SMFNC

St Mary’s keeping young people in sport

Our club has successfully secured a Volunteer Grant through the Department of Social Services, with the support of Federal MP Kate Thwaites.

A huge thank you to Kate and her office for backing local community sport and helping make this happen. We’d also like to thank our own Micaela Hanlon for her work in securing this funding.

These grants are designed to support volunteer-run activities that promote the development and wellbeing of children and young people (under 18).

That’s why we’ve used the funding to cover the cost of U19.5 guernseys for our players this year.

President Mark Stanley shared the positive impact of this grant.

“We know cost can be a barrier to participation for players, and for not-for-profit community clubs like ours, it’s tough to support our players financially and keep the club running.“

“Grants like this make a huge difference. They help us make sport more accessible and ensure we can keep delivering a great experience for young people in our community.”

We’re proud to be part of creating a community every young person has the chance to play, grow, and belong.

Seniors support junior Grand Final dreams

This week, the St Mary’s 1 senior netball team showed what true team spirit looks like by joining the 15&U team at training to help them gear up for their upcoming grand final.

It was a great opportunity for the younger players to practice their skills and gain extra confidence, with the seniors bringing plenty of encouragement. But, the session wasn’t just a boost for the 15&U team, it also gave St Mary’s 1 some extra court time ahead of their own big final on Friday.

Best of luck to both teams as they take on their finals!

We’re launching a second women’s football team

We’re excited to announce plans to launch a second women’s team at St Mary’s in 2026!

With a fantastic and growing group of players, we want to make sure no one misses out on game time and everyone has the opportunity to develop, play, and thrive.

This second team will help us cater to all levels and make sure every girl gets the chance to play the game they love.

This is a big step that will strengthen our women’s program while continuing the amazing culture we’ve already built together.

We’re currently assessing numbers to see if we can support a second team.

So, if you or someone you know is keen to join the footy family, get in touch!

You can reach out to one of the current players or email us at stmarysfc2009@gmail.com.

Reach out

Annual Presentation Night 2025

Join us for our Annual Presentation Night on Friday 10 October.

A night to celebrate the season, the people, and the moments that made it special.

We’ll be presenting the Best & Fairest Awards for our football and netball teams, recognising our newest Life Members, and awarding the Livio Basile Club Person of the Year.

What’s included?

Finger food and soft drinks
Live band
Alcohol is included with the $90 ticket only

A non-alcohol ticket is available for $65 and is perfect for under 18s and non-drinkers.

Tickets are limited and may sell out, so buy now!

Book now

Nominate a Life Member

Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond for our club? This is your chance to recognise a true legend of St Mary’s by nominating them for Life Membership.

Whether they’ve dedicated years of service, shown outstanding leadership, or made a lasting impact behind the scenes, we want to hear about them.

Nominations must be made by a current financial member and seconded by another unrelated current financial member.

Before nominating, please read the full criteria here.

Ready to nominate? Click the button below.

Nominate now

Six players named as NFNL young guns

We’re proud that six of our talented players were recognised in the Herald Sun Leader Northern Football Netball League’s ‘Best Players 22 and Under’ list.

Congratulations to Hayden Bickerton, Nick Brennan, Joshua Carelli, Will Dean, Ty Kitchell and Lachlan Read on this well-deserved recognition. Each of these players has not only made a strong impact on the field but has also shown maturity, consistency, and leadership well beyond their years.

It’s fantastic to see the hard work and dedication of our development pathways paying off.

Read the article

15&U Netball team make Grand Final

A huge congratulations to our 15&U team for making it to the Grand Final. This is an incredible achievement, especially considering it’s only their second season with the club and as a team!

The progress this team has made is a true credit to their hard work, dedication, and teamwork throughout the season. Every player has contributed to what has been a fantastic journey so far.

A special thank you to Coach Mick Denton for his leadership and to Tony Ryan for his support throughout the season. And of course, thank you to all the families and supporters who have been behind the team every step of the way.

We can’t wait to see you in the Grand Final!

Celebrating Women & Girls in Footy

We were proud to take part in Sunday’s Women and Girls Feature Day, a celebration of the growing strength and future of female football.

Events like this play a vital role in supporting the journey from junior girls to senior women’s sport. They help keep girls engaged, confident, and active, while building strong pathways that allow them to thrive both on and off the field.

A huge thank you to St Mary’s Junior Football Club and especially Girls Football Program Coordinator, Simon Armstrong, for the time, effort, and passion that went into making the day such a success.

It’s days like this that remind us of the power of community sport to inspire the next generation of female athletes.

Photo by Yvette Fitzpatrick @actionsports_shots

Road Safety Round 2025

Thank you to our community for banding together for the TAC Victoria Road Safety Round this weekend.

Our players wore blue armbands to honour the lives lost on Victoria roads and serve as a reminder that we all play a role in making our roads safer.

Specifically, we were shining a spotlight on speeding— a factor in at least 30% of fatal and 25% of serious injury crashes on Victorian roads.

Every time we get behind the wheel, we have a choice. A choice to slow down, to stay alert, and to help ensure that everyone gets home safely. It might seem small, but your actions can make a life-saving difference.

Thank you to all those who wore the blue band and helped spread the message. Let’s keep this awareness going on and off the field.

Four years on top!

Our incredible senior women’s football team has done it again, finishing the home-and-away season as minor premiers for the 4th year in a row!

This group continues to set the standard, showing just what can be achieved with hard work, unity, and determination. Already back-to-back premiers across Division 1 and Division 2, they made an unforgettable statement last year by winning the premiership in their very first year in Division 1.

Now, with another strong season under their belt, the team advances straight to the second round of finals, and the dream of a three-peat premiership is well and truly alive.

To dominate like this across multiple divisions is no easy feat — but this group keeps rising to the occasion, year after year.

Well done to all the players, and a special thank you to Troy and Jessie Bickerton for their tireless work behind the scenes. Their leadership, passion, and commitment to the team have played a huge role in this ongoing success.

We’re proud of everything they’ve accomplished so far and can’t wait to cheer them on through the finals. Fingers crossed they can bring home the big trophy once again!