GOLDEN Square will be aiming to deny Castlemaine a fourth consecutive premiership in Friday night’s Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy grand final.
It’s a rematch of the ’24 grand finalists as Castlemaine and Golden Square clash at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo’s View Street from 7.30pm.
A superb run by the Jordan Cochrane-coached Castlemaine includes grand final wins against Golden Square in 2022 and ’24.
The Magpies defeated Woorinen in ’23.
Golden Square won the 2016 grand final against Kangaroo Flat.
This season’s meetings between Castlemaine and Golden Square stand at three-nil in favour of the Magpies.
They first met on Good Friday at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve where the reigning premier marked a 54-nil victory.
In round eight, Castlemaine won 42-16 on Golden Square’s ground in Wade Street.
The second semi-final at Camp Reserve went the way of the Magpies, 62-27.
Golden Square stayed in the premiership race as it won last Friday night’s preliminary final against Eaglehawk by nine points at the QEO.
The Magpies’ only defeat in the run to the grand final was a 60-68 loss to Sandhurst in the 10th round at Camp Reserve.
A 13-1 record meant Castlemaine which is captained by Tiahna Cochrane finished the home-and-away series on top of the ladder.
The Carly Geary and Bec McLay-coached Bulldogs were second on an 11-3 record.
Both grand finalists had four players selected in the CVFL Team of the Year.
Castlemaine’s Abbey Bertram, Maeve Tupper, Eloise Gretgrix and Jemma Finning have had superb seasons.
An ACL injury ended Gretgrix’s season, but she was a runaway winner of the goalkicking award on 53 in 10 matches.
Gun on-baller or midfielder, Maeve Tupper was runner-up for the league fairest and best award.
Golden Square stars in the Team of the Year are captain and league fairest and best Liz Watkins, Gabby Drage, Carly Geary and Lauren Suleiman.
Although Gretgrix is on the sidelines, Castlemaine has plenty of goalkicking power through Jemma Finning, 32 goals; Brianna Burt, 31; Tiahna Cochrane, 16; Maeve Tupper, 15; Georgia Gordon, 14; and Ella Cochrane, 10.
The blue and gold’s attack is led by Gabby Drage, 24; Liz Watkins, 22; Sarah Mannes, 13; Gemma Free, 9; and Carly Geary, 8.
Castlemaine’s team:
B: Grace Brady, Taylah Sartori, Beppina Marshall.
Hb: Eillish Cumming, Bella Phillips, Aisling Tupper.
C: Lily Den Houting, Tiahna Cochrane, Chelsea Cole.
Hf: Georgia Gribble, Georgia Gordon, Hannah Cochrane.
F: Emma Pedretti, Ella Cochrane, Jemma Finning.
Foll: Amelia Britt, Abbey Bertram, Mave Tupper.
Inter: Montanna Stevens, Abbey Klemm, Shania Kitchingham, Rebekah Forrest.
Coach: Jordan Cochrane.
Golden Square’s team:
B: Tallulah Duffy, Taylah Moore, Tanya Walsh.
Hb: Emma Gilligan, Molly Forde, Tahlia Casey-White.
C: Sarah Mannes, Liz Watkins, Terina Pickering.
Hf: Mackenzie Bickley, Lauren Suleiman, Claire Picone.
F: Kate Douglass, Bella Eddy, Ava Barker.
Foll: Carly Geary, Gemma Roberts, Gabby Drage.
Inter: Gemma Free, Jetah Keighran, Caitlin Nash, Tania Kerrison.
Coaches: Carly Geary, Bec McLay.
Castlemaine’s run to the grand final:
Rd 1: d North Bendigo, 167-0 at Bendigo Club Oval, North Bendigo.
Rd 2: d Sandhurst, 120-16 at Ewing Park, Bendigo.
Rd 3: d Golden Square, 54-0 at Camp Reserve, Castlemaine.
Rd 4: d Bendigo Thunder, 185-0 at Weeroona Oval, Bendigo.
Rd 5: bye.
Rd 6: d White Hills, 108-16 at Camp Reserve, Castlemaine.
Rd 7: bye.
Rd 8: d Golden Square, 42-16 at Wade Street, Golden Square.
Rd 9: d Eaglehawk, 60-33 at Camp Reserve, Castlemaine.
Rd 10: lt Sandhurst, 60-68 at Camp Reserve, Castlemaine.
Rd 11: bye.
Rd 12: d Marong, 96-0 at Jackal Oval, Marong’s Malone Park.
Rd 13: d White Hills, 96-14 at Scott Street, White Hills.
Rd 14: d North Bendigo, 148-0 at Bendigo Club Oval, North Bendigo.
Rd 15: d Eaglehawk, 28-4 at Canterbury Park, Eaglehawk.
Rd 16: d Bendigo Thunder, 179-6 at Camp Reserve, Castlemaine.
Rd 17: bye.
Rd 18: d Marong, 145-6 at Camp Reserve, Castlemaine.
2nd semi-final: d Golden Square, 62-27 at Camp Reserve, Castlemaine.
Golden Square’s run to the grand final:
Rd 1: d Bendigo Thunder, 228-0 at Weeroona Oval, Bendigo.
