CEO's Showcase Day at the Academy

Maribyrnong Sports Academy has hosted 26 CEO’s and staff from national sporting organizations and associations to a showcase of our facilities, sports and talent.

 The CEO demo day provided an opportunity for the National sporting bodies to see our facilities first hand and in full working order.  Students for all technical sports here at the academy were involved in training demonstrations and game simulation during the 90 minute tour of the school.

MSA Sports director Mark McAllion believes the chance to showcase the school to high profile sporting leaders will be invaluable for the school in the future. “ We keep saying there is nothing like our Sports Academy in this state, and until people actually come here and look for themselves, they probably feel we over exaggerate a little.  But once they get here, their eyes light up and they get a full understanding of what we have at Maribyrnong and what we can achieve for athlete’s in their pathways.”

“To have 22 CEO’s of National Sporting Bodies in Australia, here at the school all at once, is a major achievement in itself.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff and coaches of the academy who ensured that the CEO’s left the Academy full of enthusiasm, and the want to become a partner of the school. Since the day of our Showcase, 5 CEO’s have called me wanting to discuss further opportunities. “

CEO of Baseball Victoria Justin Huber, a former Major League Baseballer himself wished these facilities were around when he was a kid. “To be able to spend every day in this environment is something totally foreign for baseballers here in Australia, unless you wait until you are 18 and get accepted to a college in the States. The advantages this has for our junior athletes in preparing them for life after high school is amazing, and I’d love to see every baseballer in Victoria go to Maribyrnong.”

“I had heard about the program Maribyrnong was running for Baseball and Softball Athlete’s, and I must say I wasn’t aware of the facilities they had available to them.  The facilities here at Maribyrnong for a Baseballer are as good as any college in the states.”

Alexis Carydis, Manager of Netball Australia’s Centre of excellence says the Academy is first class.

“What we have seen here at Maribyrnong today is great. Amazing facilities and we love the holistic approach that the academy has to athlete development.  We also love the way the school goes about creating leaders not just athletes.   The school really provides a pathway for athletes with an academic focus while still developing the skills of Netball and the passion of the athlete to stay at school and get an education.”

Sports Director becomes a student for a day

Maribyrnong Sports Academy Sports Director Mark McAllion has spent the day as a student, to get a feel for what our Athletes go through on a daily basis.

Mr. McAllion spent the first two periods as a year 9 ADP student, working his way through a series of agility exercises, before finding himself in the gym.  

“I really wanted to experience what our students go thorough, and the effects it can have on them as part of their regular day here at Maribyrnong”  Mr. McAllion said. “ All of our Academy Students have to take part in periods of Athlete Development Program (ADP) throughout the week and also technical training.  Mix this in with school classes and then homework and an athletes day can get pretty busy.”

He finished off the day taking part in technical training with our Baseball/Softball Athletes.    “I’ve been a cricketer all my life, so I thought I would just slip into Baseball mode and have no issues.  Boy was I wrong.  Credit must be given to the effort and work that all of our athletes put into their technical training sessions, and also credit to our fabulous coaches for giving the students programs that are not only challenging but beneficial to their advancement through the sports pathways.”

One thing we know for sure.  Mr. McAllion will sleep well tonight.

If you would like advise on how to help manage your school day click here to download a sample study plan provided by our Wellbeing Team.

To view how Mr McAllion went during ADP, click below

Marby Hockey kids perform well at National Championships

Year 9 Maribyrnong Sports Academy students Juliette Sheriff, Enya Talbot, Alannah Hibbard, and Year 10 athlete Jade Robertson have recently been part of a successful Victoria U16 Girls Hockey team at the National Championships defeating Tasmania in the bronze medal game to finish third.

The girls were selected for the squad back in June of this year and after 2 nights training per week for 2 months they competed in the championships at Southport playing on the same hockey field that was recently used for the Commonwealth Games.

While Juliette and Jade had a great tournament, it was Enya who was selected for the Australian national team which will compete in the World Championships in Germany during May of 2019.

“I’m honoured to have been selected for Australia from the recent National Tournament.” said Enya. “To make an Australian team is every hockey’s players dream and a great opportunity to shine on the international stage.”

For Juliette and Jade just being a part of the Nationals is something that they look forward too, having been involved in the last 6 and 5 years respectively.

“The conditions were really tough during the tournament with the temperature reaching 25 -27 most days, also the humidity was really zapping on your energy.” said Juliette.  

Jade says losing to NSW and Queensland in the pool games made life tough for the Victorians heading into medal qualification.  “ We only lost 1-0 in both those games , and had we of beaten NSW in the pool games we would have advanced to the final against Queensland.

Meanwhile two of our male student athletes Cooper Burns and Kean Weerasekera played in the Victorian U16 boys team also winning bronze in their championship. Cooper also selected in the Australian Male U16 team. “ I’m really happy to be a part of the Australian Squad. When they called out the Victorian players, they read them in alphabetical order and because my name starts with 'B' I was called really early. Hearing my name called out gave me goose bumps and I felt so proud to walk up to collect my plaque.”

Cooper's tour will finish in Germany at the World Champs, but will also take in other European cities.  “ We travel to Germany, France, The Netherlands and Belgium as part of the tour for training and games.”  

All players are now preparing with their respective local clubs for finals which will be played in the upcoming weeks.  We wish them all the best.