Moonee Valley Presentation Night 2014
Sean O'Kane and Mark Gauci were afforded Moonee Valley Cricket Club's highest honors at our Presentation Night on April 12 - Sean won the Lindsay Jones Best Clubman award, and Mark was elevated to Life Membership.
They are the two greatest honors which can be bestowed at our Club, and both were worthy and deserving recipients.
At right: Mark Gauci gets his Life Member badge pinned on by Sandro Capocchi, with Darren Nagle lurking behind.
Mark Gauci told of things to come almost 10 years ago when asked about his future: "I love the game and the club I play for. I will play 200 games or more - trust me!" How true!
Along the way he captained the First Eleven for eight years, including our 2009/10 Premiership, has served on the committee, brought in valuable sponsorship, done many tasks around our Club which go unnoticed by many, and been a real leader.
At left: Sean O'Kane (left) admires his Lindsay Jones plaque as VP Simon Thornton reads the citation.
He was inducted into the Life Membership Club by fellow Life Members Darren Nagle and John Talone, who as President and Secretary at the time had faith in Mark's leadership and appointed him Firsts captain.
Another eight Life Members joined Spud and Odie on stage for the induction, and another Past President, Sandro Capocchi, pinned his Life Membership medallion to his chest.
The Lindsay Jones Award for Sean O'Kane was announced by Vice President Simon Thornton.
At right: Enjoying the after-party: From left - Nicole Stephenson with Murray Walker; and Ben and Matt Thomas and Sixths Premiership captain Danny Terzini.
Simon spoke of Sean's cricket prowess as a First Eleven Premiership player, five-time centurion and sweep of the Fourths awards, but concentrated on his wonderful contibution as a clubman.
Sean organised and funded the Moonee Valley entry in January this year in the Over 35s tournament in his home town of Barooga, arranged the accommodation and purchased the playing shirts for the guys.
He opened his home for the year for our UK import Kris Garland - at no cost to the Club.
Sean is a genuine all-round nice guy who hasn't lost his country way of doing things, and is a deserving winner.
At left: Young guns: From left - Teens Jack Newman and Luke Brock, and the slightly older Stephen Ward.
Mark and Sean, we salute you!
We had around 55 members, supporters and family at the awards night, held at the Moonee Ponds Club - formerly known as the North Suburban Club, and a long-time sponsor of our Club.
As well as the presentations, we held a raffle for an Apple TV - won by Fourths captain Brett Curran.
At right: The Fourth Eleven was well represented: L-R Dean Lawson, Brett Curran, Sean O'Kane, Kevin Gardiner, Steve Herbert, Mark Madden, Dean Jukic and Norm Wright.
We also auctioned off some memorabilia, provided by former coach Lou Raffaele, including cricket balls signed by Test stars Glenn McGrath and Mitchell Johnson, a Melbourne Cup print signed by jockey Damien Oliver, and two signed cricket bats - a Dean Jones bat (successful bidder our own Michael Cumbo) and a 
Carl Rackemann testimonial match bat signed by cricket and other sporting stars, including Viv Richards, Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee and the late David Hookes.
At left: Show of support: L-R Adam Patchell, Matt Thomas, Mark Gauci and Khalid Hassan.
Club President Charlie Walker read out an apology from our Club founder Ray Storey, who was holidaying with wife Heather in Queensland. But Ray was keen to ensure the members knew he was fully appraised of the Sixths' Premiership win - as he'd had a visit a week after the Grand Final from Ralph Barron, the Pascoe 
Vale Centrals stalwart after whom the Sixths' premiership grade is named.
At right: Club legend Ian Denny holds court for (from left) Michael Cumbo, Tony Gleeson and Mark Cini.
The full list of trophy and award winners is:
Lindsay Jones Best Clubman award
Lindsay Jones Memorial Award in memory of a true & respected club person – Season 2013/14 Sean O’Kane.
Life Membership
Mark Gauci – in recognition of Outstanding and Dedicated Service to the Moonee Valley Cricket Club.
At left: Among the trophies: James Holt with partner Katrina with Holtie's Fifths bowling award and his 50-game milestone trophy.
Club champion – First Eleven
Matt Thomas 601 points.
Moonee Valley Award – all other Elevens
Mark Gauci 788 points.
Most Improved Player Award
Michael Ozbun.
At right: Prez Charlie Walker reaches into the lectern for the Life Member medallion. On stage are Life Members (from left) John Talone, Mark Gauci, Jim Polonidis, Darren Nagle, Michael Harvey, Ian Denny and Joe Ansaldo.
Wicketkeeping award
Best Wicketkeeper across all Grades Peter Golding.
Hat-trick
Peter O’Kane Third Eleven v Reds Round 10.
10 wickets in a match
Nasir Ahmed 11 wickets for the match First Eleven v East Keilor Round 5.
At left: Who said the Fourths table got a bit unruly? Looking calm and collected are (L-R) Mark Madden, Sean O'Kane, Dean Jukic and Norm Wright.
Batting awards
*First Eleven Batting Award Khalid Hassan 290 runs @ 32.2.
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Fourth Eleven Batting Award Sean O’Kane 297 runs @ 49.5.
*Fifth Eleven Batting Award Ian Denny 279 runs @ 39.9.
*Sixth Eleven Batting Award Mark Cini 373 runs @ 53.3.
At right: Enjoying the evening are Life Member Joe Ansaldo and Victoria Thorneycroft.
Bowling awards
*First Eleven Bowling Award Matt Thomas 23 wickets @ 10.2.
*Second Eleven Bowling Award Simon Thornton 24 wickets @ 12.3.
*Third Eleven Bowling Award George Loh 15 wickets @ 14.3.
