Some stories write themselves. Dave Monaghan’s is one of them; fifteen seasons, 220 matches, 3,979 runs, and 315 wickets for Gordon District Cricket Club. Not bad for a bloke who just wanted to enjoy his cricket.
When we marked Dave’s 200th game in January 2025, we called him the World’s Greatest Fifth Grader, and the title fitted perfectly. Dave had spent the better part of a decade cheerfully declining promotion, turning up every week in the lower grades, taking wickets, scoring runs, and making everyone around him better. Then, with characteristic timing, he went and spent his final season in 4th grade, just to keep us guessing.
So the title changes. But the man doesn’t.
How it started
Dave arrived at Gordon from the Central Coast in the 2010/11 season, softly spoken, recently engaged, and quietly capable. He took 14 wickets and scored 146 runs that first summer. Captain Tim Packman noted in his report that Monners was the opening outswing bowler, a young man who with a little more consistency “could be a real handful and strike bowler.”
The following season confirmed it. Dave took 26 wickets and scored 427 runs at 38.83, finished third in the competition run scorers batting at eight and nine, and was Man of the Match in the Grand Final against Sydney University.
His best season came in 2012/13. Dave scored 620 runs at 36.47, took 32 wickets, pouched 13 catches, and captained the side to the premiership. He finished second in the Victor Trumper Player of the Year Award with 19 points — one behind Harry Evans. The label that season was unavoidable. The World’s Greatest Fifth Grader had been officially crowned.
The seasons in between
After a year away for family, work, and study ; and considerable anxiety at the club about whether he would return; Dave came back in 2014/15 and barely missed a season after that. He averaged 230 runs and 25 wickets across six seasons in 5th grade, then shifted between 4ths and 5ths with similar returns. The contribution of a genuine allrounder, season after season, rarely fluctuated.
He holds two club partnership records; a 9th wicket stand of 91 with Sam Watts in 5th grade in 2016, and a 10th wicket partnership of 80 with Matt Todd in 2011. Both of them in 5th grade, naturally.
The Player of the Year Award finally came in 2019/20 — a joint award shared with Charlie Stobo after Dave scored 322 runs and took 23 wickets. The 3/2/1 voting system left them level. It seemed entirely appropriate that even the award involved a partnership.
The final chapter
Two seasons after the 200-game milestone, Dave Monaghan played his last summer of cricket for Gordon — this time in 4th grade, where he had always been more than capable of performing. He finished with 220 matches, 3,979 runs at an average of 24.26, and 315 wickets at 16.86.
Those numbers tell part of the story. The rest of it is told by the people who played alongside him.
Steve Bristow
“The 5th grade GOAT has always had a smile on his face and truly epitomises the spirit of cricket. I’ve been lucky to play the last six or seven years with my now good mate, and I credit him with allowing me to enjoy the game again. A game I’ll always remember — Monners showing us all how good a player he is — was in the 20/21 season against Fairfield. He picked up 4 wickets and that day I asked him to open the batting. He knocked off 131 in rapid fire time. At 40 years old he was still one of the fittest at the club. The GOAT earned every one of those 220 games. Congrats mate.”
Matt Todd
“Dave is the ultimate clubman. A lovely, kind, and gentle soul — great to play cricket with, not only because of those qualities but because of his talent with bat, ball, and in the field. In the years we won 5th grade premierships Dave was an integral part, and I followed his performances online each week after that. Top cricketer, top bloke — and he could bake a wicked slice for tea cake. Congratulations Dave on a wonderful career.”
Stuart Bromley
“A certain taker of bulk wickets each and every season — unbelievably reliable, able to bowl all day with the new or old ball and consistently damage batting line-ups. He often batted late in the order because of all those wickets, but as an opener he could be completely destructive — big runs, extremely quickly, taking games away from the opposition. He was also typically the best fielder in whatever side he played in, and the best touch footballer in the warm-up, putting the young blokes to shame. The most memorable moment showing his dedication was seeing daylight through his lip after he threw himself headlong at a concrete boundary fence to save a four. He also managed to break a finger that day. Definitely no easy runs on offer from Dave in the field.”
Geoff Hickman
“Dave has been an absolute icon to the Stags over fifteen years. The 2012/13 grand final against St George at Pratten Park stays with me. Gordon were bowled out for 139, Dave top-scoring with 46. St George were cruising at 2 for 108. They lost their last 8 wickets for 13 runs. As captain Dave rallied the side and brought on Matt Selby at number five — 5 for 15. Dave then went out and scored 62 in the second innings as Gordon finished at 6 for 146 and took the premiership. The GOAT was locked in. Off the field his contribution has been just as important. One pre-season trial at Gore Hill this season — Dave was injured, couldn’t play — he rang and offered to come along anyway. He turned up before the start and umpired for most of the day. Not expected. Always happy to assist. Gordon District Cricket Club members don’t come any better.”
Fifteen seasons
The World’s Greatest Fifth Grader turned out to be something more than that. He was a premiership captain, a record holder, a grade player in his final summer, and the kind of teammate clubs are built around.
When he didn’t do well himself, he was always the first to encourage his teammates, particularly the younger ones. He was the bloke who umpired when he couldn’t play and threw himself headlong at a concrete boundary fence to save a four when he could.
Thank you, Dave. It has been a privilege.
Paul Stephenson
