IT WILL be a fifth premiership for Castlemaine or a first for Golden Square at the end of Friday night’s Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy grand final at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo.
The fight for the premiership cup starts at 7.30pm on the View Street ground and caps many months of hard work by players, coaches and volunteers.
Three of the league’s previous grand finals have involved the Magpies and Bulldogs.
Castlemaine’s streak began with a 19-point victory against Golden Square in the ’22 decider.
A year later and the Magpies defeated Woorinen.
The past two seasons the Jordan Cochrane-coached Castlemaine has beaten the blue and gold in the match which matters most by 31 and 27 points.
It’s two-all in this season’s showdowns between the grand finalists.
Most recent was the second semi-final which the Darren Walsh-coached Golden Square won 42-31 at The Railway Hotel Oval in Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
Gabby Drage and Taylah Moore kicked three and two goals for the Bulldogs as Lily Mansfield was also on target.
The Magpies’ attack was led by Jemma Finning on two goals as captain Tiahna Cochrane and Georgia Gordon added a goal each.
Best for Golden Square were Ava Barker, co-captains Carly Geary and Liz Watkins, and Taylah Moore.
Castlemaine’s best were Jemma Finning, Alice D’Arcy, Tiahna Cochrane and Eillish Cumming.
The Magpies bounced back to win last Friday night’s preliminary final against Sandhurst under the QEO lights by a goal.
Golden Square and Castlemaine ended the home-and-away series on 16-2 records.
A powerful attack for Golden Square is led by Gabby Drage, 79 goasl in 18 matches; Kira Gibbons, 44 goals; and Taylah Moore and Gemma Roberts on 25 and 18.
Leading goalkicker for Castlemaine is Tiahna Cochrane on 27.
The rematch of the ’25 grand final was played at Castlemaine in the opening round.
The Magpies swooped for a 47-34 victory.
In round four it was the Bulldogs who took the points in a 29-21 result on their turf at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street.
The league’s Indigenous Round featured Castlemaine and Golden Square at Camp Reserve.
The Magpies won the round 13 contest, 40-24.
Back in the coaching fray, Darren Walsh said running power was a major strength of both teams and was a key to Golden Square winning the second semi-final in Castlemaine.
“I learnt from my playing days that it takes a lot of running to be successful at Camp Reserve.
“It’s a long ground and I rate the biggest strength in Castlemaine’s team is its running ability.
“Winning first possession, but also shutting down exits from stoppages was what we did well against them last time and have to do again,” said Walsh.
Golden Square will be aiming to capitalise on the tapwork of Karley Hynes and Taylah Moore in the ruck.
“We can gain a lot of momentum from centre clearances and stoppages, but also have to be wary of not allowing Castlemaine a lot of space.
“What we are doing when we don’t have the ball is a major focus in every match,” said Walsh.
It’s a new-look team, but Golden Square has several players who can draw of the memories of grand final defeat as a motivating force.
Walsh said the effort in every match and to learn had been outstanding.
“A goal is to improve each game and try some different roles as well.”
It’s been a long and successful playing and coaching career for Walsh across Golden Square, Bendigo Diggers and Bombers, and Mount Pleasant.
Footy has played a big part in Walsh’s life.
“I wanted to get back into coaching.
“Golden Square was looking for a coach, so I thought I would take on the role at my old club.
“It’s been a chance to test myself in a different environment.
“I have learnt so much.”
For Castlemaine FNC and the community there is plenty of excitement about another grand final appearance.
Coach of the Magpies since ’22, Jordan Cochrane said there have been plenty of challenges the team has dealt with again this season.
“It’s a different path we have taken,” Cochrane said of playing in the preliminary final.
“Playing Sandhurst last Friday meant we had an extra match on the QEO,” he said of a hard-fought win against the maroon and blue.
“We have had ACL injuries to a couple of our best players in ’25 and this season, but the squad has worked incredibly hard to gain another chance at winning a premiership.”
The Magpies’ are bolstered by the return of key forward Paynton Jolliffe who did not play in the preliminary final because of an ankle injury.
Castlemaine’s targets in the forward 50m arc include Hannah Cochrane and Tiffany Bradley.
The multi-talented Tupper siblings, Maeve and Aisling play crucial roles for the Magpies, whether it be on-ball or in the forward line.
There is plenty of big-game experience in the Castlemaine line-up.
“Almost half of our team have been with us since the first season,” Cochrane said.
“Another five or six are multiple premiership winners, and we have a keen group of first-year players hungry to learn and succeed.”
A key to Castlemaine’s play is its run, not just attack, but also to defend.
“Team defence and pressure is really important, especially in finals.
“Taylah Sartori and Eillish Cumming lead our defence, but it’s the workrate of all the back six and pressure from midfield and our forward line that has to be high.
“Golden Square is a tall team, so our ability to compete in the air and win at ground level is what we have focused on a lot.”
Teams for Friday night’s AFLCV senior women’s grand final:
Golden Square:
B: Molly Forde, Lauren Knight, Maddie Jelbart.
Hb: Carly Geary, Kate Douglass, Liz Watkins.
C: Mackenzie Bickley, Taylah Moore, Ruby Demeo.
Hf: Heidi Schneider, Kira Gibbons, Lucy Gilbee.
Hf: Terina Pickering, Gabby Drage, Gemma Roberts.
Foll: Karley Hynes, Lily Mansfield, Ava Barker.
Inter: Makayla Roberts, Bianca Bourke, Dakota Woodhatch, Tania Kerrison, Sarah Mannes, Shannon Colgan.
Coach: Darren Walsh.
Castlemaine:
B: Marguerita Murphy, Taylah Sartori, Jemma Finning.
Hb: Alice D’Darcy, Eillish Cumming, Maddi Brackenreg.
C: Grace Brady, Tiahna Cochrane, Abbey Klemm.
Hf: Georgia Gordon, Hannah Cochrane, Maeve Tupper.
F: Tiffany Bradley, Paynton Jolliffe, Ava Bartlett.
Foll: Emma Pedretti, Mikaela Trethowan, Aisling Tupper.
Inter: Mikayla Gellatly, Chelsea Cole, Breannan Ross, Olivia Muscat, Georgia Gribble, Anna Meade.
Grand final night for the Champions IGA-backed CVFL kicks off at 5.30pm when Woorinen meets Strathfieldsaye Storm in the under-18 girls match.
The Woorinen Tigers will be aiming to be unbeaten premiers.
A 15-nil run in the home-and-away series by Woorinen included the round five win at home against Strathfieldsaye by 56 points.
In round 13 the Tigers fought on for a 37-22 victory on Storm’s ground at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
The second semi-final between Woorinen and Storm was played at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The Tigers won 74-19 as Prue O’Sullivan kicked four goals and Sunny Barry and Zoe Brooks added three and two goals.
Woorinen also had Stella Bibby and Sadie Spitty on target.
Goalkickers for Storm were Forest Jackson-Leahy, Dempsey McDonnell and Kirra Molloy.
Best for the Tigers were Carly Shepherd, Charli Conway, Sunny Barry and Kieley Styles.
Strathfieldsaye’s best were Akiva Morrissey, Chella Fitzgerald, Jordan O’Bree and Jorja Cunningham.
The Storm line-up bounced back for a four-goal win against Sandhurst in last Friday night’s preliminary final against Sandhurst on the QEO turf.