The VCV50s Committee have finalised the formation of the Selection Committee for the upcoming tournament in Victoria in late 2023.
The Committee are:
Anthony Uhr-Henry (Chairman of Selectors)
Andrew Wheeler
Rob Kerr
Chris Anders
Jimmy Davatzis
The 2022 nationals in Adelaide saw Victoria get two teams into the grand final including the first XI. Good team and individual performance across the teams in all divisions. The teams contained a greater number of regional players and players from a more diverse range of competitions across the State than we have had before. Several Vics made the team of the tournament including VCV50 President Michael Whitehead and two Vics made the Australian team that recently toured South Africa – James Morris and Paul Whybird. Six guys got stuck in a lift and survived unscratched.
Critically important - the Vics had a squad of players that wanted to play with and for each other and represent the Big V. That is certainly an important factor of measuring success - our Culture, how we protect and grow it and what it means to play in a Victorian cap.
There are learnings from Adelaide and the Committee is sure this selection committee is up to the challenge of taking on those learnings on board as they fulfil their duties.
This committee sees members from different geographic regions within Victoria, various competitions and levels of cricket and administrative experience. The fresh faces bring a different skill set under existing policies and ensure to apply themselves equally to the selection process across all teams. We know that all are enthusiastic about the task ahead.
Thanks to all that nominated for the committee, and we are sure Anthony will communicate more as details come to hand. A bio of each member will be posted separately. Please support the committee by completing and returning your nomination forms asap.
Anthony Uhr-Henry
Anthony had a difficult task for Adelaide and got the job done. His work ethic before and during the tournament was second to none.
He has played cricket for 47 years for Blackburn North Cricket club, Doncaster CC & Wonga Park cricket clubs. A life member of Blackburn North CC where he has been a captain coach, committee member, vice president and recently inducted as a “legend” of club. Anthony has also coached Trinity Grammar School first XI and Marcellin College first XI. He has won a total of 19 cricket premierships. Anthony has also represented Victoria at football where he has been a captain and vice-captain at 45s and over 50s level and been named an All Australian for three consecutive years. Anthony’s playing and administrative leadership will be important in his role and his experience and learnings from Adelaide put him in good stead for our home tournament. Outside of sport Anthony owns a successful horticulture business specialising in turf and grass supplies.
Rob Kerr
Rob’s early years of cricket were spent with Pascoe Vale Centrals in what was then the Essendon District Cricket Association. Playing in the A Grade team as an all-rounder while still a junior he also represented Essendon Grammar in their First XI. He gave up cricket at age 19 to focus on his football career and in his mid-twenties, while still heavily committed to football, played in the lower grades for Sydney University
After a 20-year hiatus he joined Gisborne Cricket Club and played in the local one-day competition before joining one of the lower grades so he could play with his daughter who went on to represent Victoria. Rob is very proud that they were the first father-daughter combination in the Riddell District Cricket Competition.
In 2018 he was approached to start the Sunbury Macedon Ranges Over 50’s team. Recognising the value of using cricket as a vehicle to bring men of this age together to socialise and stay active he took on the role and they now have two teams in the over 50s.
Robs involvement in sport is long and distinguished including a long career in the AFL industry as a player, Sport Psychologist, Assistant Coach, National Talent Manager (Talent ID and Recruitment), General Manager, Football and CEO of the AFL Players Association and AFL Umpires Association. Rob has acted as a selector for several AFL match committees.
Rob works as a performance consultant performance and has consulted to an NRL club, an A League Club, a World Championship Rowing team and a State cricket team and many individual athletes. We know that Robs appetite for a challenge and dealing with a variety of types of athletes and organisations make him very well suited to the role.
Chris Anders
Chris has played competitive cricket in Gippsland for 40 years, originally in the Mid Gippsland CA then Traralgon and District CA and more recently the Latrobe Valley and District CA. He is a wicket keeper and opening bat. Chris has also lived and played cricket in NZ for four years.
Chris is passionate about over 50’s cricket and has captained the South Gippsland Kookaburras in the Lyrebird shield (Gippsland based competition) for the last two seasons, and in 2022/23 played his first season in the Saxon Shield with the Gippsland Goannas.
Throughout his time in cricket Chris has filled most club roles including club president, secretary, treasurer, committee member, captain, junior coach, and grounds keeper. This experience will be a valuable asset to the team. He uses cricket to drive fellowship, which fits perfectly with our culture, in addition to improving his health and fitness. Chris wants to continue to give back to the game and was a main consideration in nominating for the selection committee.
Chris is a maths and science secondary teacher and his favourite sportsman is Mike Hussey. In addition to cricket Chris does karate, hiking and plays golf and badminton and surfs. He was a popular team member in the 4th XI at the nationals in Adelaide.
Jimmy Davatzis
Jimmy has a variety of sporting committee experience including junior soccer and senior cricket in various roles including team management, ground allocation, sponsorships and appointment of coaches and team Managers. Recently Jimmy was appointed the VCV50s as our Communications manager.
On field Jimmy has decades of soccer experience playing at various levels. He was captain of the North Balwyn CC Vets team from 2015 to 2018 and more recently took over the captaincy of the clubs Sunday Turf Team. This role saw him work closely with the clubs Chairman of Selectors to identify and choose talented junior players to play senior turf cricket.
Through his teaching profession he has held the position of School Sports Coordinator and also coached a variety of sports including hockey, soccer, tennis, AFL/AFLW and cricket.
Jimmy has played at the last two national championships, he is an avid selfie taker, and his energy is infectious. He always wants the best for Victoria and notably takes an interest in all teams within the squad.
Andrew Wheeler
Andrew (Wheels) Wheeler has 40 years of cricket experience mainly playing in Melbourne’s east. He is currently involved with the Bayswater Cricket Club where he has been Vice President and captained a team for the past 8 years. In addition to Bayswater seniors, he has also played vets at Outer East Tigers and Wonga Park.
Wheels is very passionate about over 50s cricket and have played in the last two national championships for Victoria and other reprehensive games. He was a winning national championship captain at the tournament in Perth in 2019.
In addition to cricket Wheels has exceled in other sporting spheres including being an AFL boundary umpire for 12 years, umpiring 187 Senior games including 3 AFL Grand Finals.
Wheels has already made a strong contribution to our broader committee through his VCV50s competition management role. He owns a successful cabinet making business with nine employees which he has run for the past 25 years.
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