CASTLEMAINE won its way to a fifth Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy grand final in last Friday night’s preliminary final thriller against Sandhurst.
The Magpies faced an eight-point deficit at quarter-time after a scoreless opening term at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo’s View Street.
A Castlemaine team coached by Jordan Cochrane hit back to score 2.2 in the second term, but a goal by Sandhurst meant the Dragons led 20-14 at the main break.
Term three belonged to the Magpies as they added 2.2 and kept the maroon and blue to just two behinds.
It was 26-22 in favour of Castlemaine going into the last term against a Sandhurst team coached by Liam Ireland and Andrew Saladino.
Pressure was high and defences seized control in what would be the final quarter of the ’26 campaign for the Magpies or Dragons.
The Magpies added two behinds on the way to a 28-22 victory.
Magpies’ captain Tiahna Cochrane led the attack on two goals as Ava Bartlett and Georgia Gordon were also on target.
Leading goalkicker for Sandhurst was Samatha Johnston with two as captain Ruby Campbell kicked the other.
Best for Castlemaine were Aisling Tupper, Taylah Sartori, Tiahna Cochrane, Emma Pedretti, Mikaela Trethowan and Ava Bartlett.
Sandhurst’s best were Grace Campbell, Chloe Naughton, Ruby Campbell, Samantha Johnston and Chloe Taylor.
Next Friday night’s grand final between Golden Square and Castlemaine starts at 7.30pm at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Three of Castlemaine’s premiership wins have been against Golden Square.
This season’s record between the clubs stands at two-all.
Castlemaine won the season opener on its turf at The Railway Hotel in Camp Reserve by 13 points.
The Darren Walsh-coached Golden Square marked a 29-21 victory at home in the fourth round at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street.
In Indigenous Round it was the Magpies who swooped for a 40-24 victory on their turf at Camp Reserve.
Latest meeting was the second semi-final at Camp Reserve which Golden Square won by 11 points.
Grand final night at the QEO kicks off at 5.30pm when Woorinen takes on Strathfieldsaye Storm in the Champions IGA-backed CVFL under-18 girls match.
Storm surged clear in the second half to score a 42-18 victory against Eaglehawk in last Friday night’s preliminary final.
Strathfieldsaye led 13-2 at quarter-time, but the Hawks struck back to win the second term, 7-1.
In quarter three it was Storm which added 2.3 and kept the Borough to a tally of 1.2.
Two more goals in the last as it kept Eaglehawk to a behind meant Strathfieldsaye led 42-18 at the final siren.
Storm’s attack was led by Marlie Skinner on four goals as Akiva Morrissey and Jordan O’Bree were on target.
Goalkickers for the Hawks were Zoe Hodgskiss and Bethany Pollock.
Strathfieldsaye’s best were Jordan O’Bree, Dempsey McDonnell, Marlie Skinner, Scarlett Ward and Akiva Morrissey.
Maggie Pollock, Lana Ring, Ella Jefferis, Sezin Lees, Imogen Brown and Charlise McQueen played well for Eaglehawk.
On Friday night it will be Woorinen chasing back-to-back premierships after last year’s one-point victory against Sandhurst.
The Tigers take an unbeaten record into the season decider.
First meeting of the grand finalists this campaign was in round eight where Woorinen won 76-20 at home.
The yellow and black won a closely-fought contest in Storm territory at Triple M Park in the 13th round by 15 points.
Woorinen marked a 74-19 victory against Storm in the second semi-final at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
Best for the Tigers were Carly Shepherd, Charli Conway, Sunny Barry and Kieley Styles.
A strong attack for Woorinen is led by Prue O’Sullivan, 34 goals, and Stella Bibby, 18.