We receive a wide range of different heart-warming stories from across the HCC community across all the ages and teams – so have created a dedicated page to compile some of these as we go through season 24-25.
If you have anything to share please just let us know by getting in touch
Abby Marshall – Melbourne Stars Real Deal Community Ball
The below was written by Elissa Marshall, Abby Marshall’s mum:
Whilst attending a Melbourne Stars WBBL game last month, we entered a competition they had running at the game. It was to nominate a local ‘real deal hero’. Dean and I nominated Abby. Abby has had a rough 2024 with a couple of unexpected surgeries. Being diagnosed with Osteochondritis Dissecans in July 2024, Abby was forced to stop all sport immediately as the lesion identified in her patella was unstable. She was right in the middle of cricket off season training ready to undertake the AGCC rep trials. At the same time as this diagnosis, she was also made aware of a rare complication from a previous broken arm that would also require her to undertake surgery.
As a sporty 11 year old, she was devastated. Facing two surgeries in the following months was overwhelming. She has had to miss many events in her final year of primary school as well as her sport which has been hard to accept at the time. We nominated Abby for her resilience and determination to get back on track with her cricket. She was obviously unable to participate for several months, but has shown incredible compliance with her post operative rehab, doing everything required to get herself back on track. She has only just returned to cricket and is looking forward to taking every opportunity to improve in and enjoy the game she loves. We are so very proud of her.
We were surprised to receive a call from the Melbourne Stars this week saying that her nomination had won and that she was selected to bowl the real deal community ball at the first home game of the Melbourne Stars BBL at the MCG. The community ball is bowled alongside the celebrity ball, where a celebrity is also chosen to bowl a ball on the MCG at the Stars game. This experience saw the opportunity to win $500 for Hampton Cricket Club, courtesy of Melbourne Stars sponsor – Dodo, if she or the celebrity hit the wicket.
The celebrity that was chosen to bowl was Matthew Dellavedova who plays for Melbourne United in the NBL. He managed to bowl and hit the stumps (the first celebrity to ever do so). Instantly Hampton CC received a $500 donation! Then it was Abby’s turn – she bowled a beauty, and only just missed the wicket herself. Nonetheless, it was an experience to remember and one that will stay with her forever.
She was proud to represent Hampton Cricket Club in the Melbourne Stars Real Deal Community Ball and looks forward to progressing her cricket even further at the club in the coming years.
Three Generations of Edwards Take to the Field at Boss James Oval
On Sunday December 15th 2024 we witnessed three generations of the ever-impressive Edwards family take to the field for the Sunday 2nd XI vs. Mentone.
Colin, Thomas, Chris & Harry all stepped onto the hallowed Boss James Oval at the same time to field for a few overs. To view a video of them coming onto the pitch please click here
The Mighty Smidgeons (Sunday U12C)
If you ever want to see what true junior team bonding looks like then look no further than the U12 Sunday C team under their coach Matt Proud.
Complete with a team rebrand (Smidgeons = smart pidgeons), Smidgeon t-shirts, their own dedicated and branded team newsletter, burger nights & even a Smidgeon team song!
We are the Smidgeons,
The Smidgeons,
We eat crumbs,
We make runs,
We have fun,
We’re Number One!
The Smidgeons,
The Smidgeons.
(Repeat two more times, increasing tempo)
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