BY NATHAN DOLE
Three matches under Friday night lights
ROUND six in the Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy competition kicks off with three matches under Friday night lights.
Play will be the Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo; Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park; and Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
One of three newcomers to the league, Sandhurst will mark its first match on the Queen Elizabeth Oval when it takes on Bendigo Thunder from 7pm.
It’s a crucial contest as the fourth-placed Thunder is a win clear of the fifth-placed Dragons.
The Mick McInnes-coached Thunder has a three-two record following last Sunday’s forfeit by White Hills.
For Dragons’ coach Andrew Saladino and the team it’s a chance to strike back after a tough hit-out at Woorinen.
Key players for Sandhurst include Amanda Carrod, Chloe Naughton, Chelsea Reeves, Maddy White, and Annie, Lily and Ruby Campbell.
Thunder’s best in its most recent hit-out at Marong’s Malone Park were Jaime Sawers, Lucy El Hage, Acacia Edwards and Nikeah Anderson.
Other players to watch in the BT line-up include captain Shae-Lee Murphy-Burke, Britney Mueck and Hannah Perry.
Eaglehawk is on home turf at Canterbury Park to take on Marong from 7pm.
A two-two record has the Hawks in sixth place.
Victory will keep the Two Blues in touch with the top four.
Was a tough game against the unbeaten Castlemaine for Eaglehawk last round.
Although the Hawks were at home it was the Magpies who won by 109 points.
Eaglehawk co-coach Molly Metcalf was best along with Eliza Long, Cass Coleman and Ellie Bailey.
A team jointly coached by Geoff West includes captain Alex Summerfield, Kelly Mensforth, Grace Murley, Taylah Nicholson, and Shanae Sawyer.
In its first season in the competition, a young Marong team has faced a big challenge every week.
The David Blume and Jimmy Evenden-coached Panthers will go in with a goal of win a quarter or two against the Hawks.
Best in Marong’s latest match at Golden Square were Bianca Bourke, Hannah Cue, Regeena Torney and captain Dani Jeffery.
The Panthers’ line-up includes Katrina Alford, Bridget Chalkley, Alex Purdy and Caitlin Shaw.
Unbeaten in its pursuit of a premiership hat-trick, Castlemaine faces North Bendigo from 7.30pm at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
A formidable Castlemaine attack is brilliantly led by Tiahna Cochrane, Brianna Burt, Eloise Gretgrix and Aisling Tupper.
The play of Chloe Butcher meant she was a joint recipient of the High Street X-Ray Player of the Round award.
Best for the Jordan Cochrane-coached Magpies in the win at Eaglehawk included Lily den Houting, Rebekah Forrest and Emma Pedretti.
After a bye the Ross Egleton-coached North Bendigo heads south.
Although they are yet to win the Bulldogs have been a lot more competitive.
Big test for North Bendigo defenders Ella Dobell, Ashlyne McInnes, Ajay Turner and Heidi Schneider.
Players to watch in the red, white and blue include Cassandra Coughlan in the centre, ruck-rover Quetta Holloway-Jinks, captain Aisha Mansfield and Tanika Thomson.
The round will be completed on Sunday when the Winslow White Hills Demons take on Golden Square.
Play at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street, White Hills starts at 1pm.
The Phil Murley-coached Demons won the first-round match at Marong.
After a bye the red and black was defeated by Sandhurst at Ewing Park and then at home against Woorinen.
Best for White Hills in its first season in the CVFL senior competition include Daisy Gee, Rindy Sawyer, Kadeisha Smith and Oakley Turner.
In-form players for the Nathan Manuel-coached Golden Square include Isabella Ayre, Carly Geary, Courtney Hingston, Sarah Mannes, captain Liz Watkins, Paynton Jolliffe and Victoria Winstanley.
It was Ayre’s brilliance which set up a lot of Golden Square’s attacks and meant she was a joint winner of the High Street X-Ray Player of the Round award.
Woorinen has the bye.
Standings in the Champions IGA-backed senior women’s footy competition:
Castlemaine 684 per cent, 20 points; Woorinen 318, 16; Golden Square 446, 12; Bendigo Thunder 78, 12; Sandhurst 138, 8; Eaglehawk 90, 8; White Hills 31, 4; North Bendigo 14, 0; Marong 2, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
28 Eloise Gretgrix, Castlemaine.
23 Brydi Lewis, Woorinen.
19 Samantha Johnston, Woorinen.
17 Chelsea Reeves, Sandhurst.
14 Tenay Fellows, Woorinen.
13 Jenna Bannam, Woorinen.
13 Isabella Ayre, Golden Square.
13 Tiahna Cochrane, Castlemaine.
13 Paynton Jolliffe, Golden Square.
9 Lily Campbell, Sandhurst.
9 Aisling Tupper, Castlemaine.
9 Victoria Winstanley, Golden Square.
9 Freda Wosomo, Woorinen.
8 Tiffany Bradley, Castlemaine.
8 Brianna Burt, Castlemaine.
8 Amanda Carrod, Sandhurst.
8 Sienna Hobbs, Eaglehawk.
7 Molly Metcalf, Eaglehawk.
7 Lacey Nihill, Sandhurst.
6 Sasha Pearce, White Hills.
6 Rachael Stubbings, Castlemaine.
Highlight of the CVFL under-18 girls matches on Sunday will be the Winslow White Hills Demons on home turf in Scott Street against Golden Square.
The match between first and second starts at 11.15am on Winslow Constructors Oval.
Strathfieldsaye Storm will be on home turf at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane to take on Eaglehawk from 10.30am.
Castlemaine faces Sandhurst from 11.15am on the Magpies’ ground at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
Woorinen has the bye.
Standings in the CVFL under-18 girls competition:
White Hills 301 per cent, 16 points; Golden Square 783, 12; Strathfieldsaye 158, 12; Sandhurst 125, 8; Woorinen 62, 8; Castlemaine 52, 4; Eaglehawk 4, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
14 Mia Clark, White Hills.
12 Tiara Davis, Golden Square.
11 Tarliah Murphy, White Hills.
10 Grace Ayars, Woorinen.
9 Alysha Boyd, Strathfieldsaye.
9 Hannah Cochrane, Sandhurst.
8 Eve Cail, White Hills.
7 Sunny Barry, Woorinen.
7 Nadia Peebles, White Hills.
6 Ellie Bellenger, Sandhurst.
6 Freja Dahl, Strathfieldsaye.
6 Amelie Haigh, White Hills.
6 Evie Nuttall, Strathfieldsaye.
5 Kate Batchelor, Castlemaine.
5 Chloe Butcher, Castlemaine.
5 Scout Carmody, Sandhurst.
5 Lily Franklin, Sandhurst.
5 Eve Kalms, Strathfieldsaye.