Devon Meadows Cricket Club legend Lincoln Hepburn notches 500 games

Lincoln Hepburn reflects on four decades of fun, friendship and a quirky superstition after becoming Devon Meadows’ first 500-game player — and he names his greatest XI.

500 up: Lincoln Hepburn has had a four-decade innings at Devon Meadows. Picture: Mick Floyd

Lincoln Hepburn has re-written the record books more than once at Devon Meadows Cricket Club.

When he was 14, Hepburn did a school project collating the club’s games records and stats.

“It wasn’t even a spreadsheet — it was a handwritten chart in those days,” he said.

Fast forward 37 years and Hepburn’s name sits atop the charts as Devon Meadows’ first 500-game player.

He achieved the milestone on Saturday when he captained the club’s fourths against Pakenham in front of family and past teammates who showed up for the historic occasion.

“There were 10 of my best mates in the world there,” he said.

Lincoln Hepburn with his Devon Meadows teammates in his 500th game. Picture: Jo Berry

Pakenham gave Hepburn a guard of honour and the man of the moment was deeply touched.

“They’re a great club to play against,’’ he said.

At 51, Hepburn looks back with great satisfaction and pleasure on a lifetime in the game, highlighted by two First XI premierships.

“One of the opposition players said to me last week, ‘you need a hobby’,” Hepburn laughed.

“Maybe I do.”

He said cricket was addictive and Devon Meadows was the greatest club in the world.

“I love it. I’m 51 so I’ve been playing for 41 years, all at the one club,’’ he said.

“I’ve never seriously retired. I’ve had a few games off but I haven’t missed too many. Yeah, I still love it.”

Hepburn is proudly a one-club player, although he admits he “very briefly” contemplated moving about two decades ago.

“I trained once with another club and that was Bonbeach because I had two cousins play there,” he said.

“But I found I couldn’t leave Devon Meadows.”

Lincoln Hepburn batting for Devon Meadows. Picture: Mick Floyd

Hepburn was playing in Devon Meadows’ juniors when he pieced together the club’s records for that school project and it grew to be a passion; he’s now the club’s historian.

“Daryl Hunt was games record holder at the club...he was on 199 games and I think he’d retired by then but I did play with him,’’ he said.

“That seemed like a hell of a lot of games at the time and realistically it was.

“I think there’s about 1000 players who’ve played for the club and I’ve met about 850 of them.

“The club was around for about 14 years before I got there.”

Mateship has been a huge part of Hepburn’s cricket journey. He estimates he’s played 350 games alongside Peter Zauner, who remains a cherished teammate in the fours.

Other favourites include Darren O’Brien, Peter “Ghost’’ O’Brien and Mark Hosking.

Peter Zauner.

Darren O'Brien. Picture: Chris Eastman

Former Devon Meadows president Mick Floyd said Hepburn had “old school’’ values of having a cold drink with opposition after games, and he had played a key role in the club’s strong culture.

“He’s been fantastic. He was one of the first guys I met when I started down there,’’ Floyd said.

“He’s always been good at bringing the new players into the club and making sure they’re comfortable, taking them under his wing. He ticks a lot of boxes from a club point of view.”

LINCOLN HEPBURN’S GREATEST XI (“Here’s my completely biased, not necessarily ‘Best’, but ‘Greatest’ XI comprised of players I’ve played with (in batting order)…

1. Darren “Bungle” O’Brien 405 games 10,000+ runs says it all

2. Mark “Hocko” Hosking 300 games LHB, back-up ‘keeper, lollipop bowler and dual-Premiership Captain

3. Ross “Lumps” Helle 143 games Elegance personified

4. Alan “Tibbs” Tibballs † 297 games The original Legend. Club mascot is named after him

5. Andrew “AC” Churchus 147 games Former Captain-Coach and Premiership champion

6. Ian “Hoopy” Hopper 141 games Terrific allrounder and a giant among men

7. Jason “Garn” Brzezowski 226 games Best Gully in the business. Can bat and bowl too

8. Peter “Ghost” O’Brien 289 games Our greatest ‘keeper, brilliant batsman and net-bowler

9. Peter “Zed” Zauner 384 games My long-time opening bowling partner, dual 1st XI Premiership Captain-Coach

10. Craig “Poss” Hunter 157 games Superb allrounder and magnificent footballer for DMFC also

11. Michael “Mav” Floyd 313 games Former President of 15 years. Unsurpassed in preparedness and “change-ups”

…and in alphabetical order, 50 candidates for 12th man:

Albaquerque, Animal, Arma, Balooka, Baz, Buttons, Chappy, Chickenskin, Chief, Chook, Churchy, Dingo, Foxy, Fults, Funky, Gandalf, Georgie, Gilligan, God, Goggs, Gus, Hunty, Langers, Mickey Sett, Mongo, Monkey, Muff, Mule, Nullen, OD, P.A., Pommy, Pops, Portski, Prong, Pubes, Red Dog, Rowdy, Ruscal, Saleryes, Shirley Shoeshine, Signor Wang Dag, Skunk, Stick, Sord, Steady, Steppa, Squeak, Tibbs Jr., Tommy, Valve, Wishbone, Wopper and family-friend Gordon Carleton who played 2 games for the Club, but inspired and encouraged me as a kid to play cricket.