A Message From the Club President

Greetings to all the Wattle Park Saints Family

As we emerge from winter and start to enjoy more blue skies and longer days, our thoughts also turn to the rhythms of basketball. Finals are upon us and as usual many Wattle Park Saints teams are poised to play an active part in the post season.

A quick but important reminder: players must have played at least 8 games to qualify for finals (byes count as games played). If you wish to include a player who does not meet this requirement—for medical reasons, or because your team would otherwise have fewer than 6 players—please forward the details to your AGC as soon as possible.

Finals fill-in rules are enforced strictly and are often closely monitored by opposition teams. Not knowing the rules is not a defence, and it would be heart breaking to lose a finals win due to an ineligible player. You can read the full rules here. 

In short:
You can top up your team to ensure you have 6 players using eligible fill-ins.
The Club must seek approval for any finals fill-ins.
The earlier you send requests, the better.

Good luck to all our teams—play hard, enjoy the moment, and don’t forget to take plenty of photos so we can celebrate together across the Club, no matter the result.

With finals excitement building, our focus is already shifting toward Summer 2025–26. Registrations have now closed, and teams are being formed. As always, balancing player requests with the impact of clashing sports, school commitments, and even trumpet lessons is a challenge.

Our AGCs once again deserve huge thanks for their tireless effort in forming teams each season. Without them, we simply could not make it all work.

If you (or someone you know) still haven’t registered, please do so immediately. At this late stage, we cannot guarantee placement.

It is with some sadness that we acknowledge the retirement of two long-serving AGCs: Glen Hewer and Felipe Marin. Both have made outstanding contributions over many seasons, and we sincerely thank them for their commitment to ensuring players got onto the court and into
the game we all love.

We warmly welcome Marina Pappas, who has kindly stepped into the AGC role for Saturday Girls (8–15 years) and Bridget O’Regan who will be taking over Monday night girls. Thank you so much to you both!

We are still looking to find a couple more AGCs to reduce the team load on the current hard working AGCs. If you are like Marina and Bridget and want to make a meaningful contribution around the Club this is a great way to be involved. 

As the great Michael Jordan once said:
“Some people want it to happen, some people wish it to happen, some people make it happen.”

We’re looking for just a handful of people to help us make it happen.

Just to close - We had beautiful “Wattle Park Saints Way” moment recently when our Saturday U17.1s found themselves set to take to the court with only 4 players. So the call went out for fill-ins and in response Patrick Beard came to help us out. Now despite some height and age differences, Patrick was welcomed and encouraged by the team. When he made a basket, the whole court erupted with everyone cheering for him.

Have you ever watched The Spurs’ “Beautiful Game”?
The 2014 San Antonio Spurs won the NBA Championship not by relying on a single superstar, but through unselfish teamwork, passing, and trust. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3y7cWmoBCI

Shayne La Combre
Club President

Go Saints - Brave, True, One

In this Edition 

Winter Season Presentation Day

Second Hand Uniform Drive and Boot Muster

3 x 3 Fun Day 

International Sports Camps

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Junior Coach Community Bank Special Offer

Uniform Update: Discount Hoodies!

Dates to Remember

You're Invited! 

Winter Season Presentation Day

We’re locked and loaded for another great presentation day at Deakin University on Sunday 21 September 7 April, 1pm – 3pm. We would love to see you all there to celebrate a brilliant Winter Season. Free to attend but please let us know you’re coming for catering purposes!

Pop it in the diary and RSVP via Trybooking

As always, many hands make light work! We are looking for volunteers to help make this a fantastic event. Sign up to help here .  

Date: Sunday 21 September 2025
Time: 1 - 3pm 
Location: Deakin University
Entrance 2, Burwood Highway
Park in Multi-level carpark CP6.
Make your way to Building I - Lecture Theatre 1

Second Hand Uniform Drive and

Boot Muster  

Back by popular demand will be the mighty Saints Boot Muster as well as a Second Hand Uniform Drive! 

