St George DCC In Between Balls with Tom Vane Tempest
Another great example of a fine St George cricketer on and off the field is our premiership winning First Grade Wicketkeeper. Let's find out a little more and go in between balls with Tom Vane Tempest...
What year you were born and where? - 1997 in Canberra
Can you remember your first game of cricket? - I can’t remember my first game of cricket but I was about 6 years old and imitating Brett Lee. My run up would have rivalled Connor O’Riordan’s for length!
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey? I can’t believe how lucky I am to have landed at St George - the club my Pop used to come down and support when he was a kid. Before I played here I played Premier Cricket at home in Canberra for Tuggeranong Valley Cricket Club which has produced some great players like Michael Bevan, Jason Behrendorff and the Floros brothers among others, and for my school Marist College Canberra.
What other sports do you play? - I love playing golf when I have the time and have recently taken up skiing with my partner (who is far better than I ever will be)! I’m also an avid fisherman and love getting out into the mountains.
Highest levels in other sports played if applicable? - I used to play national level touch footy.
Who is your favourite sports movie or documentary? - My favourite sports movie is Creed and documentary is the docuseries Full Swing.
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator? - I love listening to Gilly analyse the game, especially wicketkeeping.
What’s the one thing about you most people don’t know about? - My full name (including middle names) is six words long.
How many years did you play at St George? - I’m about to play my sixth season with Saints.
St George Nickname? - TVT/Vaney
Highest Level Played (St George or Representative including Jnr Level)? - Second XI for ACT/NSW Country
Highest Score for St George? - 91
Can you tell us which players in the club we should be looking out for in terms of higher representative honours? - There are several really good players coming through and who are already established. I’d love to see KP get a run in the Ashes this summer and in terms of an emerging player I think young Will Taylor has an impressive skillset and could be anything.
Who has been the scariest bowler you have played against so far? - I actually think the scariest bowlers I’ve faced have been the ones I’m not supposed to get out to! In terms of a scary spell in a game I played, I got called into a Second XI match as a concussion substitute because Pat Cummins was on the other team and knocking blokes out!
Who has been the best spinner you have played against so far? - We played an exhibition match against NSW a couple of seasons ago to celebrate the centenary of first grade and Nathan Lyon played against us. I didn’t get the chance to face him (thanks Moey) but it was fun to be on the same field as the GOAT.
Who has been the best batsman you’ve played against? - I’ve watched some pretty cool innings from behind the pegs. A couple of guys who have made me question whether we could get them out are Will Pucovski and Peter Forrest. When Ollie Davies is going he’s a freak too.
Who has been your funniest St George team mate? - Sadly he won’t be back this season but Ed Pollock is one of the greats and always up for a laugh.
Who was your childhood hero? - In summer it was Brad Haddin, in winter it was Clinton Schifcofske.
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet? - Tiger Woods, Usain Bolt, Virat Kohli
Name some St George players you admire most in terms of skills and competitive spirit? - Every time Kurtis Patterson comes back to play for us it is such a great reminder to us all how good you have to be to succeed at the next level. He is hungry for runs every time he bats and sometimes it looks like he’s playing a different game. His competitiveness was perhaps best displayed in his massive hundred in the semi final against Parramatta at Hurstville a couple of seasons ago - I thought he was going to jump the fence when he brought it up!
Greatest St George influence? - So many great people have made, and continue to make my time at St George special. Nick Stapleton brought me to the club and his wonderful family welcomed me (along with my road-trip passenger Blake Macdonald) into their home many times. He plays the game in the right spirit and we are all better for having played under his leadership.
What do you enjoy most about playing cricket? - Catching the ball and winning.
What don’t you like? - Getting out and losing.
What did / do you enjoy most about playing at St George? - I love playing with some of my greatest mates at Hurstville oval for a club that has a lot of family history and connection for me.
What has been your most memorable moment in cricket? - Winning the Belvidere Cup in 2023/24.
Favorite Saints Tradition? - Hugh Hefner
Tell us about the best win you’ve been involved with? - Winning the Belvidere Cup Final in 2023/24 was the best match I’ve been involved in. To be honest I really didn’t enjoy much of the game because I was so stressed about the result. The feeling when we won was more relief than anything but it is without doubt the most satisfying thing I’ve been involved in.
“Favorite” worst injury playing cricket? - I've copped a few cricket balls to the face over the years wicketkeeping. Probably the worst was keeping up to the stumps in a match at Manuka Oval in Canberra and chewing on one the batter nicked. I was 17 and Dad was so cranky I wasn’t wearing a lid he dropped me at the hospital and told me to make my own way home!
Favorite Beverage? - Bushells Blue Label tea
Favorite Food? - Steak
Favorite Holiday Destination? - Ulladulla
What are your hobbies? - Fishing, golfing, skiing, watching the Raiders
What’s the best advice you’ve received? - The way you do anything is the way you do everything.
What do you do for a living? - Lawyer
Greatest achievement outside of cricket? - Probably graduating law school and getting a grad job!
If you were down to $10 how would you spend it? - Green fees
Advice to any youngsters looking to make it in the game? - Have fun and play selflessly.
