To celebrate its centenary, Cricket Shepparton will be immortalising its greats by selecting a Team of the Century at an event in November.
The shortlist — consisting of 30 members — recognises those past and present that have had a large impact on the game of cricket both in the region and beyond.
In the lead-up to the ceremony, The News will run special feature pieces on all 30 players, before the release of a commemorative magazine on November 25.
No questions should be asked regarding John McPhillamy making the Cricket Shepparton Team of the Century shortlist as his resume is well deserved.
Known to most in cricket circles as ‘‘Boofa’’, McPhillamy has won everything that can be won with Old Students Cricket Club.
This includes four premierships, the Lightfoot Medal in the 1982-83 season and countless highlights with the bat.
"I started with Old Students, we lived directly opposite the cricket ground, so I saw them training and I just instantly wanted to join," McPhillamy, 70, said.
“It was my home away from home. I was glad to play there as I got four premierships.”
By age 16, he was playing in a talented A-grade side that would go on to win the premiership against Footballers.
In that grand final McPhillamy made a crucial 49 not out which helped his side win the 1974-75 season.
"I remember I played all year in A-grade and we played in the grand final against Footballers ... (which) we were able to win," McPhillamy said.
“I scored 49 not out which was great.”
He said there was not a lot to note from the day's events, but he did remember the talent that came through this era — including another legend of cricket in Central Park-St Brendan’s’ Gary O'Brien.
"That era just had a lot of good cricketers and Gary O'Brien was one that comes to mind. He was the same age as me and a top cricketer," he said.
As the 1970s kicked on Old Students were able to continue their winning ways.
Two more Haisman Shield premierships were added in consecutive seasons for McPhillamy.
And it was the semi-final of the three-peat that he remembers best.
In the 1976-77 season, under ex-Melbourne player Ian Henning, Old Students won by the skin of their teeth in a semi-final against St Brendan's.
"On the Sunday against St Brendan's we were defending 103 and they were at 6-97 just before tea,“ McPhillamy said.
“I remember Dave Shaw sent me a signal (to say) ‘you are bowling the final over before tea and just slow down the game’," McPhillamy said.
“So I went around the wicket, tied up my shoes and the umpire gave me a serve (warning), but we slowed down the over just enough and we got to tea.
“Before we went onto the ground after tea I thought ‘we are not going to win this’ and I was thinking about the upcoming footy season.”
But cricket is a funny game.
Old Students stunned St Brendan’s thanks to McPhillamy’s skills.
“We (rolled) them, I took a catch and we went into the grand final,” he said as he relived the moment.
The win ensured Old Students progressed through to the Haisman Shield decider against Shepparton Youth Club.
McPhilamy went on to make a hero effort of 102 not out in the three-day grand final.
“We won by three wickets in a three-day game,” McPhillamy said.
“We put Youth Club back in, so I was about 40 not out on the close of play on day two.
“On day three everything felt right and I went on to make a century. We then bowled them out with Shawy (Dave Shaw) doing his magic with the ball.”
He said the premiership celebrations were “quite large” and it was “a day to remember” for the club.
McPhillamy’s career came to a close less than a decade later following that triumph.
It would be almost 40 years later that the Old Students champion would witness his beloved club claim another flag.
And this one was extra special.
He watched on as his son Luke helped Old Students break the premiership drought in the 2016-17 Haisman Shield decider against Katandra.