SMFNC

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.

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.

St Mary’s shine at representative level

St Mary’s was proudly represented in NFNL representative netball over the weekend, with Jo Denton, Amelia Denton, Maeve O’Neill and Holly Elliot-Pogue all taking the court.

A special congratulations to Jo (15&U Championship) and Maeve (13&U Championship), who helped lead their teams to Grand Final victories.

It’s incredibly rewarding to see our junior program in action. Watching players develop, flourish and earn opportunities like this at representative level is a big part of why we started the junior program.

You’re Invited: 2026 Business Luncheon

Join us for a special Business Luncheon as we kick off the ANZAC Day weekend alongside two of the game’s greats, Dyson Heppell and Nick Maxwell.

Guests will enjoy an exciting afternoon featuring a delicious lunch and an exclusive chat where Dyson and Nick will share insights, stories, and experiences from their time at the elite level.

The event will be held on Friday 24 April, with doors opening at 12:00pm and a 12:30pm start. Lunch is included, and the bar will be open to purchase drinks.

Tickets are available at $95 per person, or $900 for a table of 10. For those looking for a premium experience, a limited number of “Dine with the Stars” tables are available for $1200.

Book now

Win $250 by helping the club!

We’ve got a super easy way to support the club, and the best bit is that you could win too!

Edge Clothing are giving away $1000 to a sporting club, with the lucky entrant also receiving a $250 voucher.

It takes just 1-2 minutes to enter by filling out this form. Just add the club name as “St Mary’s Senior Football and Netball Club.”

That’s it! Get around it and share with friends/family — the more entries, the better our chances to win.

Enter now