BY NATHAN DOLE
During Round 4, Central Victoria Football League (CVFL) Club’s will wear yellow or orange arm bands as a display of support for initiatives that address the prevention of Violence Against Women.
The League is encouraging Club’s to hold a minute’s silence for the women who have been killed and for those who are still struggling to survive in homes and relationships where a perpetrator of violence is present.
The “Say No More.” Campaign is used to encourage our community to start conversations, call out unsafe behaviours, ask for help and take action to save lives that are at risk due to violence.
Support Anti-Violence initiatives below:
https://www.whatwereyouwearingaus.org/donate
https://www.dangerousfemales.com.au/fundraise-for-df
https://www.whiteribbon.org.au/give-now/
On the field, a night game featuring Castlemaine on its turf at Camp Reserve against Golden Square highlights Saturday night’s start to round four in the Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy season.
The clash of the Magpies and Bulldogs starts at 5pm on Saturday.
Unbeaten in its quest of a premiership hat-trick the Jordan Cochrane-coached Castlemaine has scored 61 goals across its three victories in the ’24 campaign.
Massive test for Golden Square, especially on defensive structure and pressure.
The Nathan Manuel-coached Bulldogs carry an unbeaten record into this contest.
After a first-round bye, Golden Square has marked big wins against Eaglehawk and North Bendigo.
Best for the blue and gold in the win against North Bendigo were Samantha West, Paynton Jolliffe, Courtney Hingston and Tania Kerrison.
Huge test for Golden Square defenders Gemma Roberts, Tahlia Casey-White, Tallulah Duffy and Caitie Williamson against Castlemaine stars Eloise Gretgrix, Tiahna Cochrane, Aisling Tupper and Tiffany Bradley.
A key for the Bulldogs will be the on-ball contests where Samantha West, Isabella Ayre and Claire Picone are up against Emma Pedretti, Eillish Cumming and Jemma Finning.
In-form players for Castlemaine include Brianna Burt and Ella Cochrane.
On Sunday, North Bendigo is home at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street to take on Eaglehawk from 1pm.
Another tough contest for the Ross Egleton-coached Bulldogs who have played Woorinen, Bendigo Thunder and Golden Square in the opening three rounds.
North Bendigo’s best in the clash at Golden Square were Quetta Holloway-Jinks, Aisha Mansfield, Cassandra Coughlan and Maddison Hargreaves-Hale.
A bye last round meant Eaglehawk had plenty to ponder after a 58-point loss to Golden Square in week two.
Players to watch in an Eaglehawk team coached by Molly Metcalf and Geoff West include Eliza Long, Rhian Hobbs, Grace and Olivia Murley, and the athletic Caitlin Evans.
Marong takes on Bendigo Thunder from 1.30pm on Sunday at Marong’s Malone Park.
The Panthers made the long trek to Woorinen last round.
Best for Marong against the Tigers were Michelle Phillips, Stacie Carbone, Hayley Singleton-Synnott and Regeena Torney.
The Panthers team jointly coached by David Blume and Jimmy Evenden to play Thunder includes Kyrah Paxton, Caitlin Shaw, Kayla Grant and Bridget Chalkley.
Bendigo Thunder will be keen to strike back after its loss at home to Castlemaine.
Best for the Mick McInnes-coached Thunder against the Magpies were Lucy El Hage, Marguerita Murphy, Ruby Kelly and Jessica Jackson.
Players to watch for Thunder on Sunday include Jaime Sawers, Marnie Gudge, Laura Stilo and Hannah Perry.
White Hills is home at the Scott Street ground to play Woorinen from 1pm on Sunday.
The Phil Murley-coached Demons have a one-one record.
Best for White Hills in the clash with Sandhurst were Rindy Sawyer, Courtney Gibson, Oakley Turner and Amelie Haigh.
Last season’s runner-up, Woorinen will eye a chance to jump to the second rung by taking the points against the red and black.
Freda Wosomo, coach Katelyn Hazlett, Brydi Lewis, Jenna Bannam, captain Tenay Fellows and Rachael Booth are some of the best in the Tigers’ line-up.
Sandhurst has the bye.
Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy ladder:
Castlemaine 723 per cent, 12 points; Golden Square 987, 8; Sandhurst 253, 8; Woorinen 171, 8; Eaglehawk 138, 4; White Hills 67, 4; Bendigo Thunder 34, 4; North Bendigo 12, 0; Marong 3, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
19 Eloise Gretgrix, Castlemaine.
17 Chelsea Reeves, Sandhurst.
11 Tiahna Cochrane, Castlemaine.
10 Brydi Lewis, Woorinen.
9 Samantha Johnston, Woorinen.
9 Freda Wosomo, Woorinen.
8 Sienna Hobbs, Eaglehawk.
7 Tiffany Bradley, Castlemaine.
7 Lily Campbell, Sandhurst.
7 Lacey Nihill, Sandhurst.
7 Paynton Jolliffe, Golden Square.
6 Amanda Carrod, Sandhurst.
6 Sasha Pearce, White Hills.
6 Aisling Tupper, Castlemaine.
5 Isabella Ayre, Golden Square.
5 Victoria Winstanley, Golden Square.
Round four in the CVFL under-18 girls competition kicks off at 9am on Saturday when Castlemaine hosts the ladder-leading Golden Square at Camp Reserve.
The rest of the round will be completed on Sunday morning.
Strathfieldsaye Storm faces Eaglehawk from 10.30am at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
The second-placed White Hills is on home turf in Scott Street for an 11.15am showdown with Woorinen.
Sandhurst has the bye.
League ladder:
Golden Square 923 per cent, 8 points; White Hills 444, 8; Strathfieldsaye 183, 8; Sandhurst 154, 8; Woorinen 53, 4; Castlemaine 33, 0; Eaglehawk 0, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
9 Tiara Davis, Golden Square.
8 Mia Clark, White Hills.
7 Hannah Cochrane, Sandhurst.
7 Nadia Peebles, White Hills.
6 Freja Dahl, Strathfieldsaye.
6 Evie Nuttall, Strathfieldsaye.
5 Scout Carmody, Sandhurst.
5 Eve Kalms, Strathfieldsaye.
4 Grace Ayars, Woorinen.
4 Ellie Bellenger, Sandhurst.
4 Lily Franklin, Sandhurst.
4 Tarliah Murphy, White Hills.