Success starved St Mary’s look to continue their rise as September gets closer.
By Ben Andonoudis
After years watching September from the sidelines, St Mary’s has emerged as a genuine contender in the last two seasons.
A maiden A-grade premiership still eludes the Saints, but this season has seen them continue to rack up wins.
This follows a return to finals last year after a drought spanning a number of years outside the top section of the ladder, and 2026 has seen the Saints once again sit among the ladder leaders.
A six-goal win over fellow contenders South Barwon in round 13 has them now placed fourth on the A-grade netball table with a healthy percentage of 122%.
It has them believing they can build towards being there in a grand final.
St Mary’s A-grade coach Kathryn Vickers feels that belief has been evident among the playing group.
“I think every team goes in believing that they'll win the premiership and this year they absolutely have the belief and so they're showing that on the court,” Vickers said.
The team’s improved confidence this season has come off the back of increased connection as they develop further as players.
But that chemistry has taken years to build.
“They've played together for a long time, and the majority of the group have come up from juniors,” Vickers said.
It is that long-standing relationship between the players that Vickers believes can make a successful team.
“Success is built from a group of people staying together and knowing each other really well and how they move on the court,” Vickers said.
Last season marked an important step forward for the Saints on the road to becoming premiers.
Despite falling to Geelong West last year in an elimination final that doubled as their finals comeback, it was decided they did not need major changes.
“We had small areas to improve on,” Vickers said.
Rather than reinvent themselves, the Saints focused on improving the mental side of their game.
“It was the trusting your teammate and having them back you up,” Vickers said.
This season has seen the Saints doing just that and has led to an even spread of contributors during games.
That collective mindset has become of St Mary’s biggest strengths this season.
When asked to name a standout player for this season Vickers simply could not single out a standout performer.
“I mean, I'd say my whole team,” Vickers said.
Looking forward to the future, the Saints will be looking to keep their playing group together and to contend for some time to come.
“I would hope that the core group sticks around together.”
“They're all really good friends, and when you've got your friends, you don't really want to leave,” Vickers said.
Whether this year becomes the year St Mary’s claims it’s first A-grade netball premiership remains to be seen.
But after years spent building the foundations of the club along with a genuine connection and trust among their playing group, the Saints have reason to believe that this might be a group capable of bringing the ultimate prize to Kardinia Park.