On behalf of the Executive Committee, I am proud to present the 38th St Mary’s GJFC Annual Report for the year ending 30th September 2010.

This past year as President has been an extremely demanding, interesting and most rewarding experience in my first year as President.

The dedication of our Executive Committee has continued the great work of past Executive Committee Members ensuring that our great club continues to grow both on and off the field.

A sincere thank you to all our Age Group Managers, Coaches, Team Managers and their support staff who have dedicated their time during the season, to ensure that all our children are doing what they love most – playing footy. A great job and greatly appreciated by the entire club.

573 registered players fielding 25 teams this year has been a huge task to manage. Our proud club does not measure success by how many Premierships we win. Our success is measured by giving all our children no matter their ability, the opportunity to play football, be a part of team sport, building long life friendships and more importantly build their self esteem as children and teenagers.

With these key principals, the St Mary’s GJFC has had a successful 2010 season.

An added bonus to this is that with 21 competitive teams in the home and away season – 12 teams resulted in playing in this year’s finals – a tremendous effort for our club.

Having 5 teams playing off in this year’s Grand Final was one of the best results from a club’s representation in 2010.

Congratulation to Colts 1, 12 Blue and 10 Green who are this year’s Premiership winning teams.

I would like to congratulate all our players who received awards at the YJFL Best and Fairest. Also to all our players that were selected in the YJFL representative teams a tremendous effort and fantastic achievement.

The redevelopment of our clubrooms this year has had some impact financially.
With low attendances at our Sunday supporter’s nights, the cancellation of the Sportsmen night and this year the introduction of pie nights to all teams and various end of season’s functions hosted at surrounding venues, it’s been a tough year financially.

The club is in a sound financial state moving forward however, with the redevelopment almost complete our share of the cost will be due early next season at a cost of $200,000.00.

With this is in mind we need to start planning to generate more funds to keep our club viable and continue the success that we are all accustomed with at St Mary’s.

The registration fees next season will have its first increase in almost three years.
First child $110.00, second child $55.00; third child $20.00 fourth child is free.
Match fees remain the same at $90.00.

This year a record amount was spent on free merchandise which all 573 registered players received on registration day. Money well spent. This will again be the case at next year’s registration day with all merchandise now ordered. Next season all players will receive a training top, track suit pants to match club jacket making our uniform complete and a pair of club skins. We are very excited to give all these away to all our kids. This would not be possible without the generous support from all our Major, Club and Team Sponsors. Thank you to you all, it is greatly appreciated.

With new incentives that the Executive Committee are working towards once our new redevelopment is completed, the future is very exciting at St Mary’s. The redevelopment will be completed by the end of this year and ready for the commencement of the 2011 season.

I would like to acknowledge the tremendous work by Phil Catanazzi who has overseen the project on behalf of our football club. We have all now seen firsthand the wonderful new change rooms that all our children will enjoy. I can assure you that once the new social rooms are completed that the Whatmough Park precinct will be second to none and will be the most impressive facility that a junior football club will enjoy.

I would to acknowledge the tremendous support and close relationship that we have with the Yarra Junior Football League, Banyule City Council, Watsonia Football Club, Greensborough Football Club and the Riverside Cricket Club. It is imperative that a club our size maintains a strong and committed relationship with these organisations and we have once again achieved this and look forward in continuing these relationships.

I would like to thank past President Chris Freeman for his support and encouragement during the course of the season. His experience, advice and work is greatly appreciated.

To the Executive Committee – a group of people that are passionate and have worked tirelessly throughout the season, I have been privileged to be a part of such an amazing dedicated team.

To both Vice Presidents, Dave Harris and Mark Stanley along with Secretary Andrew Sacco it has been at times quite testing and time consuming roles for us – in our first year in these senior roles at our football club. These guys have done an outstanding job and must be totally commended with all their efforts.

With the fantastic support that the Executive Committee has given us it has made these roles very enjoyable and most rewarding.

Executive Committee 2010.

Vice President Football – Dave Harris
Vice President Communications – Mark Stanley
Secretary – Andrew Sacco
Treasurer – Guy Iacona
Registration Director – Lynne Yates
League Director – Livio Basile
Coaching Director – Greg Norden
Football Director – Bernie Girolami
Property Director – Walter Ferronato
Assistant Property Director – Debbie Costello
Social Director – Jon Benson
Sponsorship Director – Paul Mitchell

On behalf of the entire club we thank all the Executive Committee, it’s been a great team effort once again.

To Greg Norden, Guy Iacona and Paul Mitchell who will be stepping down from the Committee, we sincerely thank you for the amazing work and dedication you all have brought to our club over the years.

Special mention to Paul Millet our Conduct Officer, who thankfully only had a couple of issues during the season which were handled impeccably.

To our canteen staff, bar staff and grounds team thank you once again for all the work you put in – your tireless work is greatly appreciate by all.

Our Senior Club now in its second year on the field, they have done an amazing job in their short history. The seniors are in great hands with a dedicated and enthusiastic Committee and will continue to grow in true St Mary’s sprit and will be a force as a Senior Football Club.

As a trail period for the 2011 season the junior club has agreed in conjunction with the Banyale City Council to allow the senior football club the use of the pavilion. This was also the case this year and both clubs worked well to ensure that the junior club would have no impact during the course of our season.

It will now be a formal arrangement as we need to protect our asset in which the senior club are very keen to make this arrangement amicable.

A Memorandum of Understanding will be drawn up by the Council in which our junior football club and the Riverside Cricket will have input towards.

This is a 12 month trail and will be closely monitored by all parties and reviewed again at the end of the 2011 season.

At no stage will any agreement be made by our Executive Committee that will impact or be the detriment to the St Mary’s GJFC.

The senior club has acknowledged and is noted that the junior club is to remain first and foremost tenant with all club events and formalities during the course of the season.

We are all under the same St Mary’s brand, but both clubs will continue to remain as two separate clubs.

It will be business as usual in 2011.

This is now a great opportunity for our Colts players, members and families to support our senior club. This will also not just give our Colts players, but in fact all our players the opportunity to have a senior football club presence.. This will create a pathway to playing senior football and remain playing under the St Mary’s brand.

No senior clubs games will be played at Whatmough Park.

In closing I would like to thank my wife Danni and two boys Dylan and Nathan for their encouragement, support and their enthusiasm in what has been a quite challenging year.

Thank you to you all for your kind emails and warm wishes during the course of the year, which I am grateful for.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my role as President of our great football club. The most enjoyable aspect for me was to be a part and getting to know such quality people that are you, all the members of the St Mary’s GJFC.

I wish you all the very best for the remainder of 2010 and look forward in being a part of another successfully and enjoyable 2011 season.

Regards,
Sam Gioffre
President
St Mary’s GJFC