BY NATHAN DOLE
Central Victoria wins senior women’s footy challenge
THE stars from the Champions IGA-backed Central Victoria women’s league capped an unbeaten run to be the senior women’s champions at Sunday’s inter-league carnival.
The Worksafe AFL Victoria representative matches were played at the Mercy Sports Precinct in Junortoun for the first time.
A CVFL team coached by 2008 Hawthorn premiership player Rick Ladson won both of its pool matches to progress to a grand final clash with North East Border.
A top contest between the leagues ended in a 2.3 (15) to 1.3 (9) victory for the CVFL.
Central Victoria co-captains Liz Watkins from Golden Square and Shae-Lee Murphy-Burke from Bendigo Thunder raised the cup.
CV’s run began with a 34-1 win against North East Border in the first of the pool matches.
Game two for CV ended in a 31-7 victory against Goulburn Murray.
A 10-2 result for North East Border in the third and final pool match against Goulburn Murray clinched a grand final berth.
A great day of women’s footy action included the under-18 girls carnival.
Goulburn Murray did plenty of attacking in the grand final showdown with North East Border.
The GM line-up won 2.8 (20) to 1.3 (9).
Central Victoria’s team coached by Eaglehawk’s Andrew Reid was outplayed in the first of its pool matches.
A talented North East Border team scored 6.7 (43) to a point.
Game two ended in a 31-17 victory for Goulburn Murray against North East Border.
Central Victoria played well in its second match to score 4.0 (24) as eventual champion Goulburn Murray reached a tally of 5.10 (40).
The championship-winning Central Victoria FL senior women’s team and their clubs:
Bendigo Thunder: Lucy El-Hage, Britney Mueck, Marguerita Murphy, Shae-Lee Murphy-Burke, Jaime Sawers.
Castlemaine: Bronte Ashworth, Lily Den Houting, Eloise Gretgrix,
Eaglehawk: Emily Field, Eliza Long, Molly Metcalf, Molly Pianta,
Golden Square: Isabella Ayre, Courtney Hingston, Paynton Jolliffe, Gemma Roberts, Liz Watkins, Victoria Winstanley.
North Bendigo: Kira Gibbons, Quetta Holloway-Jinks, Maddie Jelbart,
Sandhurst: Maddy White.
Woorinen: Jenna Bannam, Samantha Johnston.
Coach: Rick Ladson.
Assistant coach: Simon Rosa.
Coaching panel for the under-18 girls team was Andrew Reid, assisted by Castlemaine’s Jordan Cochrane.
The CVFL Under 18 squad consisted of:
Castlemaine: Tegan Barry, Amelia Britt, Chloe Butcher, Chelsea Cole, Lori Whaley.
Eaglehawk: Neve Nisbet.
Golden Square: Ava Barker, Bella Eddy, Mackenzie Bickley, Ella Gourley, Lily Mansfield, Gemma McPhee.
Sandhurst: Hannah Cochrane.
Strathfieldsaye: Alysha Boyd, Maddie Dunn, Gemma Fox, Scarlett Ward.
White Hills: Jayda Alford, Eve Cail, Mia Clark, Chelsea Edwards, Jorja Morrison.
Emergencies are Eaglehawk’s Taylor Collier, Castlemaine’s Kate Batchelor, and Kiara Field from White Hills.
Coach: Andrew Reid.
Assistant coach: Jordan Cochrane.
Manager: Paul Whitford.