BY NATHAN DOLE
Hawks, Tigers strive to gain edge
DRAWN to meet in a first semi-final, Eaglehawk and Woorinen will fight for an edge in Sunday’s 18th round of the Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy action.
The Hawks and Tigers will play at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park from 1pm as the CVFL marks Bendigo Bank Round.
Bendigo Bank is a long-time and valued major sponsor across the AFL Central Victoria region.
All of the league’s final round matches will be played on Sunday.
Whether they finish as is or flip positions from third and fourth, Eaglehawk and Woorinen will meet in the CVFL senior women’s first semi-final the following weekend.
When these teams last met in round nine, Eaglehawk scored a 45-38 victory at Woorinen in the King’s Birthday holiday weekend match.
The Molly Metcalf and Geoff West-coached Hawks have achieved a win-loss tally of 10-4.
Last Friday night’s home game against Sandhurst was declared a draw.
Key players for the Borough include Caitlin Evans, Shelby Faulkner, Chloe Green, Molly Pianta, Drew Ryan and Lana Westaway.
Woorinen goes into Sunday’s match following a three-point win on Golden Square’s turf at Fur Life Oval.
Best in the Tigers’ 10th win of the season were coach Katelyn Hazeltt, Jemma Meehan, Emma Peacock and Courtney Wakefield.
The team in yellow and black includes Brydi Lewis, Jenna Bannam, Tenay Fellows and OIivia Fowler.
Sandhurst and North Bendigo will clash from 1pm at Queen Elizabeth Oval on Sunday.
An abandoned match and resultant draw in the 17th round at Eaglehawk means Sandhurst will not mark a finals appearance in its first season in the competition.
The Andrew Saladino-coached Sandhurst will be determined to chalk up win number nine and finish on 38 points.
A talented team for the Dragons includes Annie, Lily and Ruby Campbell; Piper Dunlop, Amanda Carrod, Maddy White and Chelsea Reeves.
North Bendigo led in last Sunday’s match against the Winslow White Hills Demons, but the match at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street was also abandoned and declared a draw.
Players to watch for the Ross Egleton-coached Bulldogs include Nicole Brannan, Roweena Ilsley, Maddie Jelbart and Aisha Mansfield.
Winslow White Hills Demons take on the unbeaten Castlemaine from 1pm at the Scott Street ground in White Hills.
Will be another great learning experience for a young White Hills team coached by Phil Murley against a club striving for a premiership hat-trick.
The White Hills line-up for Sunday includes Kayla and Zalie Ash, Courtney Gibson, Kara Kane, Hannah Ripper, Kadeisha Smith and Oakley Turner.
Castlemaine won its latest match on home turf at Camp Reserve by 101 points.
A formidable attack for the Jordan Cochrane-coached Magpies is led by Eloise Gretgrix, Tiahna Cochrane, Tiffany Bradley and Rachael Stubbings.
Castlemaine’s team to face the Demons includes Brianna Burt, Lily den Houting, Bella Phillips and Taylah Sartori.
After a bye, Bendigo Thunder will be back on Weeroona Oval to play Golden Square from 1.30pm.
Will be a tough task for the Mick McInnes-coached Thunder against an opponent on the rebound from just its third defeat of the season.
The play of Nikeah and Tracey Anderson, Lucy El Hage, Marguerita Murphy, Hannah Perry, Jaime Sawers and Laura Stilo will be crucial to Thunder keeping the pressure on the blue and gold.
Best for the Nathan Manuel-coached Golden Square in the clash with Woorinen included Carly Geary, Kate Douglass, Molly Forde and Sarah Mannes.
The Bulldogs also have Paynton Jolliffe who has kicked 83 goals as the key cog in attack.
Marong has the bye.
Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy ladder:
Castlemaine 875 per cent, 60 points; Golden Square 664, 48; Eaglehawk 230, 42; Woorinen 246, 40; Sandhurst 188, 34; Bendigo Thunder 55, 24; White Hills 10, 10; Marong 8, 8; North Bendigo 11, 6.
Leading goalkickers:
83 Paynton Jolliffe, Golden Square.
48 Eloise Gretgrix, Castlemaine.
44 Brydi Lewis, Woorinen.
38 Molly Metcalf, Eaglehawk.
38 Chelsea Reeves, Sandhurst.
35 Amanda Carrod, Sandhurst.
35 Samantha Johnston, Woorinen.
34 Taylah Moore, Golden Square.
33 Tenay Fellows, Woorinen.
29 Tiahna Cochrane, Castlemaine.
28 Tiffany Bradley, Castlemaine.
26 Rachael Stubbings, Castlemaine.
26 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.
12 Maeve Tupper, Castlemaine.
11 Ruby Campbell, Sandhurst.
11 Gabrielle Drage, Golden Square.
10 Leonie Schulz, Woorinen.
10 Madeline Sexton, Sandhurst.
10 Aisling Tupper, Castlemaine.
The final round in the Champions IGA-sponsored under-18 girls footy competition will be played this Sunday.
It’s fourth against second as Strathfieldsaye takes on Golden Square from 10.30am at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Eaglehawk faces Woorinen from 11.15am at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
The ladder-leading Winslow White Hills Demons will play Castlemaine from 11.15am at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street, White Hills.
Sandhurst has the bye.
Champions IGA-backed CVFL under-18 girls footy ladder:
White Hills 257 per cent, 48 points; Golden Square 265, 40; Woorinen 125, 36; Strathfieldsaye 124, 32; Sandhurst 140, 28; Castlemaine 57, 20; Eaglehawk 9, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
29 Mia Clark, White Hills.
26 Alysha Boyd, Strathfieldsaye.
26 Nadia Peebles, White Hills.
25 Grace Ayars, Woorinen.
19 Tarliah Murphy, White Hills.
18 Sunny Barry, Woorinen.
18 Tiara Davis, Golden Square.
17 Eve Cail, White Hills.
17 Hannah Cochrane, Sandhurst.
16 Ellie Bellenger, Sandhurst.
16 Scout Carmody, Sandhurst.
16 Ruby Demeo, Golden Square.
14 Lily Mansfield, Golden Square.
13 Ava Barker, 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.
10 Ella Gourley, Golden Square.
10 Tessa Skipper, Strathfieldsaye.