ROUND three in the Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy season this Sunday marks the league’s return to Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo.
The unbeaten Sandhurst and Castlemaine will play on the iconic venue in View Street from 1pm.
It’s a huge test for Sandhurst which has started the ’26 campaign with away wins against Eaglehawk and White Hills.
Now the Liam Ireland and Andrew Saladino-coached Sandhurst takes on a club which has won four premierships in a row.
Key players for the Dragons include co-captains Sarah Baldwin and Ruby Campbell, Lauren Suleiman, Lily Campbell, Phoebe Cuttriss, Chloe Naughton, Amanda Carrod, and Charlotte Scanlon.
Sandhurst has also recruited Kodi Jacques from Golden Square.
The Jordan Cochrane-coached Castlemaine has plenty of attacking options.
Players to watch for the Magpies include Grace Brady, Amelia Britt, captain Tiahna Cochrane, Tiffany Bradley, Tia Davidge, Paynton Jolliffe, Taylah Sartori, Maeve Tupper, and Tarni Williams.
Unbeaten in its first season in the CVFL, Wedge-Tailed Eagles mark their first home game on Sunday at Woodend’s Racecourse Reserve.
The Eagles will take on Golden Square from 1pm.
In round two the Phil Hawkes-coached Eagles won on Marong’s turf at Malone Park by 172 points.
In-form players for WTE include centre half-forward Kareena Jacobsen-Logan, ruck-rover Teagan Ainslie, Jorja Bennett and Ayesha Nicholson in defence.
The Eagles line-up for Sunday’s clash includes Aisha Mansfield, Natalie Korinfsky, Belinda Hateley, and Lucy Lenius.
Golden Square scored a 62-point win at Eaglehawk last Saturday.
The Darren Walsh-coached Golden Square has Karley Hynes in the ruck, Ava Barker as rover, Kira Gibbons, Sarah Mannes and Gemma Roberts in attack, and Lauren Knight and Taylah Moore in defence.
Bulldogs’ captain Liz Watkins is capable of winning many contests in midfield and at stoppages.
Eaglehawk will be back on its turf at C & M Oval in Canterbury Park to take on White Hills from 1pm.
The Molly Metcalf-coached Hawks will be desperate to take the points after being beaten by Sandhurst and Golden Square.
The Hawks’ best last Sunday were Emily Field, Lexie Moss, Monique Gavriliadis and Caitlin Evans.
Eaglehawk’s squad includes Emily Field, Eliza Long, Kelly Mensforth, Neve Nisbet, and Shanae Sawyer.
A one-one record has White Hills in fourth place.
The Sharni Barker and Allara Jackson-coached Demons were outplayed by Sandhurst last round.
Players to watch for White Hills include Maiya and Sasha Pearce, Acacia Edwards, Jorja Gibson, Kara Kane, Tracey Anderson, and Ella Henery.
The winless run for Bendigo Thunder or Marong will be broken when they meet at Weeroona Oval in Bendigo’s Napier Street from 1pm.
It’s been a tough run for both teams.
The Thunder line-up coached by Mick McInnes includes Sharlene Cole, Stacey Barbagallo, Hollie Maher, Katrina Murphy, Yanna Hender, Shasta Martion, and Sarha O’Loughlin.
Marong’s best last Sunday were Cayden Luca, Alex Purdy, Naomi Ridsdale and Jessica McDonald.
The Brett Carter-coached Panthers will look to Bridget Chalkley, Tianna Shay, Tidimalo Khalo and Darcie Whithead to help lead the way to victory.
Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy ladder:
Castlemaine 761 per cent, 8 points; Sandhurst 525, 8; Wedge-Tailed Eagles 0, 8; White Hills 440, 4; Golden Square 180, 4; Eaglehawk 19, 0; Bendigo Thunder 0, 0; Marong 0, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
15 Shelby Knoll, Cm.
9 Emma Williams, WTE.
7 Jorja Bennett, WTE.
6 Kareena Jacobsen-Logan, WTE.
5 Brooke Cowan, WTE; Acacia Edwards, WH.
4 Gabby Drage, GS; Abbey Klemm, Cm; Natalie Korinfsky, WTE; Seisia White, WH.
3 Tiahna Cochrane, Cm; Keely Fullerton, WH; Kira Gibbons, GS; Paynton Jolliffe, Cm; Taylah Klemm, Sh; Aisha Mansfield, WTE; Lily Mansfield, GS; Skye Sinclair, WTE.