On Sunday, our Division 1 Senior Women proudly wore rainbow armbands and ribbons in recognition of Pride Month.
At St Mary’s, we believe everyone deserves to feel welcome, valued and included. Football is more than a game — it’s about connection, community and creating a place where people can be themselves.
We’re proud to celebrate diversity and stand alongside the LGBTQIA+ community, both on and off the field. Together, we continue to build a club where everyone belongs.
We’re proud to be hosting a Beyond Blue Mental Health Match across all senior football and netball games from 17–19 July 2026, raising both vital funds and awareness for Beyond Blue.
At St Mary’s, we know sport is about much more than what happens on game day. Every week, our players, coaches, volunteers, families and supporters navigate the pressures of work, study, family life, injuries and everyday challenges.
“Footy clubs are often the first place people turn to for connection, support and a sense of belonging,” said Club President Mark Stanley.
“By hosting a Mental Health Match, we’re helping create a community where it’s okay to speak up, check in on a mate and seek support when it’s needed. We’re proud to stand alongside Beyond Blue and play our part in breaking down the stigma around mental health.”
Across the weekend, our football and netball players will wear blue armbands in support of the cause, helping spark conversations and show solidarity with those experiencing mental health challenges.
Every donation helps Beyond Blue continue providing information, support and hope to Australians experiencing anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges.
Stay tuned for more activities and events planned throughout the week as we champion better mental health in our community.
A huge congratulations to our junior club on an incredible Big Freeze event, raising $7,195 for Fight MND!
What an amazing effort from everyone involved in organising, participating and supporting such an important cause.
A special shoutout to Matilda Eames and Sarah Johnston, two of our Senior Women’s players who also coach at the junior club, for bravely taking part in the Big Freeze slide challenge and helping raise awareness and funds in the fight against MND.
As a senior club, we’re especially proud to see our players leading by example, showing the next generation what it means to give back both on and off the field.
Today marks the start of Men’s Health Week, an important opportunity to highlight the health and wellbeing of men and boys across our St Mary’s community.
Men’s Health Week is about more than physical fitness. It’s also about mental health, emotional wellbeing and creating a culture where looking after yourself is encouraged and supported.
This year’s Australian theme is “See a GP” — a reminder that if something doesn’t feel right, physically, mentally or emotionally, it’s worth speaking to a healthcare professional. Early action can make all the difference.
There are plenty of ways to get involved this week:
– Get active – join a team, go for a walk, or set a new fitness goal.
– Book a health check-up – routine screenings and assessments can help detect health issues early.
– Start a conversation – talking openly about stress, anxiety and mental wellbeing helps break down stigma and encourages people to seek support when they need it.
Together, we can help create a healthier, stronger and more connected community.
It’s World Blood Donor Day, and our St Mary’s Australian Red Cross Lifeblood team has already saved 15 lives this year through blood and plasma donations.
Countless Aussies rely on blood donations everyday. In fact, 1 in 3 will need a blood donation blood in their lifetime. That’s about 65 of our netball and football players! That’s why we’re encouraging everyone in our community who can to donate blood.
Just one blood donation can save up to three lives and takes just 10 minutes of your time. So whether it’s for an ice-cold Nippy’s or hot pie, to support cancer patients, or simply because it feels good to help, check your eligibility and book today.
Ready to start saving lives? To join our Lifeblood team create or log in to your Lifeblood account and search “St Mary’s Football and Netball Club Greensborough.”
St Mary’s is in the running to win the People’s Choice Award as part of the 2026 Woolworths Netball Grants Program.
The club that receives the most votes nationally will be awarded $20,000, and we’re asking our community to get behind us.
Since launching junior netball in 2024, our program has grown rapidly, creating opportunities for more local children to get involved in team sport. Our vision is to build a strong and sustainable netball program that develops players from a young age and supports them throughout their entire netball journey.
By creating a clear junior-to-senior pathway, we can help young players build their skills, confidence and love of the game while ensuring St Mary’s continues to have strong senior teams into the future. Developing local talent from within the club creates a sustainable pipeline of players who can progress through the grades, represent St Mary’s at senior level and strengthen our netball program for years to come.
At St Mary’s, we are committed to helping young people stay active, build confidence, develop friendships and create a lifelong love of sport in a positive and supportive environment.
Voting is free, takes less than a minute and could make a significant difference to the future of our netball program.
Before we close out National Reconciliation Week, we’re excited to share the initial concept for our new First Nations guernseys!
Made possible by a $4,500 grant from First People Assembly of Victoria, both our Senior Women’s teams will wear the guernseys during NAIDOC Week later this season.
The original artwork was designed by Toneya Kennedy, a proud Barkindji woman, celebrating culture, community and connection through a uniquely meaningful design.
We can’t wait to see these jumpers out on the field.
We’re currently leading the Plenty Valley league in The Pancake Parlour Club Rewards Program.
If we can stay on top of the leaderboard, the club will win $2,000 in Pancake Parlour vouchers, with additional cash prizes of up to $5,000 available for overall competition winners.
Supporting the club is easy! Simply join “St Mary’s Senior Football & Netball” in The Pancake Parlour app or mention our club name when paying in restaurant. Every dollar spent earns one point for St Mary’s.
It’s a simple way to support the club while enjoying a meal with family and friends. Thank you to everyone who has already supported the club through the program. Let’s keep the momentum going and bring home the prizes for St Mary’s!
For the sixth consecutive year, St Mary’s is proud to be part of the TAC Club Rewards Program.
In 2026, we are committed to ‘Be The Difference,’ helping create a culture of road safety and supporting the mission to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on Victorian roads.
As players, coaches, volunteers and supporters, we know that the choices we make don’t just protect ourselves — they protect our teammates, families and community.
Thanks to the incredible commitment of our club, we’ve received more than $22,000 in TAC Club Rewards funding since joining the program in 2020. Let’s continue leading by example and make an even bigger impact in 2026.
As part of National Reconciliation Week, St Mary’s proudly hosted a panel discussion focused on reconciliation, inclusion and the important role community sporting clubs can play in bringing people together.
Hosted by one of our First Nations players, Judhil Canendo, Troy Bickerton, Tane Cotter, Sarah Johnston and Natalie Cora, shared their thoughts and experiences around representation in sport, creating inclusive environments, and what it means to be “All In” for reconciliation.
The panel reflected on the power of sport to unite people from different backgrounds through shared goals and highlighted the importance of seeing First Nations representation across AFL, netball and wider sport.
Thank you to everyone who attended and engaged so openly in the conversation. We hope everyone took something meaningful away from the discussion and continue to reflect on how we can all contribute to reconciliation and inclusion within community sport.
Special thanks to Judhil for the idea, and to Micaela Hanlon and Jess Bickerton for organising the event.
SMFNC