Tickets are officially on sale for our annual Bottomless Brunch!
Join us for an afternoon of great food, drinks and fun as we come together to support our club. Proudly run by the netball program, this event plays an important role in supporting our the continued growth of our sports program.
Your ticket includes a delicious lunch, along with bottomless slushie cocktails, plus sparkling wine, beer and soft drink flowing throughout the day.
Beyond the food and drinks, there’ll be plenty happening to keep the energy high, with a silent auction, fun games and prizes all part of what promises to be a fantastic event!
After selling out in just two weeks last year, we’re expecting strong demand again, so be sure to secure your tickets early and lock in your spot.
A very special moment took place at our home game on Saturday, as we proudly installed a banner in memory of Richard ‘Dick’ Kissane, who sadly passed away last year at 97 years of age last year.
Our sincere thanks to his son-in-law Ian Halewood for arranging this tribute and helping us recognise someone who was most likely our oldest supporter, and certainly one of our most passionate. Dick’s presence at St Mary’s was a constant over many years, and he was a much-loved part of every match day.
He rarely missed a game, and you could almost always find him stationed in the forward pocket at Whatmough Park, binoculars in hand, surrounded by family. Whether it was cheering on his grandson Connor and step-grandsons Jake and Ben on a Saturday, or proudly supporting his granddaughter Molly, Dick’s passion for his family and the club was unwavering.
This banner now stands as a lasting tribute to a dedicated supporter who truly embodied the spirit of St Mary’s.
There’s been plenty happening behind the scenes at St Mary’s, with a number of important upgrades and improvements taking place around the club during the off-season.
Our brand new undercover pavilion and upgraded stairs are now complete, thanks to successful grant funding and the efforts of our junior club. The new space already proved its value over the weekend, where it provided much-needed shelter for supporters during the wet weather!
We’ve also recently completed upgrades to our kitchen facilities, made possible through grant funding and driven by Riverside Cricket Club. These improvements will help our incredible volunteers continue to deliver food and service efficiently on busy game days and at club events.
Inside the rooms, we’ve been fortunate to receive a brand new massage/physio table thanks to Back in Motion Eltham. This replaces our old wooden table, which had certainly seen better days, and is a fantastic addition to support player recovery, treatment and overall wellbeing.
Player and spectator safety has also been a major focus, with the installation of new safety netting behind the goal posts. This finally puts an end to footballs disappearing down the embankment and the risk that comes with retrieving them.
This initiative was led by our senior club, with a big thank you to Micaela Hanlon and our committee for driving the project over the past 12 months. Supported by Banyule Council and the Telstra Footy Grants program, it’s a significant improvement for the safety of everyone at the ground.
We look forward to seeing everyone enjoy the improved facilities throughout the season ahead.
Huge congratulations to our new Senior Women’s side on their debut game yesterday — and what a debut it was!
Kicking off their first game in style, the team delivered a standout performance to bring home a massive 40-point win. It was a complete team effort, with players working seamlessly together, showing composure, energy and a real determination to make their mark from the very first siren.
This result is a reflection of the hard work that’s gone into building the team, both on and off the field.
A big thank you and well done to all the players, as well as the many people behind the scenes who made the day possible, including Coach Rob Cotter and Team Manager Michelle Cotter.
We’re incredibly proud of this milestone and excited to see what the season ahead holds for this group.
Round one wasn’t just about what happened on the field and court — it was about bringing the whole club together, and what a way to start the season!
After a big few days of footy and netball, the clubrooms came alive for our first social night of the year. With live music setting the tone, plenty of laughs, and a great mix of players, supporters and families, it was everything a club night should be.
A huge thank you to Jungle Jets for providing the soundtrack to the night and keeping the energy high from start to finish. It’s nights like these that remind us how lucky we are to have such a strong and connected community.
We also want to recognise our incredible volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, running the bar and keeping the canteen going all day. Your time, effort and commitment don’t go unnoticed and are a huge part of what makes our club what it is.
Round one has set the tone, not just for the season ahead on the field, but for the culture and connection off it as well.
We’re excited to share that the Toyota Good for Footy Raffle is back for another year, and it’s one of the easiest (and biggest) ways to support our club.
For just $5 a ticket, you can help raise vital funds that go directly back into our football and netball programs.
Toyota provide all the prizes and 100% of the proceeds from tickets purchased through our club’s page come straight to us. That means every ticket you buy is making a real impact.
This year’s raffle is bigger than ever, with 46 prizes valued at a total of $285,000, including three new Toyota vehicles!
Fundraisers like this play a huge role in helping us cover essential costs, improve facilities, and continue building a strong, inclusive environment for all players, families and supporters.
If you’re looking for a simple way to contribute, this is it.
Terms and conditions apply. To view full T&Cs, visit toyotagoodforfooty.raffletix.com.au
Yesterday we hosted the inaugural St Mary’s v Macleod Autism Awareness Cup to raise awareness for autism and support those in our community living with autism 💙
Both proud dads of sons with autism, coaches Jack Bianchin (St Mary’s) and Nick Lynch (Macleod) led the initiative, bringing everyone together to raise awareness, show support and build greater understanding of autism.
Head Coach Jack Bianchin shared: “As a parent of a child with autism, seeing the community come together like this is incredibly powerful. It’s how we build understanding, break down barriers and create a more inclusive place for our kids.”
A huge thank you to the St Mary’s and Macleod communities for getting behind it, donating and showing what community sport is all about.
Congratulations to Pat Waldron on playing his 200th game for St Mary’s today!
Becoming just the second player in our club’s history to reach this milestone, it’s an incredible achievement and a true reflection of Pat’s loyalty, consistency and commitment over many years.
Pat’s impact extends far beyond what he brings on the field. A quality player and dependable teammate, he has also been a loyal club person off the field — from pulling on the jumper week in, week out, to contributing his time as a valued member of the committee. He embodies everything our club stands for.
Milestones like this don’t come easy, and they speak to the dedication it takes to show up season after season.
Congratulations, Pat on a remarkable achievement and one the entire club is proud to celebrate
Congratulations to Jo Denton, Charlotte Reid and Olive Birrell on making their senior netball debut last night!
All three are key members of our 17s team and, after already taking the court earlier in the evening, backed it up with a second game to support our senior sides. It was a huge effort, and they each stepped up seamlessly, showing composure, skill and a real willingness to compete at the next level.
Moments like this are exactly what our junior program is all about, creating genuine pathways into senior sport. It’s about developing skills, building confidence, and providing opportunities for our players to challenge themselves and continue progressing.
We’re incredibly proud of Jo, Charlotte and Olive, and excited to see what’s ahead for each of them
This initiative offers a simple way for our community to support the club through everyday spending. Every dollar spent at The Pancake Parlour earns one point for St Mary’s, contributing to our overall total across the program.
There are significant rewards on offer. Clubs have the opportunity to win between $1,000 and $5,000 in cash as overall winners, as well as $2,000 in vouchers within our local Plenty Valley league.
Getting involved is easy. Supporters can join “St Mary’s Senior Football and Netball” via The Pancake Parlour app, where points will be automatically allocated to the club. Alternatively, you can mention our club name when paying in-restaurant.
So book a table at The Pancake Parlour today. The more you eat, the better it is for the club, it’s a win-win!
SMFNC 