VALLEYS: WE DO OUR CHAMPIONS PROUD

More than 100 past and current players, supporters and family packed our Ormond Park pavilion on February 7 for our inaugural Hall of Fame dinner.
Past players came from far and wide as the Moonee Valley Cricket Club honored the contribution of Ian Denny, Kevin Gardiner, Mark Gauci and Darren Nagle.
At right: Inductee Darren Nagle (far right) responds in his interview by Life Member Sandro Capocchi.
Already among our 41 Life Members, they were elevated to the next level in recognition of their contributions to our club and history.
While all our Life Members have made significant contributions to our Club, the Hall of Fame recognition has been introduced  to honor involvement and lasting impact far above what anyone could expect.
A quick pen-picture of their contributions shows:
**Kevin Gardiner: 233 games, 269 wickets; two Premierships; seven bowling awards; 13 seasons on the committee; seven seasons as Junior Co-ordinator; Junior Coach multiple seasons, junior Blast program.
At right: Life Member Bill Nagel (left) makes a humorous reflection on the career of inductee Kevin Gardiner.
**Ian Denny: 371 games; 12,611 runs (club record); 664 wickets (club record); seven Premierships; 12 times a Wisden Player of the Year; 13 times Club Champion; 12 times winner First Eleven batting award; five times winner First Eleven bowling award.
**Darren Nagle: 357 games; 6660 runs; 454 wickets; eight Premierships (equal club record); 13 seasons Club President; three seasons Club Secretary; three times Women’s Team Premiership Coach; five bowling awards; six times a Wisden Player of the Year.
At right: Two rascals - Tony Gleeson (left) makes some telling remarks on the career of Mark Gauci.
**Mark Gauci: 423 games (to season start – a Club record); 9446 runs; 329 wickets; four Premierships – one as First Eleven Captain; six times a Wisden Player of the Year; eight seasons Club Vice President; Club Champion 2005/06; five batting awards.
Life Member Greg Peters was Master of Ceremonies for the night, and did us proud.
Each of the inductees was interviewed in a Q&A on the stage by a significant fellow member of the club who impacted their career - Kevin Gardiner by Bill Nagel, Mark Gauci by Tony Gleeson, Darren Nagle by Sandro Capocchi and Ian Denny by Greg Peters.
Membership of the Hall of Fame sits between Life Membership and the highest honor which can be bestowed by the Moonee Valley Cricket Club - Legend.
Our only Legend to date, club co-founder Ray Storey, was at the night, proud of what has become of the mighty club founded 56 years ago.
At left: What have I left loose? Greg Peters (left) asked Ian Denny a question on his career, and he's now in full flight.
Our thanks to the organisers of the event and the judging panel who selected the inaugural winners, led by John Talone, Ian Denny, Gary Irons and Charlie Walker.
It demonstrates what our proud Club is able to do to honor our champions both on and off the field.
The night also demonstrated the capacity of our past champions to continue to make a telling contribution - including interviewers Tony Gleeson, Sandro Capocchi, Greg Peters and Bill Nagel, whose insights into the inductees made for excellent Q&A sessions to really help bring out the history of our great Club. 
****More Photos - click HERE