We were thrilled to have former Carlton star — and proud St Mary’s junior — Matt Kreuzer drop by training last night.
A former AFL player and now ruck coach, Matt took the time to share his wealth of knowledge with our ruck men across the Senior Men, Reserves, and Under 19.5s.
His experience and advice provided an incredible learning opportunity for our players; a rare chance to be coached by someone who’s competed and coaches at the highest level.
Thanks for making the time Matt!
Amelia Denton and Tilly Armstrong are making moves on both the netball court and the footy field—playing together in the 13&U netball team and the U12 Girls footy team!
It is so special to see friendships and skills grow across two sports, backed by the our senior and junior club.
By balancing two sports, they’re not only developing strong skills and teamwork but also embracing every chance to stay active and enjoy the full benefits of community sport—both on and off the field.
A huge shoutout to their families who play a big part in this journey. Amelia’s dad, Mick Denton, coaches the netball team, and Tilly’s dad, Simon Armstrong, coordinates the girls’ football program for the junior club.
We’re proud to support pathways that keep teammates together, open up more opportunities, and help players explore all that sport has to offer.
Today marks the beginning of Men’s Health Week, a time to shine a light on the health and wellbeing of men and boys in our St Mary’s community.
Men face a higher risk of serious health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer — and mental health struggles such as depression, anxiety, and suicide are far too common. Yet many still face stigma when seeking help.
Let’s change that. This week, we’re encouraging open conversations, regular check-ups, and small lifestyle changes that can make a big difference.
How you can get involved:
The Australian Men’s Health Forum is also hosting FREE daily lunch-time chats on a range of men’s health topics including helping mates and stroke awareness.
Register here or find more events using the button below.
Let’s build a healthier future for the men in our lives.
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
The dates for NRW remain the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.
This year’s theme, Bridging Now to Next, urges us to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us. At a time when Australia faces uncertainty in its reconciliation journey, this theme calls on all Australians to step forward together.
Twenty-five years ago, Corroboree 2000 brought together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous leaders in a historic call for reconciliation. We continue that work in 2025, inviting all Australians to join us in Bridging Now to Next – building a more united and respectful nation.
We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.
Thank you to everyone who helped bring our Bottomless Brunch event to life on Saturday — we’re so grateful for your time, effort, and energy. It was a huge success thanks to you!
We do need to send some very special thank you messages to the below people:
And thanks again to everyone who came along, bid, bought, and supported the club.
Well done to Lilyana Condon and Jo Denton from our 15&U Netball team for proudly representing the NFNL at the Association Championships on Sunday.
Both girls were selected for the representative squad this year—a fantastic achievement in itself—and they certainly did us proud! They played some great games and helped their team finish 4th in a tough pool.
Awesome effort and a great achievement—congrats!
To mark Volunteer Week, we’re spotlighting Robyn Irvine — a driving force behind the scenes at St Mary’s for over 30 years.
Robyn first got involved in 1993 when her son Matthew joined Tackers after a school coordinator recommended the club. Since then, she’s become one of the club’s most dedicated and enduring volunteers.
From the early days in the juniors to supporting the senior club when her husband Kym became the inaugural Senior Men’s coach, Robyn has always stepped in wherever needed—cleaning rooms and uniforms, selling merchandise, and preparing meals for players and families on Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Even now, long after Matthew stopped playing, Robyn’s still at it—prepping food for Ladies Day this weekend while still serving up Thursday night meals with her long-time friend Liz.
For Robyn, volunteering has always been about connection. “You meet new people, many who’ve become lifelong friends. If you’re not helping out, you miss so much of what the Club is all about.”
Among her proudest memories? Watching both her daughter Rachel and daughter-in-law Hayley (who met Matthew through the Club) play in our first netball teams and win the club’s very first flags—on the same night. “It was incredible to see so many supporters there. A real community moment.”
And who could forget the club’s first ever Seniors match against Panton Hill— the culmination of years of hard work by volunteers. The scoreboard didn’t go our way, but it was a proud moment for everyone involved.
