The winter months at Albert Cricket Ground look decisively different than what iconic venue south of the Melbourne CBD does in the summer.
Turf pitches and a boundary ropes are replaced with line paintings and standalone hockey-like goals, standing six feet high, by six feet wide. The similarities – both the sports of cricket and lacrosse – feature helmets and protective padding, and a weighted ball travelling at dangerous speeds.
But while Cricket can often reign supreme as one of Australia’s national sports and steeped in fabric of the Club, the MCC Lacrosse section can boast an equally rich history as it celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2021.
Founded in 1896 as a combined affiliation of the Caulfield and Melbourne Clubs, MCC Lacrosse won its first premiership in just its third year in 1898. They have hosted international matches – including world championships and Olympic Games demonstration events – and boast international and Australian representatives, plus five Hans Ebeling Award winners.
One of these Award winners is former Victorian and Australian Lacrosse team captain and MCC Lacrosse section life member, Ken Nichols.
“It’s just a vibrant place full of good people,” Nichols said.
“We’ve been very fortunate, the MCC has been wonderful to us and has supported us so well in my living memory. It’s wonderful.”
For Head Coach, Nick Kiloh, who also balances the role with being the club’s Junior Coordinator, the sport itself played a role in being the initial attraction to him, while being part of the history ensures he’ll always stick around.
“We’re one of the oldest sporting sections of any club in Victoria. All you have to do is look at the age of the club rooms, the boards inside to see there is real history here,” Kiloh said.
“What drew me was when I was eight (year old), someone like me came out and gave a clinic for our school at the time.
“It was something different and something really enjoyable, so that’s what brought me in. Lacrosse sucks you in, you don’t really leave once you are part of the family.”
The Club is now home to a thriving junior program and a successful women’s program, which has seen the club’s first junior girls team born.
At the heart of this is Life Member, founding Women’s player and current Treasurer, Kellie Ellingworth.
“I’m only new to the club by all means, even though I’ve been around for 16 years. But compared (to the rest of the club), that’s nothing,” Ellingworth said.
“125 years of history…the stories you get when we have past players down here are phenomenal and it just brings so much happiness that the MCC has stuck by the Lacrosse section through the years.
“We’ve had some horrible years as teams, but we are showing potential now and our junior (players) are coming through.
“125 (years), it means a lot. You’re not just turning 10 (years old), are you?”
Just last Saturday, the Lacrosse section celebrated a Senior Men’s double-header with their Division 1 and 3 teams playing at home, sporting their brand-new uniforms.
And while over the century-and-a-quarter of the MCC Lacrosse’s existence means new developments, such as uniforms, it’s been the tradition that has remained strong through the generations.
“I think for any player that walks through our doors, having that (MCC) logo on your chest certainly means something,” Nick Kiloh said.
“And certainly means a little bit more – in my opinion, and I might be a little bit biased here – than other clubs.
“I’ve been told by many, many club legends that they could never give back enough than what the sport and the club has given to them, and I certainly feel the same way.
“It’s the reason they do what they do, and I do what I do, and why everyone feels that bond to the club.”
To find out more about the MCC Lacrosse section, click here.