Sport News

Mr Derek Lennon

Last weekend saw the conclusion of our Term 1 sports for 2026. The 1st XVIII went down to Padua on Friday night in a great schoolboy sport event for the Andrews-Cameron Cup, with Harris Andrews (Padua) and Charlie Cameron (Marist) present on the night, both commented freely on the growing improvement in the quality of the footy played by both teams. On Saturday the 1st VI ended a frustrating season with a good win 3 sets to 1 at Padua to end the season positively. In cricket our 1st XI had a comprehensive victory at Padua, bowling the hosts out for 83 and securing the win inside 15 overs to claim the premiership undefeated, sitting alongside the Cricket aggregate win as well.

This weekend sees our internal trials for rugby and football. Further details are in the relevant section below and on Parent Lounge/Orbit and student emails. Boys should be at as many trials over the coming weeks as possible to give yourself the best chance to play at the highest level you can. Team lists are never fixed, you can always get promoted if you keep working hard, and of course the opposite is also true, no-one is guaranteed a position.

USA Scholarship Information Night at Marist

Marist College Ashgrove is pleased to be hosting a USA College Scholarship pathways Information Session. This is a great opportunity to learn about avenues through which you can continue to pursue your sport at an elite level beyond high school.

Learn about:

USA Colleges and Pathways
How scholarships work
How to Maximise Academic and Sporting Scholarships
Why an Aussie student-athlete is the ideal US college recruit
Common pitfalls to avoid
How to get started

When: Monday, 30 April

Where: Marist College Ashgrove Tower Function Room

Time: 6:00 pm

Who should attend?

All students and their parents from Years 7-12 interested in learning more about the US College pathway.

Register here to attend

https://forms.zohopublic.com/studyandplayusa/form/MaristCollegeAshgroveStudyPlayUSA1/formperma/lyU9XoDZ2CEy2rqvxy1PQKHess68aRM76lWgYI2J0W0

Term 1 Sports

Cricket

On Saturday the 1st XI was comprehensive in their victory to secure the AIC premiership in defeating Padua, for an undefeated season. Across the board, our results were excellent, with Marist securing the AIC aggregate shield and 1st XI double for the second year in a row.

1st XI- 1ST
3rd XI Blue- 1ST
3rd XI Gold- 2ND
10B- 2ND
9A- 2ND
9B- 1ST
9C- 1ST
8A- 2ND
8B- 1ST
8C- 2ND
7B- 1ST
7C Gold- 1ST
7C Blue- 2ND

AFL

Our program continues to get stronger with 428 boys playing the sport in Term 1. Our best performing team was the 8Bs and the 2nd XVIII who finished second in their competitions. The 1st XVIII worked manfully throughout the season with a lot of improvement from this younger group of athletes. We finished fifth in the aggregate shield.

2nd XVIII- 2ND
7B- 2ND

Volleyball

Our volleyball teams had a tough season this year. Our best performing team was the 9C’s who won their division. The 1st VI never got into a rhythm this year and were only able to display their true ability sporadically which is a shame as their results do not reflect their ability. We finished sixth in the aggregate shield.

2nd VI- 2ND
10B- 3RD
10C- 2ND
9B- 2ND
9C- 1ST

End of Summer Season

Thank you to the Year 12s for your years of service to the College and your sport of choice. Hopefully you have enjoyed the experience of playing for your school, developed some skills, including life skills, had some wins and some loses and take away great memories with you. Thank you also to the parents for your involvement in the Marist sport community, and the part you have played in making this an inclusive, supportive and friendly environment. Good luck in the future gentlemen.

Thank you to our coordinators for this term. Mr Camryn Mabey led our AFL program this year and was a great support for the coaches on game day. Mr Blair Whitlock led our volleyball program quietly putting in a lot of work behind the scenes. Mr Matt Millward led our cricket program very successfully. It has been great to see the work these three gentlemen have put into our programs already, our first year with these roles as full-time positions. I am confident that we will continue to develop our programs in the coming years now that they have had a chance to see a full season. Ms. Jade Ritchie also did countless work to support our swimming program.

