and electronic scorer David Baker. Front - Sarah Fenn, Maddie Dutton Johnson, Yasmin King, Sarah Pamment and Mackayla Coote.

*SENIOR TRAINING - THE DETAILS 

Coach Brayden McGregor and assistant coach Tony Gleeson run senior training each Tuesday and Thursday at our home ground, Ormond Park in Pattison St, Moonee Ponds.
Training starts at 6pm.
Moonee Valley has five senior men's teams - four of which play on turf - and a women's team, as well as juniors across all age groups and a Blast program for the younger players.
We still have spots available in all teams. Anyone interested in joining Moonee Valley can phone Brayden on0429 559 797, junior co-ordinator Paul Sevenson on 0407 556 950 or President Charlie Walker on 0411 705 381.

     
Main Club contact details:

* Charlie Walker - President 0411 705 381; 9370 1802
* Allan Cumming - Treasurer 0438 380 990
* Sarah Fenn - Secretary 0438 141 179
* Mark Gauci - Vice President 0457 778 335 
* Paul Sevenson - Junior Co-ordinator - 0407 556 950   

Emails: mooneevalleycricket@gmail.com
        charlie.walker@optusnet.com.au 

For more contacts, see " Office bearers & Officials " under "Club News & Info" at the top of the page

Last updated : March 31, 2025.
For more of our history, including our Premierships, click HERE