SWAN VIEW CRICKET CLUB HISTORY
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
In mid 1970’s local sporting legend Kevin Gartrell wanted to see more kids playing cricket in the Midland area, so he began running cricket clinics at the local primary schools for 10 cents each.
These clinics proved to be very popular and successful and with Kevin now living in Swan View he thought it was time the Swan View Cricket Club was revived, and junior teams would be entered in the local junior competition for the 1975/76 season.
Kevin would build a strong committee teaming up with Allan Bascombe, Don Thomas, Bruce Douglas and Dr Russell Waugh to run the club off field and help coach the kids on field. These men were great role models teaching the youngsters respect, how to play the game and the importance of mateship in enjoying being part of a team.
Over the next few seasons the juniors would continue to grow rapidly with new teams commencing each season, growing from two teams to 6 in no time. After three seasons these juniors now needed somewhere to continue playing and Kevin said it was now time to expand into a Senior club in the Swan Helena District Cricket Association.
To lead the youngsters in their first few seasons of Senior cricket, Kevin would call on the highly respected Tom Polich and Ron Dunne to continue to teach these young men.
Commitment to the team, enjoyment and having families involved in all aspects of the club was important in the early years. Seeing young kids running around playing on a Saturday afternoon and the partners making afternoon teas and after match dinners was all part of the fun of being involved in the Swan View Cricket family.
Tom and Ron kept it fairly simple teaching the young players how to play hard but fair cricket, bowling line and length and creating pressure, being good fielding teams and supporting your bowlers would create wickets and batting in partnerships, playing straight early, taking your time, looking for singles and punishing the bad balls would get runs on the board.
It wouldn’t take long before these simple strategies under the leadership of Ron and with youngsters such as Colin Stein, Chris Hurst and Geoff Malaspina that Swan View would have on field success in their 3rd year in the competition.
SUCCESS FROM THE START
After six seasons of juniors and three seasons of senior cricket, Swan View would enter 3 teams into the Swan Helena competition for the 1980/81 season, with a 1st Grade and two teams in the 2nd Grade.
This would be the season Swan View would breakthrough and win their inaugural 1st Grade premiership over Bellevue RSL but Swan View would also play against itself in the 2nd Grade Grand Final with Maroon defeating Blue after Blue had won the minor premiership. Swan View would go onto win back to back 1st Grade flags in 1981/82.
After a lean mid 1980’s it was back to Grand Finals for the 1st Grade side losing the 1987/88 Grand Final before bouncing back and defeating Rangeview in 1988/89. This side would be led by the young Brent Hampson and would feature his brothers Paul and Luke as well as a young Simon Hrabar and the Otway brothers Richie and Peter.
The early 1990’s saw an influx of more juniors pushing into the Senior sides thanks mainly to Willy Armstrong which provided some great depth for the club and a return to finals. 1st Grade were runners up in 1990-91 and 1992-93, 2nd Grade won 1991-92 and 3rd Grade went back to back in 1991-92 and 1992-93.
In 1995-96 1st Grade would win the clubs 4th 1st Grade Premiership, led by first time captain Dave Catania the club broke the 7 year drought.
The late 90’s would lead to another lean period for the club before another influx of junior talent and some very handy recruits leading to some very strong 1st and 2nd Grade sides.
The 2000’s would see 1st Grade make the finals 10 years in a row winning Grand Finals in 02-03, 03-04 and 05-06 and being runners up in 00-01 and 08-09. 2nd Grade would also win 99-00, 01-02 and 08-09 and be runners up in 00-01 and 04-05. One Day Grade would also claim the premiership in 2003-04.
The 2010’s would be another successful period for the club with 1st Grade winning in 11-12 and 18-19 and being runner up in 12-13 and 17-18. 2nd Grade would win again in 12-13 and 14-15 and be runner up in 15-16.
In 2018-19 Swan View would join the newly merged Perth Swan Cricket Association and even though we have not won 1st Grade the club has been competitive with 2nd Grade winning in 22-23 and 23-24, 3rd Grade in 22-23 and One Day Grade in 21-22, 23-24 and 24-25
STRONG LEADERS CREATE A STRONG CLUBS
Over the 50 years of the Swan View Cricket Club there have been many great leaders, these people have played a pivotal role in where Swan View Cricket Club is today.
