This year, the Marist Australian Football Club also celebrated its 50 th anniversary. It was
another hugely successful football season with Marist fielding nine teams from Under 10 to
Rising Stars (Under 18).
Seven teams qualified for finals. But the undisputed highlight was David Geremia’s Under 14
side winning the flag. This was an inspired performance by a very talented group of players
and an outstanding coaching group.
We also celebrated multiple individual achievements.
Joey Geysen (Under 11) and Alexander Maher (Under 13) both won AFL Canberra’s best and fairest.
Michael Stinziani was named Rising Stars Coach of the Year and Ben Vardy, Digby Blacker, and Ben Paton were selected in the Team of the Year.
In July we celebrated 50 years of Marist AFL with a gala dinner at the Hotel Realm. This was
an amazing evening with many laughs, smiles, dancing, and good entertainment. A highlight
for me was the home-coming of Marist Old Boy and Sydney Swans legend, Craig Bolton. A
very big thank you to Kate Reed-Cox, Chris Maher and Paul Palisi for their efforts in
organising the event.
We also inducted two new Life Members – Chris Maher and Tony McInerney. Both of these
men have made an outstanding contribution to Marist AFL and it’s fitting to see their names
among other club legends.
The Marist AFL social calendar was full in 2023. In addition to the gala night, Tony Bufalo
organised the return of pie night. This was well attended with over 100 boys and family in
attendance to eat pies and watch the footy. We raised money for breast cancer support
with pink cupcakes and the First XVIII wearing pink socks.
Penny Scholtens continued the revamp of our club website, and she enhanced our social
media with some flash looking posts, photos, and a wealth of information for our families.
Thank our Major Sponsor Brooks Marchant, and other sponsors Delta Electric Motor
Repairs, Callida Consulting and ProArb Trees. This season our sponsors again covered the
cost of warm up tops and the preseason Wagga match for the First XVIII, the club’s season
launch expenses and polo shirts and jackets for all team officials and many other expenses.
Brooks Marchant again sponsored the Spirit Awards.
Thank you to our coaches, assistant coaches, team managers and other volunteers for their
efforts again this season. I would also like to thank our Head of Sport, Paul Mead, my
colleagues on the footy club committee, and our College sports coordinator, Sarah Mahar.
And finally, farewell and best wishes to our Year 12 players. Thank you for your service and
contribution to Marist AFL. It’s been a pleasure and a blessing to watch you play.
This is my final year as Marist AFL president. My son, James, is now in Year 11, and it is time
for me to step aside and let someone else have a turn. I feel blessed to have served within
this Marist community, and I’m grateful for every moment.
Servo Fidem
Geoff Davidson
President – Marist Australian Football Club (2020 - 2023)