Thank you to our firsts coaches Mr James Boyce (swimming), Mr Michael Abbott (cricket), Mr Adam Green (volleyball) and Mr Matt Beattie (AFL) and all their support staff for your leadership of our flagship teams, mentoring the boys and providing great examples for the boys as people. I also thank all the staff, Old Boys, parents and external coaches for your work with our boys this term in each of our sports.

Finally, well done to all the boys who pulled on the blue and gold uniform this term. We set high expectations of you in uniform, behaviour, attitude, commitment, and respect for others. We do this because we are a school and this is a vehicle to help you grow into men of good character and discipline. Whether you won, lost or drew each week you by and large did it with tremendous spirit and respect, for which you should be proud.

Student Achievements

Rugby Union

On Thursday 19 March, the following Boys attended the 17-18 yrs Met-North Regional Rugby Union Trials: Daniel Londema, Archie Searle, Henry Robinson, Matthew Pegg, Will Bagnall, Jed Cole and Tom Collins. The boys played extremely well in a very competitive trial environment.

Congratulations to Daniel Londema, Archie Searle, Henry Robinson, Matthew Pegg, Jed Cole and Tom Collins who have been selected in the starting 15 for the team, an outstanding effort. We look forward to following their progress a the state championships in May 2026.

Round 7

AFL

Mr Cam Mabey - AFL Coordinator

Round 7 vs Padua College Results

1st XVIII: Loss. MCA – 17, PAD – 51. BOG: Rhyan Pears

2nd XVIII: Win. MCA – 45, PAD – 16. BOG: Connor Parsons

10A: Win. MCA – 37, PAD – 22. BOG: Isaac Bell

9A: Loss. MCA – 46, PAD – 57. BOG: Billy Cass

9B: Loss. MCA – 12, PAD – 47. BOG: Rourke Fergusson

8A: Loss. MCA – 0, PAD – 23. BOG: Mitch Belyea

8B: Loss. MCA – 0, PAD – 63. BOG: Connor Henderson

7A: Win. MCA – 41, PAD – 37. BOG: Levi Doyle

7B: Win. MCA – 21, PAD – 16. BOG: Ben Jefferies

6A: Win. MCA – 53, PAD – 39. BOG: Leo Mylne

6B: Win. MCA – 73, PAD – 33. BOG: Ben Travers

6C: Win. MCA – 47, PAD – 25. BOG: Liam Carman

6D: Win. MCA – 58, PAD – 33. BOG: Case Purcell

5A: Loss. MCA – 22, PAD – 58. BOG: Maxy Wurf

5B: Loss. MCA – 2, PAD – 61. BOG: Jory Brown

5C: Win. MCA – 73, PAD – 13. BOG: Lachlan Levens

5D: Win. MCA – 56, PAD – 13. BOG: Jensen Axten

Friday Night Footy

On Friday afternoon the 1st XVIII, 2nd XVIII and 10A teams played their final matches of the season out at South Pine Sports Centre. Marist got off to a strong start with the 2nd XVIII and 10A’s securing convincing Wins in their respective matches.

The 1st XVIII was fortunate to be joined by MCA Old Boy and Brisbane Lion, Charlie Cameron. Charlie spoke with the team and joined in for the warm-up. The 1st XVIII put on a strong performance for 3 quarters of the match, before Padua ran away with the contest in the 4th. A credit to our Boys who fought to the final whistle and represented the Marigold with pride in this year’s Charlie Cameron/Harris Andrews Cup match. It was great to see plenty of Marist Boys join the Hive in support of our 1st AFL team.

Season Wrap Up

The weekends Round 7 matches mark the conclusion of the 2026 AIC AFL Season. Well done to the 370 Boys across our 17 sides who represented the Marist AFL program this term. It is excellent to see Boys with a variety of Sporting backgrounds come together to learn the game and bring value to the program each week.

Best of luck to all our students who now continue to play club and representative Football, for your upcoming fixtures. If there are any Boys who are interested in getting involved in Club AFL, I am more than happy to put you steer you in the right direction.

A big thanks to the 30 coaches and team managers who made the 2026 season possible. Our players are fortunate to have such dedicated coaches that put great effort into developing our players into quality Footballers and more importantly, quality people.

We will begin preparations for the 2027 AFL season in Term 4 this year, through the pre-season and trial phases. This will be promoted through the notices and Orbit app when the time rolls around. Until then, I encourage all players to get involved in the other Sports that the College offers, to stay active and continue developing the coordination skills that shine in AFL.