Today, Robyn’s come full circle and is now watching her grandson in Under 8s and her granddaughter in Auskick.
Robyn and her husband Kym have been honoured with life membership at both the junior and senior clubs. But for Robyn, the greatest achievement is simply seeing how far the club has come.
“Seeing the new clubrooms and everything we have today — it’s all because people volunteered. All I can say is: join in and help a little. You won’t regret it.”
Thank you, Robyn for helping shape St Mary’s.
his National Volunteer Week, we recognise and celebrate one of our long time volunteers — Tom Chapman.
For over 25 years, Tom has been a constant presence and driving force behind our club.
Tom’s journey began in 2000 when his son Jayden joined the Under 11s. Not one to sit on the sidelines, Tom quickly got involved as a trainer, later stepping in as a runner. His commitment later deepened over the years, taking on the role of Secretary. Even after his son finished in the juniors, Tom remained an integral part of the club and played a key role in the redevelopment of the clubrooms, successfully securing vital funding from the State Government and the City of Banyule.
With unanimous support from the junior committee, Tom helped launch the St Mary’s Senior Club, working alongside fellow club stalwarts Livio Basile and Phil Catenazzi. Together, they assembled the inaugural Under 19s team in 2009, followed by the launch of the Seniors and Reserves in 2010. Tom also served as the first Senior Club President from 2009 to 2011 and remained on the committee until 2015.
Though he stepped back from official duties, Tom never truly left. Today, he’s a familiar face around the club on Thursday nights, at men’s games on Saturdays, and women’s matches on Sundays. Whether it’s putting up flags and organising the trophy cabinet or any other odd jobs that need to be done, Tom is always there to help.
“Both my wife Pauline and I believe in a strong sense of community and the role that sporting clubs play in it,” Tom says. “The benefits of being involved — particularly in Aussie Rules — go far beyond the game itself.”
His outstanding service has earned him life membership at both the Junior and Senior clubs – a well-deserved honour.
One of his proudest highlights has been watching the club grow and evolve to include women’s football and netball. “It’s incredibly satisfying to see young women now proudly representing St Mary’s at senior level — it’s such an important and exciting part of our club’s future,” he shares.
And from a personal point of view, few things have meant more to Tom than seeing his own family follow in his footsteps, with his son Jayden and granddaughter Chelsea both having played junior and senior footy at the club.
When asked what keeps him coming back year after year, Tom says it’s the people that make it truly special:
“The St Mary’s Junior and Senior Clubs are truly fantastic family clubs. They play an enormous role in our community and do it as well as any football club out there. But it’s the people who make it so great — the lifelong friendships formed between players and families along the journey.”
Thank you, Tom, for everything you’ve done — and continue to do — for our club.
Today marks the start of National Volunteer Week.
This year’s theme is Connecting Communities which celebrates the power of volunteering to bring people together and build lasting friendships.
Volunteers are essential for community clubs like ours. From coaches and canteen helpers to game-day support — we simply couldn’t do it without them.
As we kick off this special week, our Club Secretary, Jessie Bickerton, shares her thoughts on volunteering.
“Our success is underpinned by the efforts of our volunteers; they’re the reason our club thrives. I’ve seen first-hand how volunteering not only strengthens our club, but creates real connection and community. It’s incredibly rewarding, and I encourage anyone thinking about it to get involved.”
If you’re thinking about giving it a go — now is the perfect time to jump in and make a difference for our club!
This week, our netball teams are proud to take part in the NFNL’s Harmony Round.
Harmony Round aims to recognise and celebrate the rich cultural diversity within the NFNL Netball community.
Players will be wearing orange ribbons, armbands, or socks to mark the round. In Australia, orange has been a symbol of cultural diversity and harmony since 1999. It represents social communication, meaningful conversations, mutual respect, and inclusiveness.
At our club, we believe in the power of sport to unite people. We are committed to creating a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment for all, no matter your cultural or linguistic background.
SMFNC