OUR 350-GAME CHAMPIONS

                                                                                                                 
Above - our three Immortals - L-R Ian Denny speaks in the rooms before the game, with Darren Nagle and Mark Gauci.
Three of Moonee Valley's all-time greats made club history together on January 16 when they played their 350th games together.
Playing in the Sixths in front of a big home crowd of current and past players, supporters and Life Members, Ian Denny, Darren Nagle and Mark Gauci jointly became the first players in our Club's 50-year history to reach the 350 game milestone.
At right: All 200-gamers - L-R Daniel Phillips, Dean Jukic, Mark Gauci, Jim McKenzie and Warwick Nolan.
There was a little bit of juggling to ensure the milestone fell on the same weekend for all three, but it all slotted in to place easily - Spud was on 347 games at the start of the season, while Egbert and Gauch were neck-and-neck on 343.
The game was captained by another 300-gamer - Danny Terzini.
Spud took a wicket in the match to move to another milestone - 450 - while Egbert doubled up in the Thirds the next day, with three wickets taking him to 650.
Gauch almost joined the party - his 42 runs left him on 7998, and soon to become only the second player to reach 8000 runs.
Life Member Sandro Capocchi spoke in the rooms before the game of the immense contribution the three legends have made to our club, both on and off the field. Spud was President for 13 years, Ian has also been President while Mark has been Vice President and captained the Firsts over nine seasons.
Left: Ian Denny (left) and Sandro Capocchi.
The gathering on the day featured 22 Life Members, demonstrating the respect earned by the three Valley warriors.
It was fitting that the milestone game was played at Ormond Park, where all three have made a lasting impression both on and off the field. And equally fitting that it was played out of our new pavilion, while Ian, Darren and Mark have put in the hard yards over the years in less-than-salubrious facilities. 
The celebrations carried on well into the night.
And while the Sixths fell just short in their game, it didn't dim the celebrations one jot.

***For more photos from the milestone match and celebrations, click HERE