If there are any Boys wanting to get some touches in throughout the year – feel free to communicate with me and I will support you in providing equipment and organizing small group trainings where possible.

Volleyball

Me Blair Whitlock - Volleyball Coordinator

Round 7 vs Padua College

And just like that the Volleyball season comes to a close! Our final round of matches took place against local rivals Padua College with the junior teams on home court and our seniors heading over to Kedron. It was a brilliant day of Volleyball with competitive games right across the board that were played with passion and commitment throughout. It was an even day of games with Padua getting the better of the juniors and Marist taking out more of the senior games. Many of our teams put in their best displays of the season which was great to see and a real sign of how much they’ve improved throughout the season.

The day finished on a big high with the 1st VI taking out an impressive 3-1 victory in the penultimate match of the AIC season. The boys relied on an excellent serve receive and accurate passing game which gave them a 2-0 deserved lead early on. Despite Padua threatening a resurgence the boys remained composed and delivered on the big points to win in 4 sets. While key moments haven’t gone our way this season the 2026 1st VI have represented our College with pride & skill and leave a solid foundation for future 1st VI teams to build off.

Thank You

A big thank you to all Volleyball players for representing the College with pride throughout the AIC season and for your commitment to the program. A special mention to all Year 12 players, many of which have played Volleyball at Marist for 6 years, for your dedication and contribution to the Marist Volleyball program. There is a growing passion for Volleyball within the student community and we look forward to building upon this as we start planning for the 2027 season.

None of it would be possible without our wonderful coaching staff who go above and beyond to help the boys develop their Volleyball skills. Thank you to the 11 Marist staff coaches – Mr Patrick Denkes, Ms Elizabeth Valer, Mr Aaron Manson, Mr Adam Knight, Mr Jim Noble, Ms Bella Say, Mr Peter Gaiter, Mr Scott Minogue, Mr Adam Green, Mr Pat Noble & Mr Sam Noble as well as the 11 Marist Old Boy coaches – William McPhee, Joshua Lewis, Hugh Irwin, Sam Hancock, Adam Burnell, Ethan Torrens, Owen Dodwell, Nick Marco, Max James, Finn McCahon & Louie Di Lucchio.

Off Season Volleyball

If you love your Volleyball and don’t want to wait until term four to start playing again we’d absolutely encourage you to join a local club and play right through the year! Volleyball is all about touches & repetition – the more you play the better you’ll get. There are great Volleyball clubs all over Brisbane and it would be great to see more and more of you involved with Club Volleyball. Get some mates together and join a team in the off-season!

Week 10 – Volleyball Pizza Party

There will be a Pizza Party on Monday 30 March for all Volleyballers at 1st break in the gym. Further details will be sent out via email at the back end of the week.

Cricket

Mr Matt Millward - Cricket Coordinator

With that, the 2026 cricket season comes to an end, a strong showing in round 7 saw many teams keep their unbeaten streaks alive, and many more teams finish the season strong with wins. Over the course of the season we have developed as a program, keeping our participation and performance aligned, showcasing both the depth and success of our program. Please keep your eyes peeled for the end of season communication to be distributed via Parent Orbit in the coming week.

Thanks for your involvement with the program this year, a successful year to be celebrated by all involved!

Rugby League

Mr Cam Mabey - Rugby League Coordinator

Confraternity Shield Team Trials

A reminder that the trial for the 2026 Confraternity Shield team is after School on Monday the 30th March. Boys who have signed up to trial will receive communication from Mr Winchester regarding the trial process, teams and uniform.

The Rugby League Selection policy and Trial process resources are available on the Orbit app.

Please contact Mr Winchester or myself if you can no longer trial or have any questions.

Football

Mr Blair Whitlock – Football Coordinator

Football is in full swing and we have a full slate of trials, training sessions and matches in Week 9! See the schedule below:

If you are unable to make any of your Football commitments you must let the Football coordinator (whitlockb@marash.qld.edu.au) know via email or by visiting the Sports Office.

27th and 28th March Matches

All 550 Marist Footballers will be playing a match this week. On Friday afternoon all year 5-8 teams (excluding A & B teams) will be playing an internal match and all other teams will be playing against either Ambrose Treacy College or an internal on Saturday. The schedule for these matches will be released tomorrow and team lists will come out at midday on Friday.

