St Mary’s celebrates first Junior Netball Presentation Night

On Friday night, we celebrated our first-ever Junior Netball Presentation Night!

Our junior netball program began just a few years ago with a single team and has continued to grow each season. While we have always marked the end of the season with a celebration for our junior players, the growth of the program meant that in 2026, for the first time, we were able to bring everyone together for a full presentation night of our own.

It was fantastic to see around 80 players, families, coaches and supporters attend the evening and celebrate another successful season of junior netball.

Throughout the night, awards were presented across our four junior teams – 13&U Teal, 13&U Black, 15&U and 17&U – recognising the achievements and contributions of our players throughout the season.

Guests also enjoyed a spit roast dinner from Chef in the Box, while players and families had the opportunity to come together away from the court and celebrate the season as one junior netball community.

A big thank you to Mick Denton and Micaela Hanlon for organising the evening, and to Livio Basile for running the bar.

We also extend our sincere thanks to our coaches and team managers for the enormous amount of time and effort they have contributed throughout the season: Jane Denton, Mick Denton, Jess Murphy, Nick Sugrue, Kelly Rennie and Louise Reid.

Most importantly, thank you to all our junior players and their families for being part of St Mary’s in 2026.

See the winner’s

Burra players recognised by league

St Mary’s is proud to congratulate 11 footballers and netballers who have been invited to attend the upcoming NFNL Awards Nights following outstanding individual seasons in 2026.

An invitation to the league awards is a fantastic achievement, with players invited based on their performances throughout the home and away season and putting them among the leading players in their respective competitions.

Our invited players are:

Junior Netball

  • 13&U – Remy Gangell
  • 15&U – Gemma Spithill

Senior Netball

  • Division 5 – Clare Nicholls
  • Division 6 – Tahlia Ryan
  • Division 9 – Sarah Williams

Senior Football

  • Senior Men – Dom Akuei
  • Senior Men Reserves – Mitchell Hocking
  • Senior Women Division 1 – Brigid McEntee
  • Senior Women Division 1 – Kiara Delia
  • Senior Women Division 3 – Charly Bandera

Sports Trainer of the Year

  • Finalist – Elyssa Rees

It is fantastic to see players recognised across our junior netball, senior netball, senior women’s football and senior men’s football programs, reflecting the strength of our club across all levels.

Congratulations to everyone on the recognition and on their brilliant seasons.

We wish all our Burra representatives the very best at the NFNL Awards Nights this week and next and look forward to celebrating their achievements.

Senior Men make club history!

Our Senior Men are heading to the Grand Final!

The Burra booked their place on the biggest stage with a thrilling two-point win over South Morang on the weekend, holding on in a nail-biting finish to secure a historic Division 2 Grand Final appearance.

The result marks a significant moment in St Mary’s history, with it being the Senior Men’s first Division 2 Grand Final.

It will also be the club’s first Senior Men’s Grand Final since 2018, when St Mary’s won the Division 3 premiership and earned promotion to Division 2.

Eight years later, the Burra now have the opportunity to take another major step forward.

Saturday’s Preliminary Final against South Morang went right down to the wire. With a Grand Final spot on the line, our Senior Men fought until the final siren and held on to come away with a two-point victory.

The win reflects an enormous amount of work from our players, coaches, football department, volunteers and everyone who has contributed to the Senior Men’s program over many years.

Our Senior Men will play in the Division 2 Grand Final on Saturday 12 September, and we can’t wait to see the St Mary’s community get behind the team for an incredible day,

From Top 50 to Top 25: Lilyana keeps climbing

A huge congratulations to Lilyana Condon, who has progressed from the Top 50 17&U netball players to the Top 25 in Victoria!

Over the past two weeks, the Top 50 athletes in each age group have taken part in the next stage of trials, with the group now narrowed down to squads of 25.

Lilyana has now been invited to take part in Netball Victoria’s Elevate high performance program, which provides athletes with targeted physical preparation and development ahead of the final stage of the state team selection process.

Following the Elevate program, the squads will be narrowed down once again, with teams of 12 selected to represent Victoria at the 2027 National Netball Championships. The Victorian state teams are set to be announced in December.

Reaching the Top 25 is an incredible achievement and another exciting step in Lilyana’s netball journey. We’re incredibly proud to see her continuing to progress through the selection process and representing St Mary’s along the way.

Senior Women complete perfect season!

A huge congratulations to our Senior Women’s Division 1 team, who have capped off an incredible season by being crowned 2026 NFNL Division 1 Premiers!

The Burras completed the perfect season on Sunday, defeating Montmorency by 12 points in the Grand Final at Preston City Oval.

