The future is looking bright at St Mary’s, with some fantastic young talent continuing to come through the club.
A huge congratulations to our players named among the NFNL Young Guns of 2026, with the Herald Sun Leader recognising 114 of the best young players across all three NFNL divisions.
We’re incredibly proud to see Will Dean, Josh Carelli, Brodie Little, Tom Eames and Harry Butterworth recognised among the competition’s best young talent.
A fantastic achievement for the players and an exciting sign of what’s ahead for St Mary’s!
Congratulations to our Senior Women’s Division 1 team on finishing the 2026 home and away season as Minor Premiers!
The team completed an incredible undefeated season, not dropping a single game on their way to the top of the ladder. It is a testament to the hard work, commitment and determination shown by the players, coaches and support staff throughout the year.
A huge congratulations also to our volunteers and everyone who has contributed behind the scenes. This is a fantastic achievement for our club, and we look forward to cheering the team on as they head into finals.
A huge thank you to all our players, coaches, volunteers and supporters across our football and netball programs for getting behind this year’s TAC Road Safety Round.
Across the weekend, our teams wore blue armbands to honour the lives lost on our roads and to remind us all that every decision we make behind the wheel matters.
Your team would always rather you arrive late to training or the game than not arrive at all.
There is no excuse for speeding. Make the right choice. Slow down, drive safely and help make our roads safer for everyone.
This week, St Mary’s is proud to take part in Road Safety Round, an annual initiative encouraging football and netball clubs across Victoria to Band Together and raise awareness of road safety.
Sporting clubs bring together people of all ages every week, meaning we are uniquely placed to help create stronger, safer communities.
Across this weekend, our football and netball players will wear blue armbands to show their support and remind our community that every decision behind the wheel matters.
Club President Mark Stanley said the club is proud to use its platform to promote an important message.
“Every week, our members spend countless hours travelling to training, games and club events. As a community club, we have the opportunity to influence positive behaviours both on and off the field. If Road Safety Round encourages even one person to make a safer choice behind the wheel, it’s a message worth sharing.”
Let’s all do our part. Together, we can make a difference—both on the field and on the road.
Our Mental Health Match weekend was a fantastic display of what makes the St Mary’s community so special, with our players, volunteers, supporters and members coming together to raise awareness and funds for mental health.
Across the weekend, all of our senior football teams proudly wore blue armbands in support of Beyond Blue, helping spark important conversations and reminding everyone that mental health matters.
Sporting clubs play an important role in creating safe, supportive and connected communities. Whether it’s checking in on a teammate, starting a conversation or showing support for someone doing it tough, every action helps break down the stigma surrounding mental health.
We’re incredibly proud to announce that, thanks to the generosity of our community, we reached our fundraising goal of $1,000 for Beyond Blue.
The funds raised will help Beyond Blue continue providing vital mental health information, advice and support services to Australians experiencing anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated, wore a blue armband, attended our mental health event, shared our fundraising campaign or supported the initiative in any way. Your contribution has helped make a genuine difference.
Last night we were proud to host a mental health Ssssion at the club as part of our inaugural Mental Health Match Round, an initiative raising awareness and funds for Beyond Blue.
The evening brought together players, members and the wider club community to hear from AFL player Aidan Corr and mental health professional Nicole Jordan, who generously shared their time, knowledge and personal experiences.
Nicole, who holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Movement), a Diploma in Positive Psychology and Wellbeing, and is a Principal Master Mental Health First Aid Instructor, spoke about the importance of understanding mental health, recognising when someone may need support, and creating environments where people feel safe to ask for help.
Aidan then shared his own journey, speaking openly about the challenges he has faced and the importance of looking after your mental wellbeing, particularly within a professional sporting environments. His honesty and willingness to share his story left a lasting impact on those in attendance.
Together, the presenters highlighted the important role community sporting clubs play in fostering connection, encouraging conversations around mental health, and reminding people that no one has to face challenges alone.
We hope everyone who attended walked away with valuable insights, practical tools, and the confidence to check in on teammates, friends and family when they might need support.
We’d like to again thank Aidan and Nicole for their time, as well as Pat Waldron for hosting the evening, and Jo Kitchell, Adam Shaw and Micaela Hanlon for their work in organising the event.
The Mental Health Match Round continues across the weekend, with our football and netball teams proudly wearing blue armbands to show their support for mental health awareness.
If you are able to, please consider supporting our campaign by making a donation to Beyond Blue. Every contribution helps us move closer to our fundraising goal while supporting the vital work Beyond Blue does for Australians experiencing mental health challenges.
We are delighted to announce that Jack Bianchin has been reappointed as Senior Men’s Football Head Coach for the 2027 season.
Following another strong year both on and off the field, with our Senior Men currently sitting second on the ladder, the club has extended Jack’s contract for another season.
Jack has helped build a positive culture and exciting brand of football, and we’re looking forward to continuing that journey together.
Today marks the beginning of NAIDOC Week, and we’re proud to acknowledge and celebrate the First Nations people within our club and wider community.
This year’s theme, 50 Years Deadly, celebrates five decades of NAIDOC Week honouring culture, resilience, truth and the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It recognises the Elders, leaders, artists and communities who have shaped this movement, while looking ahead to the next generation who will continue to lead with strength and pride.
As part of our NAIDOC Week celebrations, we’re incredibly proud to unveil our new First Nations guernseys. With both Senior Women’s teams having a bye next weekend during NAIDOC Week, the guernseys were proudly worn in Friday night’s matches (3 July), allowing our players to celebrate and recognise the occasion on the field.
Made possible by a $4,500 grant from First People Assembly of Victoria, the original artwork was designed by Toneya Kennedy, a proud Barkindji woman, celebrating culture, community and connection through a uniquely meaningful design.
Before Friday night’s games, Teegan Brown, sister of Senior Women’s player Jaydah Hope, officially presented the guernseys to both teams. Teegan played a key role in securing the funding that made the project possible and was instrumental in bringing the guernsey design to life. She also spoke to the players about the significance of the artwork, sharing the stories and meaning behind the design and what it represents.
These guernseys are more than just a uniform, they are a symbol of recognition, connection and our club’s ongoing commitment to celebrating First Nations culture and creating an inclusive community where everyone belongs.
A special thank you to Teegan Brown and Micaela Hanlon for their work in securing the funding that brought these incredible guernseys to life.
This NAIDOC Week, we encourage our entire St Mary’s community to take the time to listen, learn and celebrate the world’s oldest continuing cultures.
Jo’s journey is one that our club is incredibly proud of. She was part of our inaugural 15&Under netball team, the first-ever junior netball side at our club. Since then, she has continued to develop her game, progressing into our 17&Under team and earlier this year achieving another milestone by making her senior open netball debut.
From day one, our vision has been to create genuine pathways for young girls to develop their skills, build confidence, and pursue high-performance netball opportunities, while also building a strong pipeline of homegrown talent into our senior program. Jo’s success is a wonderful example of that vision becoming reality.
We wish Jo every success as she prepares to trial for the Netball Victoria Talent Academy this November.
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.
