The Bogie Panthers’ have joined the WDCA (Wangaratta and District Cricket Association).
Bradley James has been keen to get cricket back to Strathbogie for some time, and was instrumental in applying to the WDCA to have the team included.
In a recent article in the Euroa Gazette Brad said, “I don’t think the Strathbogie club has been active for 25, 30 years – my old man and his mates, they all played up there as a collective and had it all going up there and then the club folded.”

The Panthers will field a side in C grade in their first season in the WDCA and their first match will be on Saturday 28th October at 1:30pm at the Strathbogie Recreation Ground. They would love to see you there.

Strathbogie “Hillmen” have had a long and very successful history with cricket and it is terrific to see this starting up again and the Rec Ground being put to good use.
The following snippets have been taken from the excellent local publication Strathbogie Centenary 1897-1997.
Euroa’s first newspaper was the “Advertiser”, the first issue being published in 1884. The following is an extract from an issue of that year:- Euroa cricketers rode horses and some went by Casement’s trap to Strathbogie. The bush had been cleared but there were still a few trees a few yards from the wickets. Gundry captained Strathbogie who made 38 (E. Emmett 14, Scott 3/7) and lost to Euroa 144 (W.B. Pleasents 53 n.o., W. Emmett 5/24) In 1890 it was reported the Strathbogie and Strathbogie South fielded teams and played unofficial matches against other district teams including Burnt Creek, Baddaginnie, Avenel and Black Range.
The set up of cricket in Euroa and district changed in 1904 with the formation of the Euroa and District Cricket Association. Strathbogie did not enter a team in the early years of the E.D.C.A. and Strathbogie champion Jim Morley played with Castle Creek. His 131 against Longwood stands on record as the first century scored in the Association. 1904 – 1912 No doubt some cricket was played in ‘Bogie during this period prior to the “Hillmen” joining the E.D.C.A. but no records are available.
Strathbogie’s first season in the E.D.C.A. was in 1912-13, when Avenel dropped out. Other clubs were Longwood, Euroa, Backroaders, Moglonemby, Wednesdays and Tamleugh. ‘Bogie did not compete in the E.D.C.A. again until 1921-22 when the competing teams were Castle Creek, Euroa, Ruffy, Tamleugh, Moglonemby, Balmattum, Wednesdays, Longwood, Violet Town, Diggers and Strathbogie.
1965-66 was a great season for “The Hillmen” as they won their first E.D.C.A. “A” grade premiership ever. Scores in the final Strathbogie 95 (B. Noonan 28 n.o.) and 12/137 (P. O’Donoghue 80, L. Aiken n.o. 44), G. Mackrell 36, A. Moore 3/21) defeated Euroa 50 (L. Hill 6/21, P. O’Donoghue 3/5) and 209 (P. O’Donoghue 5/78). ‘Bogie team Laurie Aiken (captain), Norm Watkins, Arthur Jukes, Les Hill, Peter O’Donoghue, Alan Moore, Ron Watkins, Gary Mackrell, Barry Noonan, Stan Watkins and Geoff Bennier.
In 1966-67 Strathbogie won their second successive E.D.C.A. “A” grade premiership, members of the team being Peter O’Donoghue (captain), Arthur Jukes, Les Hill, Barry Noonan, Peter Jorgensen, Gary Mackrell, Alan Moore, Bob Smith, Geoff Bennie, Wayne Mackrell and Murray Hill. Final scores Euroa 208 (P. O’Donoghue 6/76 off 38 overs) and 149 (G. Bennie 5/68) lost to Strathbogie 176 (P. O’Donoghue 59, A. Moore 27) and 4/183 (L. Hill 57, G. Mackrell 47, P. O’Donoghue 26, B . Noonan n.o. 23, A. Moore n.o. 20) (‘Bogie won by 6 wickets).
1976-77 season was another good one for Strathbogie as they won their third E.D.C.A. “A” grade premiership. The successful team Wayne Mackrell (captain), John Law (vice captain), Ashley Page, David Jukes, Peter O’Donoghue, Phillip Armstrong, Steve Mackrell, Elgin Dougherty, Ian Millar, Ian Vidler, Trevor Hoare and Denis Mackrell. W. Mackrell, J. Law, P. Armstrong and Trevor Hoare played at Melbourne Country Week. Association trophy winners from the club – “Maygar” bat, J. Law; best average, J. Law; most wickets, W. Mackrell.

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