BY NATHAN DOLE
Square strives to deny Castlemaine premiership hat-trick
GOLDEN Square stands in the way of Castlemaine achieving a premiership hat-trick in Friday night’s Champions IGA-backed senior women’s footy grand final at Bendigo’s Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Bulldogs face a huge task against the unbeaten Magpies.
The clash to decide the league’s champion of ’24 kicks off at 7.30pm.
Since its loss to Golden Square in the second semi-final of the 2022 season, Castlemaine is undefeated.
A great run by the Jordan Cochrane-coached Castlemaine includes a 38-19 win against Golden Square in the grand final of two years ago and last September’s victory against Woorinen by 17 points to hoist the premiership cup once again.
A sign of Castlemaine’s dominance across the home-and-away series was 16 wins and a percentage of 972.
The Nathan Manuel-coached Golden Square was next best on a 13-3 record.
First showdown between the Magpies and Bulldogs this season was in round four where Castlemaine won 77-15 on its turf in Camp Reserve.
Next meeting was round 13 where Castlemaine won the Indigenous Round match on Golden Square’s Fur Life Oval by 37 points.
Lightning meant the second semi-final between Castlemaine and Golden Square was abandoned.
A week later and Golden Square marked a 44-27 win against Woorinen in the preliminary final.
Several players who were selected in the CVFL senior women’s Team of the Year will be in action in the grand final.
League fairest and best Maeve Tupper was selected as rover in the Team of the Year and will be determined to add a premiership medal to her tally.
The Magpies also had Rachael Stubbings and Jemma Finning selected at half-back and on a wing in the Team of the Year.
A league record of 92 goals in 16 matches by Golden Square gun meant Paynton Jolliffe was selected as full-forward.
Other stars in Golden Square’s run and selected in the Team of the Year were Taylah Moore, full-back; captain Liz Watkins at half-back; and Victoria Winstanley in a forward pocket.
There is plenty of goalscoring power in both line-ups.
Castlemaine’s attack is led by Eloise Gretgrix 57; Tiahna Cochrane 32; Tiffany Bradley 30; Rachael Stubbings 27; and Brianna Burt 25.
Although Jolliffe is the key target in Golden Square’s forward line the blue and gold also has Taylah Moore, 36; Isabella Ayre, 27; and Victoria Winstanley, 22.
Key players for Castlemaine include Ella Cochrane, Taylah Sartori, Lily den Houting, Emma Pedretti and Abbey Bertram.
Golden Square will look to Carly Geary, Courtney Hingston, Terina Pickering, Claire Picone, Molly Forde and Sarah Mannes to lead the way to victory.
The Magpies’ run in ’24:
Round 1: d Sandhurst, 134-17 at Ewing Park.
Round 2:d Woorinen, 134-24 at Camp Reserve.
Round 3: d Bendigo Thunder, 130-14 at Weeroona Oval.
Round 4: d Golden Square, 77-15 at Camp Reserve.
Round 5: d Eaglehawk, 127-18 at Canterbury Park.
Round 6: d North Bendigo, 161-6 at Camp Reserve.
Round 7: bye.
Round 8: d Marong, 158-0 at East West Oval, Malone Park.
Round 9: d White Hills, 173-0 at Camp Reserve.
Round 10: d Sandhurst, 82-3 at Camp Reserve.
Round 11: d Woorinen, 66-55 at Woorinen.
Round 12: d Bendigo Thunder, 132-8 at Camp Reserve.
Round 13: d Golden Square, 62-25 at Fur Life Oval.
Round 14: d Eaglehawk, 47-14 at Camp Reserve.
Round 15: d North Bendigo, 166-1 at Bendigo Club Oval.
Round 16: bye.
Round 17: d Marong, 101-0 at Camp Reserve.
Round 18: d White Hills, 204-1 at Winslow Constructors Oval.
2nd semi-final: v Golden Square, abandoned at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Bulldogs’ run in ’24:
Round 1: bye.
Round 2: d Eaglehawk, 75-17 at Canterbury Park.
Round 3: d North Bendigo, 162-7 at Fur Life Oval.
Round 4: lt Castlemaine, 15-77 at Camp Reserve.
Round 5: d Marong, 199-0 at Fur Life Oval.
Round 6: d White Hills, 200-0 at Winslow Constructors Oval.
Round 7: d Sandurst, 76-7 at Fur Life Oval.
Round 8: d Woorinen, 95-8 at Woorinen.
Round 9: d Bendigo Thunder, 147-0 at Fur Life Oval.
Round 10: bye.
Round 11: d Eaglehawk, 69-2 at Fur Life Oval.
