Congratulations to Tony Luttick who on Saturday 16 December played his 300th senior match at the Club, the first to reach this milestone.
As well as holding the senior games record, he has the most runs (6722) as well as holding the highest opening wicket partnerships in the Club 1st and 2nd XI’s, Captain (2004-2005) vice Captain (1999-2000) and player (2000-2001) in second XI premiership sides, and in 2003-2004 in the veterans side. Tony is currently captain of the 2nd XI, playing in Barclay Reserve.
Tony has also been Treasurer on three occasions for a total of 9 seasons, was awarded the Best Clubman award in 1998-1999 and Life Membership of our Club in 1996-1997.
We are honoured to have such a stalwart of the Club reach this milestone and with his son Nathan having joined the Milo Have A Go program this season, look forward to the Luttick name gracing the field in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association for many years to come.
The following best wishes have been received:
Bryan Mash whose record of 261 senior matches Lutt overtook in 2003 – “Congratulations on your 300th match Lutt, it has taken you 25 years to match your best performance of 6 catches in a season. Well done!”
Fred Leslie whose run scoring record of 5710 Lutt overtook in 2003 – Great effort Lutt, well done and play for many more years.
Trevor Jerram who captained Lutt in the 1st XI 1989-1994 – An honour to celebrate the 300th match of “Bird”. A lot has been said over the years about the big bird, he has been called the corpse with the pads on.
As Treasurer, he has often been called frugal with Club money, but I am sure it is not true that he put some old left handed batting gloves in one of the lower grade kits, and when told there were only right handed batsmen and we would have to buy new gloves he replied, “It doesn’t matter, they can’t bat anyway!”. I am also sure it is not true that that people have wanted the nets named after him because he has spent more time at training and pre match in there and not given others the chance of a hit. These points above are debatable, but these are not:
- He has been likened to Osama Bin Laden with his suicide running between the wickets. Osama Bin Luttick has agreed that there have been over 30 kills, but we think there might be more.
- When fielding, his likeness to Sleeping Beauty is well documented. The term “off with the fairies” was termed for Lutt 25 years ago and has stuck!
- Not many know this, but Lutt has the longest toenails in the southern hemisphere
- His driving – he has been known to overtake cars in a 5 story car park – very, very dangerous
- Lutt is so straight, honest and conservative, it must have been a traumatic experience for him to play those years with the circus clowns Hyde and Jerram – very traumatic!
- Votes Liberal, but has no idea why.
Other things that you would probably know is that he is one of the most decent blokes you would ever meet. He is a great and loyal mate who not only doesn’t say bad things about his clubmates, or even his opposition, he always has something nice to say about everyone – even Mick Bowen!
In finishing, I would like to quote something that Howard Gault, an esteemed Life Member of the Club wrote in a eulogy about another great Lower Plenty bloke, Robert “Bull” Browne. While Lutt has not passed on, I think it is rather appropriate. “Few people achieve the old Aussie recognition of a top bloke the way Lutt has. Most of us have faults or traits which annoy or upset people. In twenty years, I have never heard anyone run him down or speak harshly of him. He is simply a mate to all who have had the pleasure of meeting him.
The work love is not generally used when men talk about other men, but I cannot think of a better way to express the way we feel about the Big Bird, Tony Luttick.
Steve Atkins – 1st XI Captain 1984-1986. Lutt, congratulations on your efforts on and off the field. I have always said you were outstanding in the field – out standing at Mid Off, Mid On, Fine Leg, staring at the sky!
Ken Hodgson Captain Coach 1986-1989 - Please pass on my congratulations to Lutt. When I first went to Lower I was amazed that Lutt hadn't been given the opportunities to bowl his mesmerizing spin that he really deserved.
On one occasion he destroyed a talented Riverside batting line-up, but it appears that over the years this effort was forgotten (not by him of course!) and his opportunities to roll the arm over have been few and far between.
He was also a great help in the field as his snoring in the gully area was so loud that the slips cordon didn't ever get an opportunity to doze off.
He has always been a great clubman and an excellent role model for the younger fellas as they came through the grades
Kevin Crisp – Chairman of Selectors. Congratulations on reaching this amazing milestone. I can't imagine anyone being this old and still playing!
Michael Bowen. 150 game player. Lutt, Congratulations on reaching your 300th. I am glad that my training schedule has helped carry you to the line and with my personal training plan we will work on together there will be another 300 games for you.
Peter Rice. Congratulations on reaching the 300 game milestone.
In addition to the wonderful contributions you have made to the club both on-field and at committee level, you have been a major source of amusement over an extended period.
My favourite stories are;
- When crawling to your maiden senior hundred in a rain affected game against Thomastown United in B Grade, it wasn't until acting captain, TBus (Brett Temple) told you that we were declaring in 3 overs that you raised your backlift above shoulder height. The very next ball you moved to 92 with a 6 over mid off. Amazing stuff. It wasn't until then that I believed you hit Fox for a 6 in A Grade.