*Fourth Eleven Bowling Award Sean O’Kane 15 wickets @ 8.2.
At left: New Life Member Mark Gauci speaks, and other Life Members listen. L-R Mark Gauci, Darren Nagle, Charlie Walker, John Talone, Sandro Capocchi, Kevin Gardiner, Jim Polonidis, Michael Harvey, Danny Terzini and Ian Denny.
*Fifth Eleven Bowling Award James Holt 23 wickets @ 10.8.
*Sixth Eleven Bowling Award Jesse Felle 29 wickets @ 7.4.
Fielding awards
*First Eleven Fielding Award Ben Thomas 17 votes.
*Second Eleven Fielding Award Stephen Ward 9 votes.
*Third Eleven Fielding Award Michael Ozbun 16 votes.
*Fourth Eleven Fielding Award Sean O’Kane 17 votes.
*Fifth Eleven Fielding Award Charles Aitken 14 votes.
*Sixth Eleven Fielding Award Sam Carbone 11 votes.
*Seventh Eleven Fielding Award Allan Cumming 14 votes.
At right: Talking cricket: L-R Tony Gleeson, Simon Thornton and Allan Cumming.
Player of the Finals
*Sixth Eleven Premiership: Player of the Finals Jesse Felle.
*Sixth Eleven Premiership: Fielder of the Finals Shaun Rayment.
*Fifth Eleven Player of the Finals Jack Newman.
At left: The fast bowler fraternity get together: L-R Steve Herbert, Adam Patchell and Jesse Nankivell-Sandor.
Most Valuable Player
*MVP First Eleven Kristian Garland.
*MVP Second Eleven Simon Thornton.
*MVP Third Eleven George Loh.
*MVP Fourth Eleven Dean Jukic.
*MVP Fifth Eleven Ian Denny.
*MVP Sixth Eleven Dan Terzini.
*MVP Seventh Eleven John Petropoulos.
At right: Don't worry Skipper, Hobbsie's got the job in hand. L-R Paul Hobbs on the jug, Brett Curran, Kevin Gardiner, Steve Herbert and Mark Madden.
Centuries
*Steve Nickelson 149 Sixth Eleven v Pascoe Vale Central Round 1.
*Sean O’Kane 129 Fourth Eleven v Campbellfield Round 10.
*Khalid Hassan 114 First Eleven v Pascoe Vale Sports Round 11.
*Dan Terzini 103 Sixth Eleven v Sydenham Hillside Round 9.
At left: Firsts captain Matt Thomas looks on as Khalid Hassan shows off his miniature bat award for scoring a century, and his First Eleven batting averages award.
Five wicket in an innings
*Jesse Felle 8/29 Sixth Eleven v Sydenham Hillside Round 9.
*Jesse Felle 7/33 Sixth Eleven v Gladstone Park Round 14.
*Matt Thomas 5/21 First Eleven v Jacana Round 3.
*Mark Gauci 5/21 Second Eleven v Pascoe Vale Sports Round 11.
At right: A Life Member get-together: Jim Polonidis (left) and Darren Nagle.
*Ian Denny 5/24 Fifth Eleven v East Malvern-Tooronga Round 10.
*Sean O’Kane 5/34 Fourth Eleven v Gladstone Park Round 14.
*Peter O’Kane 5/37 Third Eleven v Reds Round 10.
*Murray Walker 5/42 Man of the Match Sixth Eleven v Craigieburn Grand Final.
*Murray Walker 5/59 Sixth Eleven v Greenvale Semi Final.
*Stephen Ward 5/61 Third Eleven v Power House Round 8.
*Pat Taylor 5/82 Fourth Eleven v St Andrews Pascoe Vale Round 3.
At left: Sean O'Kane takes to the microphone to respond after being awarded the Lindsay Jones. The shield is beside him; above the Fifths runner-up flag.
Games milestones
*Ian Denny 300 games.
*Michael Harvey 250 games.
*Mark Gauci 200 games.
*Michael Cumbo 150 games.
*Bede Gannon 100 games.
*Murray Walker 100 games.
*Shaun Rayment 100 games.
*Jesse Felle 100 games.
*Stephen Ward 50 games.
*Heath Webb-Johnson 50 games.
*David Hutchison 50 games.
At right: Looking resplendent: John Talone in his tie, and Sandro Capocchi in his newly-minted replacement Life Member badge.
*Steven Herbert 50 games.
*George Pearson 50 games.
*James Holt 50 games.
*Simon Thornton 50 games.
Runs milestones
*Ian Denny 11,000 runs.
*Matt Thomas 3000 runs.
*Mark Cini 3000 runs.
*Jim Polonidis 3000 runs.
*Geoff McKeown 3000 runs.
*Lou Raffaele 2000 runs.
*Tom King 2000 runs.
*Sean O’Kane 2000 runs.
*Bede Gannon 1000 runs.
*David Hutchison 1000 runs.
*Murray Walker 1000 runs.
At left: Red hair and a necktie: That was the dapper Peter Smith on the night.
Wickets milestones
*Kevin Gardiner 200 wickets.
*Mark Gauci 150 wickets.
*Jesse Nankivell-Sandor 100 wickets.
*George Loh 100 wickets.
*Norm Wright 100 wickets.
*Simon Thornton 100 wickets.
*Amit Chaudhary 100 wickets (achieved in the winter comp).
*Pat Taylor 100 wickets.
*Sean O’Kane 50 wickets.
*Matt Thomas 50 wickets.
At right: Recipients of the MVCC's highest honors: Sean O'Kane (left) with his Lindsay Jones Best Clubman shield, and Mark Gauci with his Life Membership plaque.
At left: Sixths premiership team-mates: Mark Cini (left) and Shaun Rayment.
