Category Archives: player stories

Pride Month 2022: Meet Ruby Walker

Pride Month is about celebrating the LGBT+ community, listening to their voices, and sharing their stories, so this week we spoke with senior women’s player Ruby Walker about her pride journey.  “To me, Pride Month is a time to educate, reflect and celebrate the current world we all live in, which includes LGBT+ people.”  “It is aboutContinue reading “Pride Month 2022: Meet Ruby Walker”

Pride Month: Meet Serena Francke

To celebrate Pride Month, we spoke to women’s player Serena ‘Reenie’ Franke about her football journey as someone part of the LGBT+ community. Pride month is celebrated in June across the globe. It can mean many different things to different people, and for Reenie it is about celebrating the LGBT+ community and paving a welcomingContinue reading “Pride Month: Meet Serena Francke”

17 players join the Push for Better challenge to support mental health!

The Push-Up challenge has officially kicked off today and we have an incredible 17 players signed up to raise awareness for mental health!⁠⁠Each day, the players will do a different amount of push-ups based on a mental health statistic. ⁠⁠The first one is 74 push ups to represent the 74% of pet owners that reportedContinue reading “17 players join the Push for Better challenge to support mental health!”

National Reconciliation Week: Meet Judhil Canendo

To mark Reconciliation Week, we spoke with Senior Women’s player Judhil ‘Juddie’ Canendo about her football journey as a proud Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander woman. Originally from Yarrabah in Cairns, QLD, Judhil is part of the Kuku Djungan, Kaurareg and Yidinji (Wallabarra) tribe. In 2019 she made the big move to Melbourne, and afterContinue reading “National Reconciliation Week: Meet Judhil Canendo”

“Footy clubs are built on people like Jim” – Jimmy Girolami’s St Mary’s Story

Starting his footy career 17 years ago with St Mary’s Junior Football Club, and joining the Senior Club in 2014, James ‘Jimmy’ Girolami has now played about 250 games across both Clubs! Jimmy saw lots of success from a young age across about 140 games in the Junior Club. In Under 13’s he won theContinue reading ““Footy clubs are built on people like Jim” – Jimmy Girolami’s St Mary’s Story”

“I am proud that he has stayed true to the Club” – Daniel Castagnini’s St Mary’s Story

Starting with St Mary’s Junior Club back in 2004, Daniel Castagnini spent his whole junior career at the club and eventually made the move up to the Senior Club in 2014 where he could continue playing with the friends he had made over the last 10 years. While he saw lots of great success inContinue reading ““I am proud that he has stayed true to the Club” – Daniel Castagnini’s St Mary’s Story”

SMFNC join St Mary’s Junior Club at their Open Day!

Today, players and members from our Club were thrilled to be involved in St Mary’s Junior Football Club Open Day, and assist with their combine activities!⁠⁠ Mark Stanley, Club President, shared⁠ how great it was to be part of this day!⁠“We were all excited to be part of this day, and can’t wait to work withContinue reading “SMFNC join St Mary’s Junior Club at their Open Day!”

“Jake is a crucial part of the future” – Jake Dambrauskas’ St Mary’s Story

Senior player Jake Dambrauskas joined St Mary’s 15 years ago, and has never looked back! Starting initially with the St Mary’s Junior Club in 2007, he had a fantastic junior career, marked with memories of fun and friendship, and even won his first Premiership in Colts in 2012! Unfortunately in 2013, he just missed outContinue reading ““Jake is a crucial part of the future” – Jake Dambrauskas’ St Mary’s Story”

“Nick is looked highly upon by his team mates and coaches, and it’s not hard to see why.” – Nick Gedge’s St Mary’s Story

Current Senior co-captain Nick Gedge, joined St Mary’s Junior Club back when he was 8 years old in tackers. At the end of his junior career, Nick didn’t hesitate to join the St Mary’s Senior Club in 2013. His senior career kicked off with a bang, and he placed second in the club U19s BestContinue reading ““Nick is looked highly upon by his team mates and coaches, and it’s not hard to see why.” – Nick Gedge’s St Mary’s Story”