The triumph marks the team’s third Senior Women’s premiership in four years, continuing an incredible period of success for our women’s football program.

It was also a remarkable season across the entire program, with our second Senior Women’s team reaching the Division 3 Grand Final on the same day. Having two St Mary’s teams competing for premierships was a fantastic achievement and a reflection of the strength, depth and growth of women’s football at our club.

Adding to the celebrations, co-captain Elyssa Rees was awarded the Grand Final Best on Ground medal.

Congratulations to all of our players, coaches, support staff, volunteers and everyone who has been part of this incredible 2026 season.

St Mary’s stars named in Team of the Year

We’re proud to congratulate 12 representatives who have been recognised across the NFNL Division 1 and Division 3 Women’s Teams of the Year!

It is a fantastic achievement for the players, coaches and the club, and recognition of two outstanding seasons that will culminate with both teams competing in their respective Grand Finals this Sunday.

Division 1

St Mary’s was strongly represented in the NFNL Division 1 Team of the Year, with seven players selected, more than any other club.

The St Mary’s representatives are:

  • Emmison Zealley
  • Kiara Delia
  • Meg Girolami
  • Sarah Johnston
  • Jaydah Hope
  • Brigid McEntee
  • Georgia Kitchell

Adding to the recognition, Troy Bickerton was named Coach of the Division 1 Team of the Year, a fantastic acknowledgement of his leadership throughout the season.

Division 3

Four St Mary’s players were also recognised in the NFNL Division 3 Team of the Year:

  • Jasmine Stone
  • Natalie Cora
  • Ashley Leeson
  • Charly Bandera

The selections are an especially impressive achievement in the team’s first season together.

Across both divisions, St Mary’s is incredibly proud to see so many of our players and coaches recognised among the competition’s best.

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Kiara Delia cliams Coaches MVP

We’re pleased to congratulate Kiara Delia on winning the 2026 NFNL Division 1 Women’s Football Coaches MVP Award, capping off an outstanding debut season with the Burra.

Delia stormed home in the count, polling an incredible 33 of her 61 votes between Rounds 10 and 14 to claim the award by six votes.

The former North Melbourne VFLW player has made an immediate impact since joining St Mary’s this season. Delia was named among the Burra’s best players in 10 of her 11 home and away appearances, producing a remarkably consistent season.

It was also another outstanding result for Emmison Zealley, who finished third in the Coaches MVP after winning the award in 2025.

To have two St Mary’s players finish inside the top three is a fantastic achievement and recognition of their outstanding seasons.

17&U netball through to first Grand Final

A huge congratulations to our 17&U team, who booked their spot in the Grand Final with a fantastic win on Friday night!

It’s an incredible achievement from this group and a great reward for all the hard work they’ve put in throughout the season.

A huge thank you also to coach Mick Denton and team manager Louise Reid for the time, support and dedication they’ve given to the team all year.

Congratulations to everyone involved, and we can’t wait to cheer you on in the Grand Final on Friday 28 August!

Lilyana Condon makes top 50 netball squad

A huge congratulations to Lilyana Condon from our 17&U netball team on her selection in the Netball Victoria 17&U Top 50 Squad for 2027!

This is an incredible achievement and another exciting step in Lilyana’s netball journey. The Top 50 program is a key part of the national talent pathway, helping develop Victoria’s emerging athletes and paving the way towards future national and international representation.

Lilyana joined St Mary’s as part of our inaugural 15&U team and has continued to go from strength to strength. From representing the NFNL, to earning selection in the Central West Netball Victoria Talent Academy, and now being named among Victoria’s Top 50 17&U athletes, it has been fantastic to watch her continue to take every opportunity that comes her way.

Lilyana will now take part in the next stage of trials as she works towards selection in the Victorian team for the National Championships.

We are incredibly proud to see one of our junior players progressing through the Netball Victoria pathway and achieving at this level.

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Lilyana Condon

Senior Women’s teams Grand Final bound

A huge congratulations to both our Senior Women’s teams, who secured finals wins on Sunday and have now advanced straight through to their respective Grand Finals!

It’s an especially exciting achievement for our Senior Women’s Reserves, who have earned a place in the Grand Final in their very first season together. To reach this stage in the team’s inaugural season is an outstanding achievement and a credit to everyone involved.

A special thank you to the Bickerton family, who coach and manage our Division 1 side, and the Cotter family, who coach and manage our Division 3 Reserves side. The time, commitment and support both families give to our teams each week has played an enormous role in the success of our women’s football program.

Both teams will now enjoy a week off before taking to the field on Sunday 23 August for their Grand Finals.

Lock the date in and get behind our Senior Women as they look to finish two incredible seasons on the biggest stage.