Winning start for new women’s team

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.

Kicking off Round One in style

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.

Support the club and win big!

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

Buy tickets

Over $3000 raised for Autism awareness

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.

Together, we smashed our $2000 goal, raising over $3000 for Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia).

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.

Jack Bianchin and Nick Lynch

Pat Waldron reaches 200 games

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

Senior debuts for netball stars

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

Turn pancakes into points

St Mary’s Senior Football & Netball Club is once again part of the The Pancake Parlour Club Rewards program.

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!

Book now

Autism Awareness Cup

This Saturday, St Mary’s and Macleod come together for the inaugural Autism Awareness Cup, in support of Autism Awareness Month 💙

Head coaches and premiership teammates Jack Bianchin and Nick Lynch are the driving force behind the day. Away from footy, they are dads first, both navigating the day-to-day reality of raising young boys on the autism spectrum. From learning new ways to communicate, to celebrating milestones that others might take for granted, their journey has reshaped how they see the world and what truly matters.

It is that understanding they now want to carry beyond their own families, using the platform of community sport to raise awareness, foster inclusion, and help create environments where every person with autism and their families feels seen and supported.

We’ve set up a donation page via Aspect to support people of all ages on the autism spectrum. Aspect provides tailored education, meaningful employment pathways, and helps create more inclusive environments where everyone can thrive.

If you can, please get down and support the day or contribute to the cause. Every bit helps and is greatly appreciated.

Donate Now

St Mary’s achieves Women & Girls Charter status

St Mary’s is proud to announce that we are now an official Women & Girls Chartered Club. We join the Northern Football Netball League (NFNL) and a growing number of clubs who are also signatories to the charter.

The Women & Girls Community Football Charter is an initiative led by the AFL, which sets a clear standard for creating welcoming, safe and inclusive environments across community football for women and girls.

The Charter represents a shared commitment from leagues, clubs and umpire groups to actively support and grow the women’s and girls’ game. It is guided by four key principles:

  • Investment – committing time, resources and support to sustain long-term growth
  • Opportunity – creating more chances for women and girls to play, coach and lead
  • Visibility – increasing the presence and recognition of women and girls in football
  • Access – removing barriers to participation at all levels

As part of the Charter, we will implement a series of immediate actions designed to create meaningful impact straight away, while also working through broader commitments over the next 12 months. To remain a signatory, the club will review and reassess its progress annually, ensuring continued accountability and improvement.

Jessie Bickerton, Women’s Football Manager, shared: “This is a really meaningful moment for our club. We’re committed to creating a space where every woman and girl feels welcomed, supported and genuinely valued, and where they can grow, belong and thrive in our community.”

We’re proud to stand alongside the AFL and our fellow community clubs in driving meaningful change and shaping the future of women’s and girls’ football.

Rob Cotter joins as new coach

We’re proud to welcome Rob Cotter as the inaugural Head Coach of our Senior Women’s Development Squad.

This marks an exciting milestone for the club as we officially launch our second women’s team, creating more opportunities, stronger pathways, and getting more women out on the field.

Rob and his family have been part of St Mary’s for many years and have made a significant contribution to the club. Rob has previously served on the committee in multiple roles, ran canteen alongside his wife Michelle, and his kids play footy at the club too. It’s great to see him step into a new role this and continue his contribution to the Burra.

Rob will be supported by James Gardiner, forming a strong coaching group to lead and develop this exciting new squad.