Rd 2: d Eaglehawk, 64-1 at Wade Street, Golden Square.
Rd 3: lt Castlemaine, 0-54 at Camp Reserve, Castlemaine.
Rd 4: d Sandhurst, 46-0 at Wade Street, Golden Square.
Rd 5: d White Hills, 114-14 at Scott Street, White Hills.
Rd 6: d Marong, 71-0 at Wade Street, Golden Square.
Rd 7: d North Bendigo, 89-0 at Wade Street, Golden Square.
Rd 8: lt Castlemaine, 16-42 at Wade Street, Golden Square.
Rd 9: bye.
Rd 10: lt Eaglehawk, 4-8 at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
Rd 11: bye.
Rd 12: d Sandhurst, 22-16 at Ewing Park, Bendigo.
Rd 13: d Marong, 47-0 at Jackal Oval, Marong’s Malone Park.
Rd 14: d White Hills, 93-0 at Wade Street, Golden Square.
Rd 15: d Bendigo Thunder, 123-0 at Wade Street, Golden Square.
Rd 16: bye.
Rd 17: d North Bendigo, 103-0 at Bendigo Club Oval, North Bendigo.
Rd 18: bye.
2nd semi-final: lt Castlemaine, 27-62 at Camp Reserve, Castlemaine.
1st semi-final: d Eaglehawk, 20-11 at Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo.
Grand final night kicks off with the Champions IGA-backed CVFL under-18 girls grand final between Woorinan and Sandhurst at 5.30pm on the QEO turf.
Although it finished on top of the ladder, Woorinen will be wary of an opponent which beat it when these teams met in the 18th round at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
First meeting of the Tigers and Dragons this season was in Pink Round where Woorinen won 104-21 on its turf.
In the 18th round it was Sandhurst which tamed the Tigers, 27-18.
A week later and Woorinen was first to the grand final as it marked a 45-8 victory against Golden Square in the second semi-final.
The Tigers’ charge was led by Milla Stewart, Meg Young, Charli Conway and Erin Johnston.
A superb run by Sandhurst in the finals kicked off with a 90-nil win against the Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons in the first semi.
The maroon and blue kicked on for a 43-7 win against Golden Square in last Friday night’s preliminary final on the QEO.
Best in the Dragons’ latest victory were Phoebe Henderson, Milla Franklin, Leni Brown and Mia Maxted.
A strong attack for Woorinen is led by Sunny Barry, 30; Ruby Tierney, 22; Charli Conway, 19; Stella Bibby, 12; Issy Boulton, 11; and Mayla Conway, 9.
Sandhurst’s leading goalkickers are Mia Maxted, 29; Chloe Tweed, 26; Leni Brown, 16; and Ryah Mackie, 9.
Woorinen’s run to grand final:
Rds 1-3 – bye.
Rd 4 – d Strathfieldsaye, 149-0 at Woorinen.
Rd 5 – d Eaglehawk, 134-0 at Canterbury Park, Eaglehawk.
Rd 6 – d Sandhurst, 104-21 at Woorinen.
Rd 7 – bye.
Rd 8 – d Kangaroo Flat, 118-0 at Woorinen.
Rd 9 – d Golden Square, 58-3 at Woorinen.
Rd 10 – d White Hills, 59-10 at Scott Street, White Hills.
Rd 11 – bye.
Rd 12 – d Kangaroo Flat, 168-0 at Dower Park, Kangaroo Flat.
Rd 13 – bye.
Rd 14 – d Eaglehawk, 124-12 at Woorinen.
Rd 15 – d White Hills, 53-6 at Woorinen.
Rd 16 – d Golden Square, 43-2 at Wade Street, Golden Square.
Rd 17 – d Strathfieldsaye, 76-28 at Triple M Park, Strathfieldsaye.
Rd 18 – lt Sandhurst, 18-27 at Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo.
2nd semi-final – d Golden Square, 45-8 at Camp Reserve, Castlemaine.
Sandhurst’s run to the grand final:
Rds 1-3 – bye.
Rd 4 – lt Golden Square, 27-34 at Wade Street, Golden Square.
Rd 5 – d Kangaroo Flat, 174-1 at Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo.
Rd 6 – lt Woorinen, 21-104 at Woorinen.
Rd 7 – dr White Hills, 30-30 at Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo.
Rd 8 – d Eaglehawk, 107-9 at Canterbury Park, Eaglehawk.
Rd 9 – bye.
Rd 10 – d Strathfieldsaye, 41-30 at Triple M Park, Strathfieldsaye.
Rd 11 – bye.
Rd 12 – lt Golden Square, 42-48 at Ewing Park, Bendigo.
Rd 13 – d Kangaroo Flat, 84-8 at Dower Park, Kangaroo Flat.
Rd 14 – d Strathfieldsaye, 65-34 at Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo.
Rd 15 – bye.
Rd 16 – d White Hills, 96-22 at Scott Street, White Hills.
Rd 17 – d Eaglehawk, 92-26 at Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo.
Rd 18 – d Woorinen, 27-18 at Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo.
1st semi-final – d White Hills, 99-0 at Camp Reserve, Castlemaine.
Preliminary final – d Golden Square, 43-7 at Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo.