North Dandenong became a Turf cricket power not long after forming juniors in 1974-75
MODEST were North Dandenong Cricket Club’s beginnings, but spectacular was its rise in the Dandenong District Cricket Association.
From little things, big things grew quickly.
The starting point for North Dandy was an Under 14 team in the Dandenong District Cricket Association in 1974-75.
A second side was entered the following season.
The next year Under 12s and Under 16s were added, giving the club a full complement of under-age teams.
And soon the junior players had senior sides to feed into.
Roley Farrall was coach of that first Under 14 team and a meeting was held at his home to set up a senior entity.
Those who attended donated money to buy a kit of gear. Raffles were another fundraiser.
The first team to represent North Dandenong at senior level, in F Grade in 1977-78, was made up by Farrall, Phil Mullen, Alan Marsden, Peter Barnes, Rob Neill, Ian Truscott, Joe Relph, Geoff Smith, Aird Shoesmith, Neville Mahomet and Paul Magnano, joined by Chris Farrall and Ross Mullen from the Under 16s.
North made it to the grand final, only to lose outright to Coomoora.
The following season it clinched its first premiership, when a second team, E Grade, won the grand final under captain-coach Phil Mullen.
Within three years North Dandy had progressed to Turf competition, and the number of junior and senior teams playing in the finals signalled that the DDCA had a new force.
North Dandenong, with Steve Cogger as captain and coach, was crowned Turf 2 premier in 1982-83.
The team featured ace fast bowler Relph, a young David Bell, an advancing-in-years Ian McDonald, future batting champion Bruce Mullen and league-footballers-to-be Mark Bayes and Tommy Crebbin (Tim McGrath and Craig Lambert also played in the AFL and were also at North Dandenong).
“Basically we had a bunch of kids, Harvey Smith, Ian McDonald and myself,’’ Cogger, now living at Port Arlington, said on Monday.
Two years later, the club scaled the summit of the DDCA, winning the Turf 1 flag.
The experienced Cogger, who had been lured across from Coomoora to take over from McDonald, was again at the helm.
He believes the North Dandenong team of 1984-85 that defeated Springvale South is the best ever seen in the DDCA.
“That’s my opinion. Some may argue. But the quality of the players was so high,’’ Cogger said.
“Bruce Mullen, Joe Relph, Mark Bayes … these kids were super good. And they were a good little team too. They were mates, they did it for each other. It was pretty exciting for a bloke from Coomoora to go across for a few years and coach and grow with them. They had more talent than you’d ever believe. All they needed was a bit of discipline.’’
Bayes bowled right-arm “very quick’’, could bat and, like his teammates, was a demon in the field.
Cogger is adamant he could have played state cricket if he hadn’t pursued a football career (he was in the Sydney Swans’ team of the century).
The first Turf 1 premiership was won after a semi-final victory over Hallam Kalora Park at Carroll Reserve. Cogger remembers it vividly.
The Hawks made 310, and Cogger recalls sitting down with Mullen at breakfast and saying the only way North Dandy could win was if Mullen made a century. He did.
“Bruce was as good a batsman as the DDCA has seen. He was exceptional,’’ he said. “And that was an exceptional innings. I think we were nine down when we passed them — and Bruce was still in.’’
He said the celebration “went for days’’.
Thirteen years after Cogger’s team triumphed, all-rounder Bell held the reins as captain-coach when North Dandy had its second Turf 1 success.
Bell played much good cricket for the club and doubtless will be front and centre when the North Dandenong story is told at a 40th anniversary black-tie dinner at The Grand on Princes on January 25.
All past and present players, officials and supporters are invited.
Details at www.ndcc.com.au or from secretary Janahan Kumaralingam on 0403 295 107.
NORTH DANDENONG CRICKET CLUB
Turf 1 premierships:
1984-85: Steve Cogger (Captain/Coach), Joe Relph (VC), Mark Bayes, David Bell, Tom Crebbin, Bruce Mullen, Duane Neill, Ray Irving, Tony McCann, Harvey Smith, Kevin Forster, Brendan Murphy (12th Man).
1997-98: Cameron Pepper, Brad Houghton, Cameron Knight, Glenn Finkelde, Jon Stones, Stephen Finkelde, John Mitsios, Adrian Baltruschaitis, Greg Old, David Bell, Scott Neeson, Kevin Leonard.
Wookey Medals: Joe Relph (1985-86), Shane Clark (2005-06)