Round 12: d North Bendigo, 171-6 at Bendigo Club Oval.
Round 13: lt Castlemaine, 25-62 at Fur Life Oval.
Round 14: d Marong, 119-6 at East West Oval, Malone Park.
Round 15: d White Hills, 216-0 at Fur Life Oval.
Round 16: d Sandhurst, 57-14 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Round 17: lt Woorinen, 42-45 at Fur Life Oval.
Round 18: d Bendigo Thunder, 161-0 at Weeroona Oval.
2nd semi-final: v Castlemaine, abandoned at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Preliminary final: d Woorinen, 44-27 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Grand final night for the Champions IGA-backed CVFL kicks off with the under-18 girls match between Golden Square and the Winslow White Hills Demons at 5.30pm.
A 13-2 record put White Hills on top of the ladder and three wins clear of Golden Square at the end of the home-and-away series.
In the second semi-final it was Golden Square which dominated play on the QEO turf to record a 47-6 victory.
Best for the Bulldogs in a stunning result were Ava Barker, Mackenzie Bickley, Bella Eddy and Gemma McPhee.
White Hills fought back to score a 43-9 win against Woorinen in the preliminary final.
Best for the Demons were Eve Cail, Tahlia Kendall, Sasha Pearce and Jayda Alford.
Five of Golden Square’s rising stars were selected in the league’s Team of the Year.
Those to earn the honour were Lily Mansfield, centre; Makayla Roberts, wing; Ella Gourley, forward pocket; Gemma McPhee, ruck; and Ava Barker, ruck-rover.
Leading goalkickers for Golden Square are Ruby Demeo, 22; Tiara Davis, 18; Lily Mansfield, 15; and Ava Barker, 13.
The White Hills trio in the Team of the Year is Jorja Morrison, half-back; Amelie Haigh, half-forward; and Mia Clark, rover.
A strong attack in red and black includes Mia Clark, 33 goals; Nadia Peebles, 26; Eve Cail, 20; Tarliah Murphy, 20; and Amelie Haigh 14.
The Bulldogs’ run in ’24:
Round 1: bye.
Round 2: d Eaglehawk, 154-0 at Canterbury Park.
Round 3: d Woorinen, 40-21 at Fur Life Oval.
Round 4: d Castlemaine, 41-9 at Camp Reserve.
Round 5: bye.
Round 6: lt White Hills, 16-57 at Winslow Constructors Oval.
Round 7: d Sandhurst, 74-20 at Fur Life Oval.
Round 8: lt Woorinen, 20-23 at Woorinen.
Round 9: d Sandhurst, 22-18 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Round 10: lt Strathfieldsaye, 34-39 at Fur Life Oval.
Round 11: d Eaglehawk, 138-13 at Fur Life Oval.
Round 12: lt Strathfieldsaye, 20-41 at Enterprise Oval.
Round 13: d Castlemaine, 62-0 at Fur Life Oval.
Round 14: bye.
Round 15: d White Hills, 44-28 at Fur Life Oval.
Round 16: d Sandhurst, 76-38 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Round 17: d Castlemaine, 80-2 at Fur Life Oval.
Round 18: lt Strathfieldsaye, 23-47 at Triple M Park.
Second semi-final: d White Hills, 47-6 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Demons’ run in ’24:
Round 1: d Eaglehawk, 180-0 at Canterbury Park.
Round 2: bye.
Round 3: d Sandhurst, 82-59 at Ewing Park.
Round 4: d Woorinen, 104-38 at Winslow Constructors Oval.
Round 5: d Strathfieldsaye, 105-59 at Winslow Constructors Oval.
Round 6: d Golden Square, 57-16 at Winslow Constructors Oval.
Round 7: d Eaglehawk, 121-3 at Canterbury Park.
Round 8: bye.
Round 9: d Castlemaine, 80-14 at Camp Reserve.
Round 10: d Woorinen, 67-33 at Woorinen.
Round 11: bye.
Round 12: d Sandhurst, 38-31 at Winslow Constructors Oval.
Round 13: lt Woorinen, 9-81 at Woorinen.
Round 14: d Strathfieldsaye, 70-16 at Triple M Park.
Round 15: lt Golden Square, 28-44 at Fur Life Oval.
Round 16: d Eaglehawk, 120-9 at Winslow Constructors Oval.
Round 17: d Strathfieldsaye, 47-28 at Winslow Constructors Oval.
Round 18: d Castlemaine, 86-13 at Winslow Constructors Oval.
Second semi-final: lt Golden Square, 6-47 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Preliminary final: d Woorinen, 43-9 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.