Greg Johnson was Swan View’s first Life Member. Greg was one of the original players and would be the first person to take on the role of Senior Mens President for multiple years in the 1980’s before moving into the overall President role. Greg was influential in setting the foundation for our great club.
Mick Jose would become our second Life Member and was an important leader for our on field performances being the Coach and Captain of the club from the mid 1980’s to the early 1990’s. Mick was the first player to play 100 1st Grade matches, was a 3 time Club Champion and first player to score a 100 and take a 7 for.
In the early years there were a number of other great committee members and club stalwarts who gained Life Membership in Willy Armstrong, Ron Dunne, Colin Ovens, Craig Ablett, Steve Wilken and Neville Tibbles.
Our first non playing Life Member would be Cathy Cox. Cathy was the club secretary from the late 1980’s to the mid 1990’s and made sure the club had a strong foundation off the field. Cathy was also the scorer for many years with her fancy colour pens a distinctive feature. Cathy would go on to become a Life Member of the Swan Helena District Cricket Association.
Other non playing Life Member are Trevor Conway who played a long time role coaching the juniors before becoming a Chairman of Selectors for the Seniors and Eddie Carr who was a Junior President, Seniors Treasurer and long time Thursday night BBQ cooker.
Our first Life Member of the 2000’s was Maurice Cox. Maurice would serve as the Senior Mens President for 8 years before moving into the role of the overall President for an additional 7 years from the mid 1990’s til 2013. Maurice played over 100 1st Grade matches, 350 club matches and took 500 wickets.
Maurice would have great support during his time from other great people who were willing to assist on or off the field, fundraising, organising events, running the bar or just lending a hand including Chris Cocks, Aaron Ablett, Justin Stephenson, Dave Catania, Terry Sturgeon and Scott Anderson.
Another great servant to the club has been Life Member Phil Dobson. Phil has held many roles at the club and is always willing to help anyway he can. Phil has been the bar manager, fundraiser, junior coach, president, captain, shire liaison and also played over 300 matches for the club.
The latest crop of Life Members Neil Jones, David Pease and Leon Ottobrino have been doing an amazing job over a number of years and continue to contribute as great leaders to keep our club strong for now and into the future.
LEGENDS WHO BLEED MAROON AND BLUE
Dave Catania is the greatest Swan View Cricketer and his record speaks for its self. Dave has played the most matches at our club with over 500 matches including 385 1st Grade matches. Dave has hit over 17,000 runs with over 13,000 in 1st Grade and holds a club record 32 100’s with 26 of those being hit in 1st Grade. The highest ever individual score in 1st Grade is Dave’s 173 not out against High Wycombe. Dave has played in 6 premierships and captained 3 1st Grade Flags.
Another legend of the Swan View Cricket Club is Leon Ottobrino. Leon is the first player to claim 700 wickets for our club and out of those 400 have come in 1st Grade. He is 1 of only 4 players to have played over 200 1st Grade matches and has played over 300 club matches. His best bowling figures in 1st Grade are 8 for 24 and he is a 5 time premiership player with 2 1st Grade and 3 2nd Grade Flags.
Neville Tibbles has been at the club since the late 1970’s and played his last match in 2025. Neville has played over 350 matches and is the second leading wicket taker of all time with over 600 wickets.
Other legends with over 500 wickets for the club are Maurice Cox and Justin Stephenson with Greg Smith closing in on the milestone.
In 1st Grade as well as Leon, Dave Simcock and Dean Conway have both claimed over 300 1st Grade wickets.
The best figures for the club is 9 for 28 by Kirk Loam in 3rd Grade.
Another legend of the Swan View Cricket Club is Stu Watson only playing in 168 matches Stu hit over 6,500 runs at an average over 40. Stu hit 17 100’s with a highest score of 163 in 1st Grade against Forrestfield.
Other legends to have hit over 5,000 runs for the club include Justin Stephenson, David Pease, Neil Jones, Ben Thyer, Jason Firkins and Brad Miles.
The highest individual score for the club is 194 by Arron Russell in 3rd Grade.
