Team of the century 

A hard hitting opening bat, Don would often take on the opening bowler from ball one by smacking him into the pines or over the old clubrooms at Tyabb Central oval. In his 24 seasons at Tyabb, Don scored over 10,000 runs at 33 per innings with 17 centuries, almost 50 times passing 50 and won 10 batting average trophies along the way. No slouch with the ball,  he took nearly 200 wickets with his little skidders that knocked over even the best of bats. Don is also out most capped country week player with 6 carnival selections.  He was a natural leader and captained Tyabb during many seasons holding down almost every committee position in the club from President down. A great advocate for juniors,  he was instrumental in the development of some of the future senior players that followed him.

Although only a short career with Tyabb, Ray certainly made an impact in his 58 games making almost 2200 runs with a batting average of almost 36. The brother of Laurie and son of club legend in Harry,  he started in the 1st XI as a youngster of 17. It was not long before he was hitting attacks all over the park and scoring runs freely. His 4 centuries for the club were of quality and had it not been for the war, Ray may have become like other Denham’s and a long time Tyabb player. Ray made the Country Week side on 2 occasions and was rewarded with club captaincy in 1939 even though he was still a young fellow which emphasises his leadership skills. As a player he valued his wicket and often batted through the innings or was dismissed late defending the tail. One of the best openers and bats that Tyabb   has produced.

​Recruited from Mornington to help strengthen the clubs middle order batting, in only 70 odd games he showed enough class to put himself in the company of the best players in the competition resulting in country week selection on several occasions. A gritty left handed batsman, Pat scored over 2600 runs at the impressive rate of 41 per innings with 5 centuries and 16 fifties. He was a no compromise type of bat who enjoyed a challenge and his best innings were achieved under pressure, making him a valuable member of any team. A great clubman, he was always willing to get involved and take on leadership roles within the club including president and coach. Pat was a valuable member of the 1982/83 Premiership Team. Uncle to current club Secretary Jimmy   O’Keefe. 

Jeff began as a youngster with Tyabb, whilst still playing colts cricket with Hastings. He immediately made an impact as a big hitting left handed batter and a medium fast bowler. He was enticed back from Hastings in 1973 to take up the coaching job at Tyabb, becoming the first officially appointed coach of the club. Jeff led the club from District to Provincial and made a large contribution in turning us into one of the power clubs of the 1970’s and early 80’s. He was a star player with both bat and ball and would win games with his aggressive approach. Jeff Scored over 5,500 runs at a shade under 40 runs per innings with 14 centuries and 27 fifties. With the ball he was equally effective, taking 370 wickets at 17 a piece with his leg breaks. A regular country week selection over many seasons,  he won the clubs MVP award in 1980/81. Jeff captained Tyabb to 3 senior premierships and goes down as probably as one of the best allrounders   produced on the peninsula.

Son of legendary Harry Denham, Laurie became a star player in his own right. His career began as a youngster in the early 1930’s, going right through to the mid 1950’s. He was a dashing batsman and an aggressive medium fast bowler. Laurie played over 100 games, compiling more than 3500 runs at the impressive average of 28, including 3 centuries. He won 7 batting averages and 3 bowling awards. His outstanding career was cut short due to world war 2, when he was probably at his peak. Laurie performed at the highest level, gaining country week selection on several occasions in the early fifties. His 147 out of 230 against Hastings in 1953 was than innings of the highest calibre along with his scores in one game of 98 and 96 against Army in 1951, which is the closest a player has come to getting 2   centuries in one game.

Scott Morone is the youngest of the Morone boys and the only player nominated for selection whilst currently playing. At 16 years old, Scott was late to take up the game but never looked back as he immediately found himself a Provincial premiership player in 1982. After playing a couple of seasons in the seconds, Scott found the right formula and became a regular senior player till leaving to have a go at District (Premier) Cricket with Frankston. His batting average of over 36 with more than 3000 runs is testament to his ability. A handy leg spin bowler who had just on 100 wickets to his credit, he is a batsman who can definitely bowl when called upon. After a stint playing in Ireland, he returned to the club and as captain/coach and led the us to our last 1st XI premiership, along the way picking up the E G Betts league medal as best player in the MPCA District competition and the Don Clarke club   Champion Award.

A star player of the first half of the century, Fred played his early years at Somerville and after 4 seasons at Tyabb, returned to Somerville before finishing his career at Tyabb. He played nearly 200 games making almost 4500 runs at 22 and taking nearly 300 wickets at just over 14 per wicket. Fred hit 4 centuries and performed at his best with the bat and ball under pressure, his medium pacers were of high calibre. Fred was a great leader who captained Tyabb on a number of occasions, was a respected committee man and was a regular country week representative as an all-rounder. Fred is a M.P.C.A life member  and truly one of Tyabb’s greatest.

Laurie played colts cricket at Tyabb before returning to Hastings until he was enticed back in 1975. He immediately had a huge impact on the club as both a player and a clubman. Laurie was a magnificent bowling all-rounder, who in more than 100 games made over 2800 runs at 28 per innings and took over 320 wickets just over 16 a piece with his wily medium pacers. Laurie could almost make the ball talk as it fizzed off those hot malthoid pitches that was played on at that time. A regular country week player who performed at that level with aplomb as a player and captain. He went on to pick up a Wedgewood medal as MPCA Provincials competitions best player, which was among his many awards (including 4 x MVP Award, 5 bowling trophies). A top line player, who was an integral part of 2 premierships with the club, Laurie would be able to hold his place in any   team in any era.

Stephen was a product of the club’s junior system and the oldest of the Morone boys. A top junior player, it was not long before Steve became a permanent player in the senior side as a wicketkeeper and he excelled for dayone. Steve worked hard on his batting and by the early 1980’s he was regularly opening the batting in the 1st XI. Stephen ended up with over 3300 runs at 23, scoring 4 centuries along the way. But wicketkeeping was Steve’s strength and at this he had no peer, taking over 160 catches and 70 stumpings with his aggressive up to the stumps approach, Steve won country week selection on a couple of occasions and played in 3 first XI flags for the club as well as being awarded life membership for his work as an administrator.

Rob was a star opening bowler who was rated as one of the best and fastest on the peninsula in the 1920’s and early 1930’s. He won 9 bowling awards during his 15 seasons and was an automatic country week selection when available. In almost 200 games,  Rob captured over 600 wickets at just over 10 each, who on 39 occasions took 5 or more wickets in an innings and on 7 occasions took 10 or more in a match. He was a batsman who took the bowling on and scored his 2,100 club runs in quick time. He won many batting and bowling awards, but was also a fine fielder with a great set of hands, once taking 5 catches in the field in an innings. A loyal clubman who served a number of years on the committee, he is one of the best cricketers that this club has produced.

Jack came to the club in 1897 from Somerville at the age of 32 and was instrumental in carrying the bowling attack for nearly 30 seasons. In this time he took over 900 wickets at a shade over 8 runs per wicket. On no fewer than 74 times he took 5 or more wickets in an innings. He won numerous bowling averages and 10 times took most wickets for the club in a season. His slow spin bowling was so highly regarded that district (premier) clubs Carlton and Collingwood are said to have offered him 5 pounds a session to bowl to their top batsmen. Fortunately for the club Jack was happy to live and play locally and was a key clubman, treasurer and committeeman for many years.  The old entrance gates at Tyabb Central are dedicated to Jack Baker who donated that piece of land to the people of Tyabb for recreational purposes.