BY NATHAN DOLE
Dragons fire up for clash with Woorinen
THE Sandhurst Dragons will be fired up for Sunday’s showdown with Woorinen in the 14th round of the Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy competition.
One of three new teams in the league this season, Sandhurst is well in the fight to make the finals.
The Dragons have home-ground advantage at Ewing Park off Bendigo’s Williamson Street for a match which starts at 1pm.
The Andrew Saladino-coached Dragons start this round in fifth place, eight points and four per cent behind the fourth-placed Eaglehawk.
When Sandhurst and Woorinen met in round five it was the Katelyn Hazlett-coached Tigers who marked a 109-point win on their turf.
The Dragons will be determined to show how much they have improved.
Both teams had a rest last weekend.
It was a bye for Sandhurst as Woorinen took the four points as White Hills forfeited.
Key players for Sandhurst include Ruby Campbell, Amanda Carrod, Madeline Sexton, Chloe Naughton, Chelsea Reeves and Chloe Taylor.
Last season’s runner-up, Woorinen has an eight-four record and is third in the premiership race.
Players to watch for the Tigers include Tenay Fellows, Brydi Lewis, Samantha Johnston, Jemma Meehan, Jenna Bannam and Rachael Booth.
The round kicks off with Friday night’s match between Castlemaine and Eaglehawk at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve from 7.30pm.
It will be a huge challenge for Eaglehawk against the Magpies who are unbeaten in their pursuit of a premiership hat-trick.
The Jordan Cochrane-coached Castlemaine won last Friday night’s match on Golden Square’s turf at Fur Life Oval by 37 points.
The Hawks dominated their home game against North Bendigo at Canterbury Park to win by 125 points.
Castlemaine’s team to take on the Two Blues includes Maeve Tupper in the centre, Tiahna Cochrane and Eloise Gretgrix in attack, Emma Pedretti in the ruck, Ella Cochrane and Taylah Sartori in defence.
An Eaglehawk line-up jointly coached by Molly Metcalf and Geoff West will look to Shelby Faulkner, Kelly Mensforth, Drew Ryan, Eliza Long, Caitlin Evans and Tayla Petrusma to bring and maintain a high level of pressure in all quarters.
On Sunday it will be the Winslow White Hills Demons on their Scott Street ground against Bendigo Thunder.
The Demons and Thunder clash starts at 1pm.
These teams did not meet in round five as White Hills forfeited.
The Mick McInnes-coached Thunder won its latest hit-out with Marong by 80 points.
Thunder’s team to face the Demons includes Marguerita Murphy, Britney Mueck, Hannah Perry, Tracey Anderson, Jaime Sawers and Laura Stilo.
Best for the Phil Murley-coached Demons in their most recent match against Sandhurst were Hannah Ripper, Kara Kane, Kadeisha Smith and Lauren House.
North Bendigo has the bye.
The Marong and Golden Square match scheduled for this round was played on July 7 at East West Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
The Marong Panthers had AFLW legend Erin Phillips play as part of the Carlton Draft promotion.
Although she won plenty of contests, Phillips could not stop the Nathan Manuel-coached Golden Square charging to a big win.
Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy ladder:
Castlemaine 776 per cent, 48 points; Golden Square 704, 40; Woorinen 243, 32; Eaglehawk 182, 32; Sandhurst 178, 24; Bendigo Thunder 63, 20; White Hills 14, 8; North Bendigo 12, 4; Marong 7, 4.
Leading goalkickers:
65 Paynton Jolliffe, Golden Square.
39 Brydi Lewis, Woorinen.
33 Chelsea Reeves, Sandhurst.
32 Molly Metcalf, Eaglehawk.
30 Eloise Gretgrix, Castlemaine.
30 Samantha Johnston, Woorinen.
29 Taylah Moore, Golden Square.
28 Amanda Carrod, Sandhurst.
25 Tiffany Bradley, Castlemaine.
23 Tiahna Cochrane, Castlemaine.
23 Tenay Fellows, Woorinen.
20 Rachael Stubbings, Castlemaine.
19 Isabella Ayre, Golden Square.
19 Brianna Burt, Castlemaine.
19 Lily Campbell, Sandhurst.
19 Victoria Winstanley, Golden Square.
16 Jenna Bannam, Woorinen.
16 Courtney Wakefield, Woorinen.
15 Lacey Nihill, Sandhurst.
15 Jaime Sawers, Bendigo Thunder.
12 Molly Pianta, Eaglehawk.
11 Gabrielle Drage, Golden Square.
11 Courtney Hingston, Golden Square.
11 Maeve Tupper, Castlemaine.
10 Aisling Tupper, Castlemaine.
Top teams, White Hills and Strathfieldsaye meet in this weekend’s 14th round of the Champions IGA-backed CVFL under-18 girls competition.
The ladder-leading Demons make their way to Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane on Sunday to take on the second-placed Storm from 10.30am.
When these teams met in round five it was the Demons who won 105-59 on their Scott Street ground.
Round 14 kicks off with Friday night’s match between Castlemaine and Eaglehawk at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve from 5.45pm.
On Sunday it will be Sandhurst against Woorinen from 11.15am at Ewing Park in Bendigo.
Golden Square has the bye.
Champions IGA-backed CVFL under-18 girls footy ladder:
White Hills 252 per cent, 36 points; Strathfieldsaye 164, 32; Golden Square 257, 28; Woorinen 121, 28; Sandhurst 105, 16; Castlemaine 58, 16; Eaglehawk 9, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
28 Mia Clark, White Hills.
20 Alysha Boyd, Strathfieldsaye.
19 Taliah Murphy, White Hills.
17 Grace Ayars, Woorinen.
17 Sunny Barry, Woorinen.
15 Eve Cail, White Hills.
15 Tiara Davis, Golden Square.
13 Scout Carmody, Sandhurst.
12 Ruby Demeo, Golden Square.
11 Freja Dahl, Strathfieldsaye.
11 Lily Mansfield, Golden Square.
10 Ava Barker, Golden Square.
10 Kate Batchelor, Castlemaine.
10 Ellie Bellenger, Sandhurst.
10 Chloe Butcher, Castlemaine.