These are great ways to upcycle outgrown basketball gear, while raising funds for the Club. 

Do you have an old Saints uniform that you no longer need? Then please donate it back to the Club! These are added to the Club's uniform stocks and are helpful to kit-out new players while they wait for their uniform order to arrive.

We are also seeking donations of pre-loved but still wearable basketball boots. Boots will be on sale for $20 per pair! Grab a bargain while helping reduce quality items being sent to landfill. 

There will be a drop-off area at the Presentation Day for these items. 

Please reach out via email if you have any questions or can pitch in to help. 

3 x 3 Fun Day!  

Yes, it's back! Following the Presentation Day will be a 3 x 3 Fun Day on the courts at Deakin University. Spots are filling fast, so sign up now to join in the action! Register via PlayHQ.  

Winners will receive a KFC Giant Feast meal!

We will need lots of helpers to make this is a fantastic event. Please consider lending a hand for an hour or two. Many hands make light work! Sign up to help here.

International Sports Camps!

Once again our sponsors International Sports Camps are offering a great deal for Wattle Park Saints families on their 3 day basketball programs during the next School Holidays. Save 30% by booking now at iscamps.com.au. 

Be sure to enter the discount code WS30 at check out to access this excellent deal. Thank you to International Sports Camps for this fabulous offer!  

Our Sponsors 

We are very grateful to our sponsors – thanks to these sponsors, we have been able to provide top-notch coaching and development, along with coaching kits to our young aspiring Junior coaches in our community.  This support has not only improved their confidence, leadership and basketball skills but also instils valuable life lessons around teamwork, discipline, perseverance. It's heartening to see this positive impact and how sponsorship makes a difference.

Thank You to Our Season Sponsors

Thank you to our valued sponsor Community Bank Inner East for their incredible support of our Club. The Community Bank Inner East is much more than just a bank, with 60% of their profits reinvested back into the community!

Reach out to Kate Bellamy to help with your banking needs, including a handy 'home loan health check', a check-up for your home loan to make sure it is still right for you. Details can be found in the image below. 

Junior Coaches - Special Offer from Community Bank Inner East

Hey Junior Coaches! Did you know that you are eligible for a $50 bonus when you open an account at the Community Bank? Check your inbox for details!

Pizza & donuts : 668 Canterbury Rd Surrey Hills; www.pizzarepublica.com.au

ABAX Accounting: Contact John Hearn jehearn@hotmail.com 

PICAC: A unique industry-led training centre with campuses located in Brunswick, Geelong and Narre Warren Contact: info@picac.edu.au 

Community Bank Inner East

Benetas is a leading not-for-profit provider of residential aged care, retirement living, respite, in-home and community services. 

Camberwell IGA : 1401 Toorak Road Camberwell

Everything's Connected Progressive Osteopathy : 734 Riversdale Road Camberwell 

International Sports Camps: https://iscamps.com.au/ 

Uniform update

Size 10 hoodies are now available at a special clearance price of $40! Get in quickly, this offer is only available while stocks last!

For uniform enquiries, head to Uniforms@wattleparksaints.org.au

Share your game day pictures

We would love to receive any game pictures from our Monday, Friday and Saturday Teams, so we can celebrate the players, coaches and WPS community in Halo and on our Facebook & Instagram pages. 

We’re always on the lookout for any pictures of our players in action. You can send these to us at info@wattleparksaints.org.au or through Facebook (WattleParkSaints) using Messenger.

Make sure you let us know a little about the match and the players.

Close Action shots are great, team shots with Coaches are even better!

Dates for the diary

Monday night Elimination Final: 8 September

Friday night Elimination Final: 12 September

Saturday Elimination Final: 13 September

Monday night Grand Final: 15 September

Friday night Grand Final: 19 September

Saturday Grand Final: 20 September

Presentation Day and 3x3 Tournament: Sunday 21 September 

Monday night Summer Season commences: 6 October

Friday night Summer Season commences: 10 October

Saturday Summer Season commences: 11 October

Don't forget to follow us on