Registration Reminder

A reminder that you must be registered to play Football on Parent Orbit ahead of the upcoming season. If you aren’t registered, you will miss key communications including training & match schedules, team lists and alterations.

Rugby Union

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Rugby Union Trials

Rugby trials are almost upon us! Following the conclusion of the Rugby Ready Program at the end of Week 8, the boys will start to prepare in their Year levels for the full school internal trial on Saturday 28 March (end of Week 9). This day also serves as the Rosalie Tribute Round.

Please make sure you see the Rugby Union Key Dates Calendar in the Parent Orbit for all games throughout the season.

Rugby Ready Program | Blue Squad

A sincere and genuine thanks to the Blue Squad for their support, commitment and connection throughout the Year 5 and 6 Rugby Ready Program.

The Blue Squad consists of approximately forty-five Year 11 and 12 students aspiring to play in the 1st XV and 2nd XV. They are quality young men who understand they too were once young, aspirational bumblebees. Our current group of younger bumblebees had a far deeper, richer, and enjoyable experience due to their involvement.Our team values of "connection" and "humility" were consistently on display. The College is fortunate to have good young men who understand the positive difference they can make.

The students are wonderful ambassadors for Marist and have been selfless with their time.

Rugby Referee Program | Invitation

Congratulations to our fantastic bunch of referee graduates!!..

Well done to the eighteen Marist College Ashgrove, two Mt St Michael’s students, one Padua student, and one parent for completing the referee course. All of them will now start their journey as a referee with some beginning this weekend in the internal trials.

A special thank you to QRU Match Official Development Officer, Daniel Mangin, for delivering the course and making the attendees feel comfortable with the content and new challenges.

We thank all of our referees in advance of the AIC season. We have an extraordinary referee community here at the College and we wish all of our referees a great season ahead.

Rugby Ready Program | Year 5-12

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Rugby Ready Program. It is an enormous program with 600+ students attending seven sessions per week for four weeks!......and 25+ coaches delivering an integrated and aligned approach.

The students need to be commended for the way they participated and engaged in the program. The coaches couldn’t speak more highly of the behaviour, skill development and willingness to learn. As we watch the games this season, we hope to see the high level of skill, the connection and “The Marist Way” evident in all our teams.

Thanks to the coaches for volunteering their time and expertise to the program. Mrs Sharon Davidson, Mr Andy Marshall, Mr Charlie Taylor, Mr Mal Grealy, Mr David Jackman, Mr Jye Davies, Mr Tom Dangerfield, Mr Pat Brown, Mr Peter Gaiter, Mr Glenn Wright, Mr Jim Midgley, Mr Matt Dangerfield, Mr Doug Perrers, Mr Camryn Mabey, Mr John Lambourne, Mr Damien Nelson, Ms Ella Graham, Mr Anthony Graham, Mr Hugh Freese, Mr Bill Prole, Mr Brad Winchester, , Charlie Gardiner, Henry Gardiner, and Xavier Howard. Marist is fortunate to have many staff, old boys and current students contributing to the rugby program. We appreciate all that they do in creating a safe and challenging rugby environment.

Thanks also to all of the other departments at the College who have supported the program: Music, Cricket, Swimming, AFL and Volleyball. It is greatly appreciated.

Marist Rugby Union | Year Level Coordinators

Below is the list of coordinators for each year level in 2026. We are incredibly fortunate to have consistency in these roles and good people.

If you are absent from school or can see you may be absent from training or a game, please contact your year level coordinator.

Opens

Mr Peter Gaiter - gaiterp@marash.qld.edu.au

Year 10

Mr Michael Abbott - abbottm@marash.qld.edu.au

Year 9

Mrs Liz Walsh - walshe@marash.qld.edu.au

Year 8

Mrs Sharon Davidson - davidsons@marash.qld.edu.au

Year 7

Mr Damien Nelson - nelsond@marash.qld.edu.au

Year 6

Mr John Lambourne - lambournej@marash.qld.edu.au

Year 5

Ms Ella Graham - grahame@marash.qld.edu.au

Marist Rugby Union | Sign On

Thank you to the 600+ students who have already signed on to play rugby at the College in 2026.

