Football (AFL)
Australian Rules football at St Mary's College: 1st XVIII and Senior CSSA teams Years 7–12, training Tuesday and Thursday on the Main Oval, Saturday fixtures, remaining Term 3 2026 draw, coaches, selection, gear list and the Junior Friday competition.
Football has been played at St Mary's since 1958 and the 1st XVIII remains the College's flagship team. We field boys', girls' and mixed teams across Years 7–12 in the CSSA Wednesday competition, the 1st XVIII plays Saturday mornings, and Years 3–6 play NDPSA football on Friday afternoons.
Who can play
- Senior (Years 7–12): boys' division (Junior, Intermediate, Senior), girls' division (Junior and Senior) and a Year 7–8 mixed side.
- Junior (Years 3–6): NDPSA modified-rules football, Terms 2–3.
Season
CSSA Winter season, Terms 2–3 (Round 1 Wednesday 22 April 2026; Grand Final Wednesday 16 September 2026). Pre-season training begins the second week of Term 1.
Training
| Day | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 3:30–5:00pm | Main Oval |
| Thursday | 3:30–5:00pm | Main Oval |
All squads train both sessions. Sessions finish by 5:00pm; players collected from the Chapel Road Kiss-and-Drop zone. Junior (Years 7–8) sessions finish at 4:45pm.
Coaches and team structure
| Team | Year levels | Coach |
|---|---|---|
| 1st XVIII (Saturday & Wednesday Senior A) | Years 10–12 | Mr Pat Callaghan (Head Coach, AFL Level 2) |
| Senior B | Years 10–12 | Mr Will Turner |
| Girls Senior | Years 9–12 | Ms Bridget Hanlon |
| Intermediate A, B | Years 9–10 | Mr Sean Murphy, Mr Nick Papadopoulos |
| Junior A, B | Years 7–8 | Mr Sean Murphy, Ms Bridget Hanlon |
| Girls Junior | Years 7–8 | Ms Bridget Hanlon |
| Mixed Junior | Years 7–8 | Mr Nick Papadopoulos |
Team manager (gear, first aid, scores): Mrs Dee Walsh (parent volunteer).
Remaining Term 3 2026 fixtures — CSSA Wednesday (1:20–3:25pm)
Home games are on the Main Oval (start 1:50pm). Buses for away games leave the Senior gate at 1:20pm; away games start 2:00pm (4 × 15-minute quarters). Students return by 3:25pm.
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Game time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round 6 | Wednesday 26 August 2026 | Aquinas College | Home — Main Oval | 1:50pm |
| Round 7 | Wednesday 2 September 2026 | Loyola College | Away — Loyola, Ferntree Rise | 2:00pm |
| Semi Final | Wednesday 9 September 2026 | As per ladder | Emmaus College, Greenhaven (neutral) | 2:00pm |
| Grand Final | Wednesday 16 September 2026 | Winners of semis | Marian College, Riverbend (neutral) | 2:00pm |
Ladder after Round 5: Senior A 1st, Senior B 4th, Girls Senior 2nd, Inter A 3rd, Inter B 6th, Junior A 2nd, Junior B 5th, Girls Junior 1st. Teams outside the top four play friendlies against St Bede's and Sacred Heart in finals weeks.
Year 9 note: Year 9 students are on City Experience (Monday 31 August – Friday 4 September) and miss Round 7; Intermediate teams will be supplemented from Year 8.
Saturday fixtures — 1st XVIII
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 29 August 2026 | St Bede's College | Home — Main Oval | 10:00am (arrive 9:00am) |
| Saturday 5 September 2026 | Semi Final v Marian College | Marian College, Riverbend | 10:00am |
| Saturday 12 September 2026 | Grand Final (if qualified) | Wattle Creek Reserve Oval 1 | 11:00am |
The 1st XVIII wear the College guernsey (loaned), navy shorts and College socks. Parents transport players to away Saturday games; a team breakfast follows home games in the Sports Centre foyer, run by the P&F.
What to bring
- Full sport uniform; playing guernsey is issued and returned at season end (replacement cost $85 if lost)
- Mouthguard — compulsory, no mouthguard, no play (fitted by your own dentist recommended)
- Football boots (moulded stops only; no metal studs), drink bottle, towel
- Wednesday players wear sport uniform to school
Wet weather
Football is played in rain. Games are cancelled only if grounds are closed by the host school or council, or for lightning (30/30 rule), 35°C forecast at 9:00am, or Total Fire Ban. Cancellations are posted to the Parent Portal by 12:30pm Wednesday; Saturday cancellations by SMS by 7:00am. When cancelled, Wednesday players remain at school for indoor fitness in the Sports Centre until 2:45pm.
Selection
Trials in Week 1 of Term 2. The 1st XVIII squad (26 players) is selected from Years 10–12 on form at training; the final 22 is named Thursday night on the Learning Hub. Every student who trials is placed in a team; Junior teams are graded evenly so that everyone plays a full game.
Cost
Nil. Included in fees.
Junior (Years 3–6) Friday interschool football
NDPSA football is played Fridays 1:30–3:00pm in Terms 2–3 on modified rules (no tackling in Years 3–4; modified tackle in Years 5–6). Teams: Year 3/4 Mixed, Year 5/6 Boys, Year 5/6 Girls. Coaches: Mr Josh Pham and Mrs Karen Fitzgerald. Remaining games: Friday 28 August v St Joseph's Hillview (home, Main Oval) and Lightning Premiership Friday 11 September at Riverbend Reserve. No sport Friday 4 September (Junior Athletics) or Friday 18 September. Mouthguards compulsory. See Friday Interschool Sport; contact Mr Daniel Ruiz, juniorsport@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au.
Contact
Mr Luke Ferraro, Director of Sport — sport@stmaryswc.vic.edu.au — (03) 9555 0100. 1st XVIII enquiries: Mr Pat Callaghan via the Sports Centre office.