Starting his footy career 17 years ago with St Mary’s Junior Football Club, and joining the Senior Club in 2014, James ‘Jimmy’ Girolami has now played about 250 games across both Clubs!
Jimmy saw lots of success from a young age across about 140 games in the Junior Club. In Under 13’s he won the Club B&F, in 2012 won the Colts Coaches Award, and in 2013 won the Gerry O’Hara Best Clubman Award, recognising his contribution to the Club culture.
He moved into the Senior Club in 2014, and after just missing out on a Colts Premiership two years in a row, was keen to finally take home the trophy. With some hard work, that dream came true, and in his first year in U19s Jimmy, along with 37 other former Junior Club players, took out the Senior Club’s first ever football premiership!
Jimmy has continued to be a standout player and key to the Club’s success, being involved in many of our best Club highlights. He was integral to the Reserves three-peat in 2016, 2017, and 2018, with the NFNL even describing him as “single-handedly bringing the Burra back into the game” in the 2017 Grand Final.
However it was after the third Premiership in 2018 that his skills were recognised and rewarded as he won the Club B&F, NFNL Division 3 Reserves Leading Goal Kicker with 72 goals, and placed 2nd in the NFNL B&F!
Senior Assistant Coach Ben Joyce shared how much he has enjoyed working with Jimmy.
“Jimmy has been one of my absolute favourites since he walked into the Senior Club for the first time in late 2013.”
“In his first season he played as a full-back and had a really strong year with a great ability to intercept and kick the ball with precision.”
“Alongside the other bottom age boys like Castagnini, he was a key part of our side in the 2014 season and added plenty of skill to the group.”
“Over the years, Jim eventually settled as a key forward and was instrumental in the Reserves three-peat success.”
“He has been one of our best and most reliable performers in finals; nobody could forget his match winning after the siren smother in the 2016 Grand Final against South Morang (and the celebration after it – I’ve never seen him move so fast!).”
“However, for me his best game was the 2017 Grand Final against Banyule. We looked like we were in trouble in the third quarter but he turned the match around.”
“Footy clubs are built on people like Jim, and he has been a huge part of creating a great culture at St Mary’s.”
SMFNC 