BY NATHAN DOLE
Crucial games at Eaglehawk, Golden Square
FINALS aspirations of Sandhurst and Woorinen in the Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy competition hinge greatly on this weekend’s 17th round.
The fifth-placed Sandhurst makes its way to Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park on Friday night to take on the Borough from 7.15pm.
Victory is a must for the Sandhurst who would draw level on nine wins with Woorinen should the Tigers be beaten on Sunday at Golden Square.
It’s a massive test for the Andrew Saladino-coached Sandhurst, especially at Eaglehawk.
When the Dragons and Hawks met in round eight it was the Two Blues who surged to a 43-point victory at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Sandhurst is on the rebound from last Friday night’s seven-goal loss to Golden Square under the QEO lights.
Eaglehawk showed it has plenty of goalkicking power in a 192-nil win against the Winslow White Hills Demons at White Hills last Sunday.
A Hawks line-up which has Molly Metcalf as playing coach and Geoff West on the sidelines has plenty of running power from half-back and through midfield.
Key players for the Hawks include Shelby Faulkner, Eliza Long, Jess Dover, Drew Ryan and Cass Coleman.
Sandhurst will look to Piper Dunlop to control the ruck contests, and for Lily and Ruby Campbell to win their share of centre ball-up contests.
The Dragons welcome back Lacey Nihill who has played 12 matches for Bendigo Pioneers in Coates Talent League and represented Victoria Country at under-16 level this season.
Other players to watch in the maroon and blue include Amanda Carrod, Chelsea Reeves, Madeline Sexton, Imogen and Liv Douglass.
Friday night’s other match features Castlemaine against Marong at Camp Reserve in Castlemaine from 7.15pm.
The Jordan Cochrane-coached Magpies meet a Marong line-up in the final match of its debut season in the CVFL.
Castlemaine has a powerful attack that includes Eloise Gretgrix, Tiahna Cochrane, Tiffany Bradley, and Rachael Stubbings.
An unbeaten run by the Magpies is spearheaded by the likes of Maeve Tupper, Abbey Bertram and Emma Pedretti.
Best for the David Blume and Jimmy Evenden-coached Marong in the win at North Bendigo were Alex Campbell-Smith, Bianca Bourke, Cody Clark and Brooke Young.
Panthers’ captain Dani Jeffery, Katrina Alford, Regeena Torney and Hannah Cue have been among the most consistent.
On Sunday it will be Golden Square on home turf in Fur Life Oval in Wade Street against Woorinen from 1pm.
The Nathan Manuel-coached Bulldogs won in Tigers’ territory by 87 points in round eight.
Golden Square’s line-up for Sunday includes Paynton Jolliffe, Victoria Winstanley and Claire Picone in attack, captain Liz Watkins in the ruck, Sarah Mannes on a wing, and Olivia Burgess, Terina Pickering and Brooke Hutchinson in defence.
Big test for the Bulldogs back six against Woorinen key forwards Samantha Johnston and Brydi Lewis.
The Katelyn Hazlett-coached Tigers face a tough run as their clash at Golden Square will be followed by a round 18 showdown in Eaglehawk.
Players to watch for the yellow and black include ruck-rover Tenay Fellows, Jemma Meehan, Emma Peacock, Jenna Bannam and Ngaire Harlan.
North Bendigo will eye a chance to climb off the bottom rung when it hosts the Winslow White Hills Demons at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street from 1pm on Sunday.
The Ross Egleton-coached Bulldogs were rocked by a 15-14 loss at home to Marong last round.
Best for the Bulldogs against the Panthers included Cassandra Coughlan, Maddie Jelbart, Maddison Hargreaves-Hale and Ajay Turner.
The Phil Murley-coached White Hills beat North Bendigo by six goals in the Demons’ den in round eight.
Key players for the red and black include Rosie Davies, Daisy Gee, Courtney Gibson, Hannah Ripper, Kadeisha Smith, and Oakley Turner.
Bendigo Thunder has the bye.
Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy ladder:
Castlemaine 824 per cent, 56 points; Golden Square 789, 48; Eaglehawk 230, 40; Woorinen 258, 36; Sandhurst 188, 32; Bendigo Thunder 55, 24; White Hills 10, 8; Marong 8, 8; North Bendigo 11, 4.
Leading goalkickers:
80 Paynton Jolliffe, Golden Square.
44 Brydi Lewis, Woorinen.
41 Eloise Gretgrix, Castlemaine.
38 Molly Metcalf, Eaglehawk.
37 Chelsea Reeves, Sandhurst.
35 Amanda Carrod, Sandhurst.
34 Samantha Johnston, Woorinen.
31 Taylah Moore, Golden Square.
30 Tenay Fellows, Woorinen.
28 Tiahna Cochrane, Castlemaine.
25 Tiffany Bradley, Castlemaine.
25 Rachael Stubbings, Castlemaine.
25 Courtney Wakefield, Woorinen.
22 Lily Campbell, Sandhurst.
22 Victoria Winstanley, Golden Square.
19 Isabella Ayre, Golden Square.
19 Brianna Burt, Castlemaine.
17 Jaime Sawers, Bendigo Thunder.
16 Jenna Bannam, Woorinen.
15 Courtney Hingston, Golden Square.
15 Lacey Nihill, Sandhurst.
15 Molly Pianta, Eaglehawk.
14 Liz Watkins, Golden Square.
13 Shelby Faulkner, Eaglehawk.
11 Ruby Campbell, Sandhurst.
11 Gabrielle Drage, Golden Square.
11 Maeve Tupper, Castlemaine.
10 Leonie Schulz, Woorinen.
10 Madeline Sexton, Sandhurst.
10 Aisling Tupper, Castlemaine.
Round 17 in the Champions IGA-backed CVFL under-18 girls competition kicks off with Friday night’s match between Eaglehawk and Sandhurst.
The Hawks and Dragons will play at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park from 5.30pm.
On Sunday it’s the ladder-leading Winslow White Hills Demons against Strathfieldsaye from 10.30am at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street, White Hills.
Golden Square takes on Castlemaine from 11.15am at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
Woorinen has the bye.
Champions IGA-backed CVFL under-18 girls footy ladder:
White Hills 263 per cent, 44 points; Golden Square 241, 36; Woorinen 125, 36; Strathfieldsaye 130, 32; Sandhurst 113, 24; Castlemaine 65, 20; Eaglehawk 10, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
28 Mia Clark, White Hills.
26 Alysha Boyd, Strathfieldsaye.
25 Grace Ayars, Woorinen.
24 Nadia Peebles, White Hills.
19 Tarliah Murphy, White Hills.
18 Sunny Barry, Woorinen.
18 Tiara Davis, Golden Square.
17 Eve Cail, White Hills.
16 Ruby Demeo, Golden Square.
14 Ellie Bellenger, Sandhurst.
14 Scout Carmody, Sandhurst.
12 Ava Barker, Golden Square.
12 Lily Mansfield, Golden Square.
12 Charlotte Scanlon, Sandhurst.
11 Kate Batchelor, Castlemaine.
11 Freja Dahl, Strathfieldsaye.
11 Amelie Haigh, White Hills.
11 Maddyson Hewson, Castlemaine.
11 Evie Nuttall, Strathfieldsaye.
10 Chloe Butcher, Castlemaine.