St Mary’s players make VFL

A big congratulations to St Mary’s players Ty Kitchell and Dom Akuei on being selected in the Essendon Football Club Victorian Football League (VFL) team.

It’s a fantastic achievement for both players, with Dom returning to the VFL side and Ty earning his spot for the first time. Their selection is a testament to the hard work and commitment they continue to show both on and off the field.

Everyone at St Mary’s is incredibly proud to see their efforts recognised, and we wish them both the very best for the season ahead.

Strong summer season for netball teams

Well done to our 13&U, 15&U and 17&U netball teams on a fantastic summer season!

While finals didn’t go our way, reaching the finals is a great achievement and a reflection of the hard work, teamwork and commitment shown throughout the season. Every player should be proud of their efforts.

A special mention also to our 17&U team on an incredible inaugural season. Making finals in your debut year is a fantastic achievement, and we’re so proud of the way the team has grown and represented the club.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the dedication of our volunteers who give so much of their time to support our players. A huge thank you to coach Mick Denton and our other volunteers Tony Ryan, Kelly Rennie and Louise Reid for their commitment throughout the season.

We’re already looking forward to seeing all three teams back out on court for the winter season.

15&U
13&U
17&U

Junior netball players recognised by league

Congratulations to Matilda Armstrong and Gemma Spithill from our 13&U junior netball team, who have been invited to attend the NFNL Summer Junior Presentation Night.

Both players have had outstanding seasons and it’s fantastic to see their efforts recognised at league level. Matilda has been a strong and reliable defender all year, consistently shutting down opposition attacks with her determination and game sense. Gemma has been equally impressive in the shooting circle, proving to be a dependable and accurate scorer for the team.

Selections like this are a great reward for the hard work, commitment and teamwork these players have shown throughout the season.

We wish both Matilda and Gemma the very best of luck at the presentation night on 20 March 2026.

Matilda Armstrong
Gemma Spithill

IWD 2026: Expanding our women’s football program

Today marks International Women’s Day. This year, the UN Women Australia’s theme is Balance the Scales — a promise that every woman and girl, regardless of background or identity, should be safe, heard, and free to shape their own lives.

When women and girls stand equal, families are stronger, workplaces are fairer, communities thrive, and society becomes safer for everyone.

At St Mary’s, we believe sport can play a powerful role in making that change happen.

That’s why today we’re proud to announce that in 2026 we will be expanding our women’s football program with a second team! This will create even more opportunities for women and girls to play, belong and thrive in our community.

Stay tuned as we’ll be sharing more exciting announcements about the team soon.

This International Women’s Day, let’s continue to Balance The Scales, together.

St Mary’s netballers earn NFNL representative spots

We’re proud to celebrate the selection of five of our junior netballers in the NFNL Representative Netball Teams! This is a fantastic achievement and recognition of their hard work, dedication and talent.

The NFNL Representative Program provides players with the opportunity to compete at a higher level, represent the league at the Netball Victoria Association Championships, and be identified for the Netball Victoria and Netball Australia talent pathways.

Selections like this highlight the importance of strong grassroots programs. Our junior netball program was created to give more girls the opportunity to succeed in sport and to provide a clear pathway into higher levels of netball. It’s about investing in young athletes, creating environments where they can build confidence, refine their skills and believe in their potential. We’re proud to see that vision coming to fruition.

Congratulations to our selected players:

13&U
Amelia Denton
Maeve O’Neill

15&U
Jo Denton
Lilyana Condon
Holly Elliot-Pogue

We wish the girls the very best as they represent both St Mary’s and the NFNL in the upcoming program.

Statement season for 17&U Netball

Stepping up from junior to senior sport is never easy, but our 17&U netball team has proved they belong.

In their very first season competing in Division 1 of 17&U netball as part of the senior netball competition, the team have finished 3rd on the ladder and secured a place in the finals. It reflects their hard work at training, the standout support from coaches and families, and the strong team culture they’ve built.

Finals netball is a new level again — faster, tougher, and more intense. But if this season has shown us anything, it’s that this group thrives on challenge.

Best of luck to the team in their finals game this Friday!

Netball teams putting in the work

While many enjoyed a well-earned rest over the mid-season break, our junior netballers chose to come together for a few extra training sessions. These opportunities are just as much about team bonding as they are about sharpening their skills, giving players the chance to support one another, build confidence, and enjoy being part of a team.

A huge thank you goes to Junior Netball Coach Mick Denton for organising and running the session. His commitment plays a big role in keeping our juniors motivated, involved, and enjoying their netball.

We’d also like to thank Craig Body from Banyule Council for his help in arranging access to the courts. Having the use of Banyule Nets is a fantastic resource for our club and provides a great environment for our players to train.

With plenty of hard work behind them, our juniors are ready for a big second half of the season!

2025 in Review

As 2025 comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on a year full of achievements, milestones, and unforgettable moments at St Mary’s.

  • 15 player milestones: This year we had seven players reach 50 games, seven players hit 100 games, and a historic moment as Nic Daisley became our club’s first-ever 200 game player. That’s 1,250 games for St Mary’s combined!
  • 14 finals played: Our teams competed fiercely in 14 finals across football and netball, including one senior and one junior netball Grand Final, giving our supporters plenty to cheer for and celebrate.
  • 26 new netball players: We were thrilled to welcome so many new players across our senior and junior netball programs, alongside the addition of two new junior netball teams – 13&U and 17&U – to create more opportunities for girls in sport.
  • Five awards: Our on-field talent and off-field commitment didn’t go unnoticed. Four players were recognised by the league for their skill and performance. Beyond the game, Livio Basile was honoured by Jaga Jaga for his outstanding commitment to volunteering.
  • $10k secured in grants: We received $10,600 to improve our club and drive key initiatives, ensuring our players, members, and supporters have the best environment to thrive.
  • Saving lives: Our impact extends beyond sport, with our Lifeblood team helping to save 81 lives this year. We also continue to make our roads safer, having now raised over $22,000 through our commitment to road safety initiatives.

None of these achievements would be possible without the energy and support of our players, volunteers and supporters. Thank you for making 2025 an extraordinary year — here’s to building on this success and making 2026 even better!

Re-read the 2024 highlights
17&U Netball
st Mary’s 1 Netball
13&U Netball
Long time volunteers Liz Mace and Robyn Irvine
Livio Basile receives volunteering award

International Volunteer Day 2025

Today marks International Volunteer Day. This year’s theme, “Every Contribution Matters,” celebrates the power of collective action and recognises that every act of volunteering — big or small — builds a stronger, more connected world.

Today, also marks the official launch of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, shining a spotlight on the vital role volunteers play in shaping sustainable communities.

Volunteers are the backbone of local community sport. From coaches, umpires and team managers to canteen crews and committee members — your time, care and commitment create safe, inclusive spaces where players grow in confidence, skills and belonging. Without you, grassroots sport simply wouldn’t exist.

To every volunteer who has shown up this year and continues to show up, thank you.