By Nathan Dole
AN UNBEATEN streak of more than 30 matches is likely to roll on as Castlemaine chases a fourth premiership in a row in this year’s Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy competition.
The Jordan Cochrane-coached Castlemaine has set an incredibly high standard across the past three years.
After beating Golden Square in the 2022 grand final, Castlemaine has since claimed cup wins against Woorinen in ’23 and Golden Square last September.
In ’25 the Magpie Army will brace for attacks from the likes of Golden Square, Woorinen, Eaglehawk and Sandhurst.
There’s been changes to the coaching structure at five of the league’s nine clubs.
First match of the season will be the clash between Eaglehawk and White Hills on April 4 from 7pm on the Borough’s turf at Canterbury Park.
Here’s a club-by-club glance leading into the ’25 campaign:
Bendigo Thunder
The Mick McInnes-coached Thunder will be keen to strike back after finishing last season in sixth place and a 6-10 win-loss tally.
Last season’s play by Greta Murphy, Lucy El Hage, Jaime Sawers was capped with selection in the High St X-ray Team of the Year.
Thunder’s run in ’25 begins on home turf at Weeroona Oval in Napier Street against Golden Square on April 6.
In round two it’s Thunder against Marong at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
On Easter Sunday, Thunder hosts Woorinen at Weeroona Oval.
Anzac weekend includes the April 27 match between Thunder and Castlemaine at Weeroona Oval.
Castlemaine
A premiership hat-trick is a feat not many clubs have achieved.
This year it’s the Jordan Cochrane-coached Castlemaine aiming to join elite company.
Strength of the Castlemaine team was reflected in the High Street X-ray Team of the Year as Jemma Finning, Rachael Stubbings and Maeve Tupper were selected.
A brilliant season by Tupper was capped with the league’s fairest and best award.
Castlemaine had plenty of attacking options through Eloise Gretgrix, 59 goals; Tiffany Bradley, 30; Brianna Burt, 28; and Rachael Stubbings, 28.
The Magpies will unfurl the ’24 premiership flag before they play Woorinen in the round one match on April 4 at Camp Reserve.
In round two the Magpies take on Sandhurst at Ewing Park in Bendigo’s Williamson Street.
Good Friday will feature a night game between Castlemaine and Golden Square from 7pm at Camp Reserve.
The Magpies complete the opening month of the season by playing Bendigo Thunder on Weeroona Oval in round four.
Eaglehawk
A win-loss tally of 10-5 and a draw meant the Hawks finished last year’s home-and-away series in fourth place.
The Borough’s run was ended in a 37-13 loss to Woorinen in the first semi-final.
This season Molly Metcalf takes charge as coach.
A superb ’24 campaign by Metcalf meant she was joint runner-up for the league’s fairest and best award and selection at centre half-forward in the Team of the Year.
The Hawks kick off this season with the April 4 home game against White Hills at Canterbury Park.
In round two the Hawks play at Golden Square on April 13 and then meet North Bendigo on Good Friday under the Canterbury Park lights.
It’s the clash of the Panthers and Hawks in the fourth round as Marong and Eaglehawk clash at Jackal Oval in Malone Park.
Golden Square
Last season’s runner-up, Golden Square has a new coaching structure in which Kellie Dadds and Carly Geary team up as co-coaches.
The Bulldogs are likely to be a strong contender once again after the Nathan Manuel-coached team achieved a 13-3 record in last year’s home-and-away series.
After the second semi was abandoned because of weather, Golden Square won the preliminary final against Woorinen by 17 points.
Paynton Jolliffe kicked a league record 94 goals in 17 matches and was full-forward in the Team of the Year.
Taylah Moore, Liz Watkins and Victoria Winstanley were also selected.
This season’s action for the blue and gold kicks off with the April 6 clash on Bendigo Thunder’s ground at Weeroona Oval.
The Bulldogs are home at Wade Street to play Eaglehawk in round two.
On Good Friday it’s Golden Square against Castlemaine under the lights at Camp Reserve from 7pm.
A testing start to Square’s season includes the round four match against Sandhurst on Anzac Day from 7.15pm on the Bulldogs’ ground.
Marong
The Panthers marked their debut season in the CVFL senior women’s competition by winning two matches on the way to eighth placing.
Jimmy Evenden stays on as coach and in ’25 will be joined by Daniel Bourke.
A highlight for the Panthers was the consistent play of Dani Jeffery to earn Team of the Year selection.
Marong is home at the newly-named Jackal Oval in Malone Park to play Sandhurst in round one on April 6.
The Panthers are home again to play Bendigo Thunder in round two.
On Easter Sunday it will be the Panthers in action at White Hills.
Anzac weekend includes the April 27 match between Eaglehawk and Marong at Jackal Oval.
North Bendigo
The red, white and blue has appointed Jaydene Burzacott and Zak Carter as joint coaches.
North Bendigo will be determined to climb up from last year’s ninth placing in which it marked one win and a draw.
The play of Kira Gibbons earnt selection at centre half-back in the CVFL Team of the Year.
After a first-round bye in the ’25 season, North Bendigo makes the trek to Woorinen to face the Tigers.
The Bulldogs then play Eaglehawk on Good Friday under lights at Canterbury Park.
First of North Bendigo’s home games on the newly-named Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street will be on April 27 against White Hills.
Sandhurst
Another of the league’s newcomers in ’24, Sandhurst finished in fifth placing after a run of nine wins, six defeats and a draw.
This year it’s Andrew Saladino and Liam Ireland who team up to coach the maroon and blue.
A talented squad includes Amanda Carrod, Lily and Ruby Campbell who were in the Team of the Year.
The Dragons make their way to Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park to face the Panthers in round one on April 6.
Next round the Dragons take on reigning premier Castlemaine at Bendigo’s Ewing Park.
Sandhurst has a bye on Easter weekend and will then return to the field to play Golden Square on Anzac Day at the Wade Street ground from 7.15pm.
White Hills
The Demons marked their debut CVFL senior women’s campaign by finishing seventh on a win-loss tally of 2-11 and a draw.
Phil Murley will again be in the charge of the Demons.
A highlight for the club in ’24 was Oakley Turner being selected in the High Street X-ray Team of the Year and the premiership victory by the under-18 girls team.
Several of those players are likely to make their way to open level.
Big test in opening round as White Hills plays at Eaglehawk on April 4 under the Canterbury Park lights.
A bye in round two will be followed by the Easter Sunday match at home against Marong.
The Demons make their way to Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street to face the Bulldogs on April 27 to complete round four.