St Mary’s Salesian Football Club
Joined VAFA: 1990
Coaches: Clay Tait (M), Julia Hay (W)
Nickname: Saints
Ground: Ferndale Park Reserve, Glen Iris Road, Glen Iris.
Under 19/Thirds: As above
Colours: Gold with black trim/ – black number; shorts – black; socks – black & gold.
Secretary: Nick Alexopoulos E: [email protected] M: 0418 598 419
President: Penny Heath E: [email protected] M: 0410 045 820
St Mary’s Salesian is a merged club that came together from St Mary’s Football Club and Salesian Old Collegians in time for the 2008 VAFA season. Prior to this both clubs competed in the VAFA. St Mary’s was founded in 1932 and competed in the Eastern Suburban Churches FA until 1989, joining the VAFA for the 1990 season. It was a great move as St Mary’s won the then F Section premiership in their first year. They would win another F Section premiership in 1993. However despite these early success the club was never able to reach a higher section than E or Division 2. Salesian Football Club commenced in the early 1970’s, and also competed in the Eastern Suburban Churches League until 1988. The Salesian Old Collegians Amateur Football Club joined the VAFA in 1989 with one side fielded in H Section. Salesian fielded two sides in F Grade in 1990. Salesian Old Collegians was the home club of current VAFA President, Michael Hazell, where he played in their 1996 E South Section premiership. Salesian were mildly more successful in climbing the sections and reached Division 1 by 2004. Since the merger, St Mary’s Salesian has finished runner up at senior level three tiems, in 2009 (Division 3), 2014 (Division 2) and 2017 (Division 1) and the club won their first premiership of any kind as a combined entity in 2013 when they won the U19 North premiership. They backed that up in 2014 with the reserves premiership in Division 2 and two years later in Division 1. Following a grand final loss to PEGS in 2017, the combined club reached its highest ever section in Premier C. During that same year, the Saints fielded two teams in the inaugural VAFA women’s competition and claimed the first-ever Development Division 1 premiership with a one-point win over West Brunswick before repeating and defeating the Westies again in 2018 in the Premier B (Blue) competition.
Premierships
Seniors | Women’s | Reserves | U19s | Thirds |
3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Premier C / C Section: | Premier B (Blue): 2018 | U19 (North): 2013 | Division 4: 2019 | |
Division 1 / D Section: | Development Division 1: 2017 | 2016 | ||
Division 2 / E Section: 1996* | 2014 | |||
Division 3 / F Section: 1990ª, 1993ª |
*Salesian OC
ªSt Mary’s
Competition Best and Fairest Winners – Senior
D Section / Division 1 – LS Pepper Medal – 3
E Section / Division 2 – J Fullerton Medal – 3
Division 4 – OJ Meehan Medal – 1
Year | Name | Section | Votes |
2015 | Sidney Jones | Division 1 | 19 |
2012 | David West | Division 2 | 21 |
2010 | David West | Division 2 | |
2007 | Cameron Armstrongª | Division 4 | |
2007 | A. Papalucaª | Division 4 | |
2003 | S.K. Oldfield* | Division 1 | |
2000 | A.N. Campbell* | Division 2 | |
1997 | Michael Hazell* | Division 1 | 22 |
*Salesian OC
ªSt Mary’s
Club News
MoreA Culture of Care: St Mary’s Salesian’s commitment through TYF
St Mary’s Salesian AFC has proudly presented their Tackle Your Feelings (TYF)-themed jumper as a token of appreciation, with the full support of the VAFA. This initiative underscores the club’s commitment to
St Mary’s secure their first success of the season
As Round 6 concludes, dominant teams maintain their grip, while one team makes a terrific comeback after back-to-back losses in a thrilling week of Division 2 Men’s. After round six,
Changing of the guard as Vlahos, Brownhill step down
There’s a changing of the guard at two more William Buck Premier Women’s clubs, with Theo Vlahos (Kew FC) and Simon Brownhill (St Mary’s Salesian) recently announcing they’d be stepping
Anytime Fitness Rising Star Nominee: Round 6
The VAFA congratulates St Mary’s Salesian speedster Shakira Schifferle after she was named the Anytime Fitness Rising Star nominee for Round 6 following her standout performance during the Saint’s win
2018 Coaches of the Year named among host of VAFA award winners
Nick Bourke capped off a successful season at the helm of Old Geelong by taking out the 2018 Premier Coach of the Year Award at last night’s VAFA Awards Dinner.
Baum new Saints president, Malcolm leaves incredible legacy
Originally posted by St Mary’s Salesian St Mary’s Salesian AFC is delighted to announce that Greg Baum has been elected as our new club president, taking over from David Malcolm
Saints lock in Gatehouse as senior coach
Following a rigorous and extensive coaching selection process, St Mary’s Salesian President David Malcolm has announced that Brett Gatehouse has been appointed senior coach of the club for the next two
2017 VAFA Media Award Winners
The VAFA Media Awards were announced last night at the VAFA AGM Awards Night in the AFL Dining Room at the MCG. Five winners were recognised across four categories; including,