News

The Queen’s Birthday long weekend marks the half-way mark of our season and with 8 rounds down, we’ve got 7 to go before we head to finals for our U11s and above. It’s been quite a season so far for the 500+ kids and families in our wonderful Club community.

Our achievements so far this season
Here’s a recap on the ground we’ve made so far this season, where we’ve:
- organised 28 teams competing in all 13 age groups, including a fantastic boost to Auskick participation with nearly 80 kids signed up this year (compared to 50+ in 2020) – well done to Kristen, Phil, Tristan and our massive Auskick army of parent helpers!
- improved and intensified our pre-season recruitment activity to achieve the above (thanks Justin Lannen and Susie Lawson).
- started to introduce coaching support for squads as needed from senior players, eg U12s (thanks Stacky).
- established St. Ives Village Green as our second home ground with dedicated storage facilities along with a full training and Sunday match day fixture (thanks Michael Macquilham, Sally Wooden and Kirsty Ogilvy).
- navigated the logistical challenges of relocating our Acron training and games since mid-April to enable an underground automated watering system to be installed in the ground (thanks Josh Graeve and Michael Macquilham).
- raised a fabulous $3,244 to donate to the Royal North Shore Hospital’s Cancer Unit
from Pink Socks/Mother’s Day (thanks so much Jess Powell and Sally Wooden).
- mobilised another amazing group of Club Guardians to help lead our teams (thanks Ben Harper and Sally Wooden).
- automated our stock control and purchasing systems with much greater transparency on canteen and uniform sales (thanks Matt Henshall, Jane Maxwell and Amy Biggs).
- reviewed our merchandising approach and appointed a new supplier (Thanks Elissa Thompson).
- improved our Team App data quality (thanks Ian Bennett and Hugh Roche),
- transitioned to cashless payments for umpires (thanks Matt Henshall and Josh Graeve).
- secured a $5,000 grant for a new scoreboard (thanks Michael Macquilham).
- open proactive dialogue with the North Shore Bombers as our senior pathway Club for U17 boys and U18 girls ‘graduating’ from St Ives, with formal agreements between our Clubs in progress (thanks to our senior boys and girls coaching staff for your support).
- submitted 2 x $200,000 grand applications to improve Acron Clubhouse facilities (thanks to our Board and many contributing volunteers for your support).
- recognised our War heroes on ANZAC Day weekend and the traditional custodians of our land during Indigenous round (thanks Susie Lawson and Josh Graeve).
- continued engagement with Ku-ring-gai Council on the need for expanded facilities to accommodate the growth in AFL, especially girls changing facilities (thanks to our Board, including Sally Wooden and Tim Lawson for speaking at the Council’s Public Forum as well as Sonia Baillie).

Phew!! And we’re only half-way through this season…!

Acron Oval update
Early on Friday morning, a number of our Board and senior coaches met with the Council to inspect Acron Oval and we’re pleased to say that the underground irrigation works has been successfully completed. The ground will take some time to settle and the Council will continue to monitor ground condition actively over the coming weeks.

We have agreed with Council that we will hold Round 9 at alternative grounds (check your fixture in the Teams tab on this site) and return to training and playing at Acron from week commencing 5th July. Acron training will remain at Koola Park until then with Village Green continuing to be unaffected.

Thanks to everyone in our Club community for your patience and understanding during this upgrade – it is this kind of team spirit that makes our Club a great place for kids and their families to enjoy their footy.

Feeling somewhat sentimental as I watch Nathan Buckley conclude his coaching career at Collingwood at the end of the SCG game today, I’m sure he will look back remembering how it felt to be at the Club, not just what they won and lost. Similarly, I look forward to seeing our team spirit continue to come to life through the second half of the season and our kids having more great experiences as part of our Club culture, whether we win or lose.

Go Saints!