David Pease is the equal most premiership winning player at the club with Dave Catania with 6 premierships. Both Dave’s have also captained the most flags with 3 1st Grade flags each. David Pease has played the third most 1st Grade matches and played over 300 club matches. David is 1 of only 3 players at the club to have made over 5,000 runs and taken over 200 wickets.
Other premiership legends include Ben Thyer, Paddy Conway and Leon Ottobrino with 5 premierships each.
Phil Dobson has taken the most catches at the club with over 300 catches.
PATHWAY TO DISTRICT CRICKET
Since inception Swan View Cricket Club has had a strong junior program providing a pathway for cricketers at all levels to continue their cricketing journey whether that be in the Seniors at Swan View or at higher honours.
Swan View has produced over 50 players who have gone on to play 1st Grade WACA Premier District Cricket and a number of others who have gone on to represent the state.
Bruce Yardley would be the first player from Swan View to represent WA and Australia playing 33 Test matches and taking 126 wickets.
Swan View’s inaugural Under 14’s Champion player Rob Gartrell would be the next player to represent the state. Rob would go on to play 10 Shield matches and scored a 104 against Tasmania in 1986.
Brent Hampson would graduate from Swan View Juniors through to Midland Guildford and play a number of Second XI matches for WA. Brent captained Swan View 1st Grade to a premiership in 1988/89 before debuting the next season with Midland Guildford. Brent would play 55 1st Grade matches and take 104 wickets and the Midland Guildford Best Player Medal is named in his honour.
Stewart Walters played a number of dominant years of junior cricket at Swan View including hitting 5 100’s in an Under 12’s season. Stewie would debut for Midland Guildford 1st Grade at 16 years of age and would captain the WA State side in Under 17’s. Stewie would go on and have a successful County career in England playing 71 First Class matches for Surrey and Glamorgan with a top score of 188.
Peta Merrilees was our first women’s player to graduate from our junior program to play for WA. Peta would go on to play 82 matches for WA and captain the state side in 2009.
Daniel Turkich started his career at the Swan View Cricket Club before playing 1st Grade at Midland Guildford. Dan would then move to Claremont Nedlands Cricket Club were he would play over 300 1st Grade matches, taking over 400 wickets and winning 3 1st Grade premierships.
Tanveer Chauvan is our latest junior player to represent the state. Tanveer played in the State 12’s side and was the highest scorer in the carnival.
WOMENS CRICKET MAKES THE CLUB EVEN BETTER
In 2019 the club decided it was time to introduce a women’s team. Thanks to the hard work of Leon Ottobrino, we were able to recruit enough players to field a side in the Perth Scorchers Women’s League in 2019/20.
A bit like when the Men’s seniors started the team was made up of friends, juniors mums and players partners who wanted to have a go at cricket.
It didn’t take long for the women’s team to follow the men’s and have their own success, winning the premiership in their first season with a great win over Ellenbrook.
Swan View 3 for 160 defeated Ellenbrook 7-135
Brooke Wright 43no, Mel Green 25no
Brooke Wright 3/15, Jamie Lee King 1/7, Catherine Allen 1/7
In February 2022 our Women’s team got the opportunity to play at the home of cricket the WACA. It was a great experience for all and the ladies did the club proud winning Swan View’s first ever match at the ground.
Over the first five years we have built a solid squad of ladies with now a number reaching the 50 game milestone. Dee Howard, Jess Stubenrauch, Tonya Putland and Brooke King.
In 2023 with our Women’s program going from strengthen to strengthen the club decided to introduce a Women’s Vice President role in the Executive Committee for the first time. The first Women’s Vice President was Brooke King who has stepped into the role and not only is leading the Women’s program but taken a big role in helping the whole club remain a strong club.
Brooke would be recognised as the joint winner of the Club Person of the Year in the 2023/24 season. Over the last few years a number of ladies have joined the committee providing a different view and making our club better.
The Women’s program has not only allowed women to play cricket for Swan View but have also allowed them to represent the State in the Women’s Veterans program.
In the 2023/24 season women’s captain Parul Chauhan, Kristen Teale and Dorothee Mittrup went to South Australia and did us proud.
Hopefully in the near future we will see some junior girls come through and represent the State like Peta Merrilees and graduate to our women’s program growing our club to two sides.
