FROM humble beginnings in a Tatyoon backyard to playing cricket at some of the largest domestic competitions, Geoff Phillips is well-known across the region.
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Growing up on the family farm in Tatyoon, Phillips started playing cricket with his older brother Allan at a young age.
Cricket was also a game he played during breaks at school.
“I played a bulk of my cricket at Tatyoon, starting there as a junior,” he said.
When Phillips went away to boarding school in Ballarat, cricket became an even bigger part of his life.
His skills developed as the opportunities grew at boarding school.
“The bulk of the games I played there were in school cricket. Towards the end of my schooling, in senior cricket, we travelled to places like Hamilton. I also played representative cricket down in Melbourne,” he said.
Cricket has been Phillips’ main passion over the years, although he also played football in school and for Tatyoon.
“Cricket is the game I always got the most out of,” he said.
Modest about his cricket history, Phillips said he was fortunate to play at a higher level.
“I was fortunate to play in some Victorian country teams and Australian Country representative cricket teams where we played against some international teams,” he said.
“One of the highlights was when we played a New South Wales state team and we beat them in a one-dayer, which was quite satisfying.
“It was a good standard of cricket and it was very enjoyable. We got to play a number of teams and was very exciting at the time.”
Phillips played a season of cricket in Yorkshire, England in the late 1980s.
“The opportunity came about from one of the chaps I played with from New South Wales. I played against him and with him in the Australian team and he used to source a few players for a few clubs and I was fortunate he put my name forward,” he said.
In more recent years, Phillips has taken on various roles in cricket circles – a different approach to stepping onto the field.
“When I was a young chap learning the game, I would have several older people who I had a lot of respect for say if you get something out of the game you should be prepared to put something back into it,” he said.
Phillips enjoys coaching and mentoring young cricketers and in 2018 took on the role of the representative under-17 coach.
“It’s an opportunity to teach the young people some things that could help them with their game. That’s rewarding within itself and is a benefit for everyone,” he said.
Only filling in on the field “when we’re really, really desperate”, Phillips is still heavily involved at the place where he played most of his cricket.
Phillips has been president of the Tatyoon Cricket Club since 2017.
“I’ve always loved the game. It’s a game that requires a bit of resilience and patience,” he said.
“I’m fortunate to have meet a lot of very good people over all the years I have been involved in cricket. It’s one of the many benefits of playing.”
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