Parents - please find the Extra-Curricular tile on Parent Orbit to find information regarding sign on. You are able to sign your son up for a chosen sport once the portal opens.

Students who wish to play Term 2 sports, you are able to sign up via the student café. Once your son/s have signed up all parents or caregivers MUST approve the signup and edit or update any medical details.

This assists the College in organising the appropriate number of coaching staff and to deliver the necessary resources, and ensures all relevant information is forwarded to you via communication channels.

Blue Squad | Trial Match

Thanks to the Everton Park Roosters Rugby Union Club for hosting the 1st XV and 2nd XV games against Downlands on Sunday. The College has a long history with the club and we appreciate them allowing us to use their facilities for a second week in a row.

In front of a strong crowd, both the 1st XV and 2nd XV enjoyed strong wins. On the back of some excellent skill and ball movement, both teams started fast and continued to keep the pressure on their opponents throughout the games. As expected with contests against Downlands, the games were physical and under the midday sun, hot and humid. With a disciplined focus of always competing, effort on effort, and playing physical attacking rugby, some of the interplay from Marist was again outstanding.

Following last week’s internal trial, there were again a number of notable performances and it was wonderful to see so many of the squad putting their hand up early in the season to compete for a position in the 1st XV and 2nd XV.

Thanks to the Downlands staff and teams for making the journey. We have a wonderful relationship with the College and look forward to many more fixtures.

Thanks also to the Marist staff who supported the students during the day - Mr Chris Daykin, Mr Ieti Fetalaiga, Mr Adam Earnshaw, Mr Drew Smith, Ms Isabel Gilmore and Ms Liani Anderson; and our Year 7 and 8 students, Angus Graham and Max Gibson who was there as support for the teams. All helped make it a great day at the Everton Park Roosters club.

**Any junior rugby union player looking for a club to continue their rugby pathway, please contact the Everton Park Roosters Rugby Union club situated at Hurdcotte Street, Everton Park. A friendly family club that focuses on strong ethical and family values, without sacrificing competitive football.

Marist Rugby Union | Nutrition Guide

To support your recovery following early morning training sessions and to help maintain focus and energy levels throughout the school day, below are some simple breakfast ideas that can be prepared at home and brought to school:

Breakfast Wrap

Wholegrain wrap with scrambled eggs, cheese and spinach, plus a piece of fruit.Easy to wrap in foil and eat after training.

Greek Yoghurt Bowl (in a container)

Greek yoghurt, oats or granola, berries, honey.High protein and easy to prepare the night before.

Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich

Wholegrain bread, peanut butter, sliced banana, plus a small milk or flavoured milk.Simple and filling.

Smoothie (in a shaker bottle)

Milk, banana, frozen berries, oats, yoghurt or protein powder.Fast, portable and ideal if appetite is low after training.

Overnight Oats

Oats, milk, yoghurt, chia seeds, honey and fruit in a sealed container.Prepare the night before, no cooking required.

Marist Rugby Union | Correct Uniform

As parents begin to purchase clothing in preparation for each term’s sporting commitments, I would like to clarify the College’s expectations regarding the rugby union uniform.

Last season, we had a small number of students cut the bottom off their rugby union socks and insert a white sock. The rugby union uniform is very clear and consists of the bumblebee jersey, Marist sports shorts, and Marist rugby union socks.

There are to be no alterations made to any part of the rugby union uniform. I ask that students and parents please address this prior to the season commencing, rather than it needing to be followed up by coaches closer to the season.

Thank you for your continued support.

Marist Rugby Union – Social Media

@marist_ashgrove_rugby

In 2025 the College consistently delivered some wonderful rugby memories through our social media pages. From the smallest bumblebees in Year 5 through to the biggest bumblebees in Year 12, all of it was captured in wonderful colour.

To stay connected with Marist rugby and with all the program’s achievements, please follow our Instagram page @marist_ashgrove_rugby.

Track and Field

Mr Richard Graham – Director of Rugby / Track and Field

Mr Rob Martin – Head Coach, Track and Field

Marist Track and Field | Camp (SAVE THE DATE)

Following our success at the 2025 AIC Primary and Secondary Championship and win at the National Schools Challenge (Intermediate Division), the Track and Field program continues to provide excellent opportunities for students to be involved in a high-quality program.

