This weekend we were proud to receive the Paul Hopper Cup again!
Paul Hopper was a much-loved figure at both Thomastown and St Mary’s.
From helping establish our inaugural senior side in 2009 to serving as Secretary and Vice President, Paul’s passion, leadership and commitment helped shape the strong club community we have today.
A well-deserved tribute to a true club person, whose legacy continues to live on through both clubs.
This week our netball teams proudly took part in NFNL Netball Harmony Round.
Harmony Round is a celebration of inclusion, respect and diversity within our netball community. It recognises that our competition is strengthened by people of different cultural backgrounds, beliefs and experiences coming together through a shared love of netball.
Our teams showed their support by wearing orange, the colour chosen to represent Harmony Week and encourage conversations around inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all
In collaboration with our junior club, we’re proud to host our second Women & Girls Round from Friday 22 May to Sunday 24 May at Whatmough Park and Greensborough College, celebrating the incredible growth of women’s and girls sport across our club.
The weekend will feature senior women’s and junior girls football games, showcasing players from across our program and highlighting the strong pathways continuing to develop at St Mary’s.
Following the games on Sunday, we’ll host a special post-game event featuring AFLW player Holly Ridewood as our guest speaker.
Food and drinks will be available Friday and Sunday at the club rooms, with all members, supporters and families encouraged to come down, wear their teal, white and black and be part of a great community event celebrating women and girls in sport.
We’re excited to officially welcome another junior netball team to the club in 2026, with the addition of a brand new 13&U side to our growing program.
The new team brings eight new players into the teal and black this season, continuing the strong growth of our junior pathway and creating even more opportunities for kids in our community to get involved in sport.
The team features a great mix of experienced players and players who are brand new to the sport. It’s already been fantastic to see friendships forming, confidence growing and players developing their skills together.
A huge thank you to Coach Nick Surgue and Team Manager Jess for all their work getting the team up and running ahead of the season. From helping recruit players to organising the team and creating a welcoming environment for new families, their efforts have played a big role in making this expansion possible.
We can’t wait to watch this group develop throughout the season and are thrilled to have these players and families join the St Mary’s community.
We’re incredibly proud to see five of our St Mary’s netballers represent our club and the Northern Football Netball League over the weekend at the Altona Netball Association Tournament.
Jo and Amelia Denton, Holly Elliot-Pogue, Maddie Blackmore and Maeve O’Neill pulled on the NFNL colours, competing against strong opposition and showcasing the talent within our program.
Opportunities like this are a testament to the pathways being built within our club and league, giving players the chance to test themselves at a higher level, develop their game and represent their community with pride.
We love seeing our players take these opportunities with both hands, and we couldn’t be prouder of the way they represented St Mary’s on and off the court.
Over the weekend, St Mary’s proudly joined clubs across the NFNL in recognising Pat Cronin Round. This is a powerful initiative led by the Pat Cronin Foundation that aims to end the Coward Punch and promote respect, kindness and safer communities.
Across both football and netball, our players wore yellow armbands as a visible show of support. The colour yellow has become a symbol of the Foundation’s message to “Be Wise. Think Carefully. Act Kindly,” and it was worn with pride by every St Mary’s player who took the court and field.
The round held extra meaning as three of our football teams played Lower Plenty Football Club, Pat Cronin’s club. Before the senior men’s game, players had the privilege of hearing from Pat’s parents. Their words reinforced the importance of the Foundation’s message and served as a reminder of why rounds like this matter so much.
At St Mary’s, we value what sport can represent at its best. Thank you to everyone who wore yellow, showed support, and helped amplify this important message.
As part of Pat Cronin Round 2026, we’re proud to support their raffle to raise funds for the incredible work of the Pat Cronin Foundation.
This year’s raffle offers an amazing prize, with one lucky winner set to drive away in a brand new Mazda CX-5 (RRP: $41,548)!
Every ticket sold directly supports education programs that empower individuals to Be Wise. Think Carefully. Act Kindly. These programs are making a real difference in changing attitudes and preventing violence in our communities.
There’s also something in it for clubs. Across the eight participating leagues, the club that sells the most tickets will win a $500 loaded VISA card; funds that can go straight back into supporting the season, whether that’s new equipment, canteen supplies or additional uniforms.
Tickets are just $10, making it an easy way to support an important cause while also going in the draw to win an incredible prize.
T&Cs apply. Raffle drawn Tuesday 28 July 2026 at 7:00 PM.
Today, our club proudly kicks off Pat Cronin Round, joining more than 300 sporting clubs in taking a stand against senseless violence.
This round honours Pat Cronin, a young man who tragically lost his life 10 years ago as the result of a coward punch. His story is a devastating reminder that a single moment of violence can have lifelong consequences, not only for the victim, but for families, friends and entire communities.
Across both our netball and football programs, players will wear yellow armbands as a visible reminder of our collective responsibility to stand against senseless violence.
Sport plays a unique role in shaping culture. At St Mary’s, we believe respect sits at the heart of everything we do. Respect for our teammates, our opponents, our officials and our wider community. These values are critical in ensuring our club remains a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for all.
By taking part in Pat Cronin Round, we’re reinforcing that every player, coach, volunteer and supporter has a role to play. The standards we set on the field extend beyond the game — they shape the kind of community we want to be part of.
We are proud to stand alongside clubs across the country in honouring Pat’s memory and continuing the important work of raising awareness around the impact of violence.
Yesterday, our club came together to honour Anzac Day in a moment that truly reflected the spirit of unity and remembrance.
Our St Mary’s GJFC junior players stood alongside the senior men as The Last Post played ahead of the Anzac Day clash
A special moment for our club, bringing all generations together in respect and remembrance.
Lest we forget.
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.
SMFNC