- When playing Montmorency away in B Grade in 1990/91, we had completed the run chase comfortably despite Lutty failing. Captain Dave Lambert called the team together immediately after the players left the field to give us a pep talk out the front of the rooms. Only 10 players were present. OK, who’s missing - Lutty. Where's Lutt???? There he was, driving his little red laser along Para road back to our rooms. Lutty was never in a good mood after failing but why on earth did he drive to Monty?
- Lutty was a big one for mental preparation before a match. Many years ago, when Lutt had just got his licence and Greensborough shopping centre had been finished, he was playing Greensborough Districts away at Partingtons Flat. Dave Lambert got to the intersection of Para Road and Main Street (outside Savers), went through an orange arrow and on to the ground. Lutt was in the car behind and obviously wasn't familiar with the local roads despite living in the area his entire life. He went straight through the red light, straight over Main Street, down the one way section of the Circuit and shot out in front of Dave Lamberts car just below McDonalds. When questioned about the route he took, he said he mentally preparing and not really concentrating on the road.
Tony “Wobble” Mash. Lutt, congratulations on reaching such a fabulous milestone. A great Clubman, with no one loving the Club more than Lutt. Well done with all you have achieved and looking forward to sitting in the rooms with you watching Nathan and John playing for this great Club.
David Lambert. Hmm.....yes lutty.
Congratulations Lutty on this fantastic milestone.....
I remember one of your first junior games versus lower Eltham....a few signs of things to come....
1.....I made a duck
2.....you carried your bat thru the innings for 9 not out.........
Not sure whether you ran anybody out!
Congrats again!!
Lambo
Ross Telgenkamp. Congratulations Lutt on your 300th senior game. You have been a fantastic cricketer, role model and ambassador for the Lower Plenty Cricket Club on and off the field. I wish you all the best for Saturday and in future games.
Carl Ryan. Lutt, well done on reaching your milestone with YOUR club. Last week to watch your side as a junior parent was fantastic, your leadership and guidance are a credit to you, keep scoring those runs and finals are your goal.
Chris Tsaparis. What can I say about Lutt...!
To play 300 games is an outstanding achievement. Having played and batted
with Lutt many times his ability to score so many runs and withstand the
best fast bowling for so many years is a testament to his skill ( although
his running between wickets has been interesting at times ) and longevity.
Lutt congratulations on reaching this fantastic milestone. You've been a
dedicated, loyal servant to the Lower Plenty Cricket Club. I've got no doubt
you'll give the 400 - 500 game mark a nudge as well.
Chris Tyrrell
I know Dad would like to congratulate his mate “Slut” on 300 appearances for the club. From me, well the one enjoyment I get is when he bowls and appeals to the umpire when he thinks he has a wicket. THAT is comedy at its best!
For those who have seen this happen will know what I mean. Well done Lutt on 300 games.
Mick Mash. Lutt, thanks for 300 games of boring batting. When you first started playing senior cricket we regularly had good crowds watching our matches. You single handedly destroyed their enthusiasm for the game. You caused the late great Tex to turn to drink after one of your innings. As one of the hundreds of batsmen you have run out and one of the far to numerous bowlers who have suffered because of your ineptness in the field I wish you well in this historic game. Please don't bore the shit out of us.
Budge. Never before have I seen a man with his bat in his hand as often as I have with the great Antony Luttick.
I think we should seriously consider changing the name of the nets to "The V.V.S. Luttman Batting Nets at Lower Plenty Oval".
Congratulations on 300 games Lutty, an incredible effort. Most of them played at the highest level and most of them spent on Planet Bird.
Peter “Fumbles” Leslie. Lutt, Congrats on reaching 300 games. It’s been a pleasure to have been involved in a few of them.
Jim “Tex” Tyrrell. My most memorable memory of playing with Lutt was the first time I got to play with him in my first B Grade game. I had been watching him play since I was the A Grade scorer while in the Under 12s and really looking forward to learning a bit more about the game from Lutt. We batted first and Lutt was killing them. I finally got my chance to bat and couldn’t believe Lutt was 99no when I came in. I think there must have been a mix-up and the previous batsman was run out so I was at the non-striker’s end. Lutt inspired me with confidence as I strode to the wicket. First ball of our partnership and Lutt creamed a cut shot straight to point and called yes. Lutt had his head down and started advancing towards me. I could (should) have sent him back to be run out for 99 but ended up making a diamond duck – Lutt’s third victim for the day!! Mick “Simon the likeable” Connop. Congratulations Lutt – super effort !
Diamond Valley Leader 20 December 2006. 061220 DV Leader Article.pdf
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