The Track and Field Camp is a vital component of the team’s preparation for the AIC Championship. Over 2½ days, students will receive high-level coaching and mentoring from an exceptional team of specialists including National and Olympic-level coaches across various track and field disciplines.

Attendance at the camp is by invitation only and invitations will be sent to selected students in late August. Selection is based on a range of factors, including performance, attitude, attendance and team composition.

This camp provides an outstanding opportunity for students to refine their skills, build team camaraderie, and gain valuable insights from elite-level coaches as we prepare to defend both our AIC Secondary and AIC Primary Championship trophies.

Camp Information

Dates: Thursday 17 – Saturday 19 September 2026

Venues: Sleeman Sports Complex (Accommodation) / UQ Track and Field (Training and Performance)

Marist Track and Field | Sign On

Parents - please find the Extra-Curricular tile on Parent Orbit to find information regarding sign on. Students who wish to be involved in the Track and Field program, you are able to sign up via the student café. Once your son/s have signed up all parents or caregivers MUST approve the signup and edit or update any medical details.

Sunday Sessions

For all students wanting to begin their Track and Field training, Mr Rob Martin will continue to run his usual Sunday sessions. The focus at this early stage is Sprints / Hurdles / Throws / Jump plyometrics. Please see below details - WHEN: Sunday afternoonsWHERE: Hayden OvalTIME: 3:15-4:45pm

DRESS: Marist sport shirt, Marist sports shorts, white or blue socks.

Marist Track and Field – Social Media

@marst_ashgrove_sports

Marist College has continued to showcase incredible moments in Track and Field again this year, from Year 5 victories to exceptional feats by our Year 12 students, all vividly captured on our social media pages.

Swimming

Mr James Boyce - Director of Swimming

As we head into the final two weeks of the school term, there is still plenty happening across the swimming program, with many of our boys continuing to compete at a high level.

We currently have the following swimmers representing the College at the Queensland School State Championships: Nathan Cullen, Cooper Donaghy, Isaac Gervais, William Hutchinson, Oliver Leigh, Thomas Lindner, Ross Murie, Joseph Niere, Daniel Sadimenko, Ronan Sadimenko, and Finn Sheehan. We wish all of these athletes the very best of luck in their events.

Looking ahead to the second week of the holidays, a number of our swimmers will be competing at the National Age Championships. Congratulations to Archer Mellifont, Thomas Bedggood, William Hutchinson, Morgan Elphinston, Nathan Cullen, Oliver Leigh, Sam Mapledoram, Bas Martinuzzi, Ryan Mullin, Joseph Niere, Isaac Gervais, Tomas Fitzpatrick, and Rocco Holmes. We wish them all the best as they enter the final stages of their preparation.

Winter Training

As Term 1 concludes, we are pleased to confirm that our swimming program will continue throughout Terms 2 and 3. This provides an excellent opportunity for swimmers to transition into our squad program, with training conducted in comfortably heated water (27.5–29.0°C).

Our squad program caters to all ability levels, whether swimmers are training for fitness or competition. Maintaining consistency over the winter months plays a key role in long-term development and will set our athletes up for success ahead of the AIC season in Term 1, 2027.

For further information, please contact: swim@marash.qld.edu.au.

Tennis

Mrs Jade Ritchie - Tennis Administrator

Term 2 Bookings

Term 2 lessons will open for booking on April 1 at 9:00am via the portal. This will give Mr Ward time to review before it goes live. We recommend securing your spot early as places fill quickly.

Make-Up Lessons

Make-up sessions for missed lessons can be scheduled during Week 10. These are available for both Private Lessons and Group Classes.

Holiday ClinicsOur Easter School Holiday Clinics will run:

Week 1: Tuesday–Thursday (April 7-9)
Week 2: Monday–Wednesday (April 13-15)

Bookings can be made through the portal.

$150 for 3 days
$60 per day

Open Gym (Years 7–12) week 9 and 10

For students in Year 7 and above at Marist, we encourage all tennis players to attend the Open Gym sessions to help improve their strength and conditioning. Please see the timetable below for available times.

If you have any questions please contact me at mcatennis@marash.qld.edu.au or on 07 3011 1272.