CASTLEMAINE celebrated a fifth premiership victory in a row after Friday night’s Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy grand final against Golden Square.
The Jordan Cochrane-coached Castlemaine fought from two goals down at quarter-time to score a 15-point win under the lights at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo.
A brilliant second term by the Magpies was capped by scoring 3.3 as the Bulldogs added a goal.
By half-time the Magpies were up 23-20.
Castlemaine’s pressure on the Darren Walsh-coached Golden Square did not ease up.
As the Magpies added 1.2 in the third they kept the blue and gold scoreless.
Led by the play of Aisling Tupper, Jemma Finning and Tiahna Cochrane it was Castlemaine which won the last quarter, 7-3.
At the final siren the Magpies’ players and fans celebrated a 38-23 victory.
Goalkickers for Castlemaine were Hannah Cochrane and Maeve Tupper on two each as captain Tiahna Cochrane was also on target.
Best for the Magpies included Taylah Sartori, Eillish Cumming and Mikaela Trethowan.
The competition’s leading goalkicker, Gabby Drage kicked two goals for a season tally of 81 in 19 matches.
Taylah Moore was also on target for the blue and gold.
Golden Square’s best were Kate Douglass, Taylah Moore, co-captain Liz Watkins, Ava Barker, Gabby Drage and co-captain Carly Geary.
It was a different journey for Castlemaine to this decider as it bounced back from an 11-point loss to Golden Square in the second semi-final played at The Railway Hotel Oval in Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
Four of Castlemaine’s grand final wins have been against Golden Square.
The other was against Woorinen Tigers in the ’23 season.
Woorinen capped an unbeaten run to premiership glory in the under-18 girls competition.
The Tigers led 13-8 at half-time of Friday night’s grand final against Strathfieldsaye Storm under the QEO lights.
Storm surged back into the contest as it scored two goals as the Tigers added 1.1 in the third quarter.
It was 20-all going into the final term.
The yellow and black added 1.4 and kept Storm scoreless to complete a 30-20 victory.
Prue O’Sullivan led the Tigers’ attack with all three goals.
Goalkickers for Storm were Kira Molloy, two; and Akiva Morrissey.
Best for Woorinen were Sadie Spitty, Hollie Everett, Carly Shepherd, Eva Coffey, Tyler Arnett and Lanie Somerville.
Dempsey McDonnell, Jordan O’Bree, Akiva Morrissey, Scarlett Ward, Chella Fitzgerald and Marlie Skinner were Storm’s best.