BY NATHAN DOLE
ALL six clubs in the Champions IGA-backed Central Victoria FL senior women’s footy league are represented in Sunday’s inter-league challenge at Shepparton.
A squad of 25 includes five players each from Bendigo Thunder, Castlemaine and Golden Square.
Eaglehawk, North Bendigo, Strathfieldsaye and Woorinen Tigers all have stars in the squad of 25 which will play North East Border in the first of the Worksafe-sponsored carnival matches at 10am.
Game two for the Rick Ladson-coached CVFL is against Northern Country at 10.55am.
The final match in the preliminary rounds is North East Border against Northern Country at 11.50am.
All matches will be 20-minute halves.
Key targets in the CVFL’s attack are likely to be Britney Mueck from Bendigo Thunder; Castlemaine’s Aisling Tupper and Charlotte Beavan; and Golden Square’s Paynton Jolliffe.
The team also has the experience of Golden Square captain Liz Watkins, Thunder clubmates Jessica Kennedy and Hannah Perry, and Molly Metcalf and Molly Pianta who have played key roles in Eaglehawk’s run this season.
The consistency of North Bendigo’s Maddie Jelbart and Strathfieldsaye’s Chelsea Reeves was also rewarded.
Woorinen Tigers are in the CVFL for the first time and have had Carlee and Katelyn Hazlett, and Natasha Kelly selected for Sunday’s carnival.
A premiership-winning player with Hawthorn in 2008, Rick Ladson played 125 matches across 10 seasons with the Hawks.
On his return to Bendigo in 2013, Ladson was captain-coach as Golden Square marked a fifth consecutive senior premiership.
His playing career included a stint in the Loddon Valley with Bridgewater where he is now non-playing coach.
Among the highs of his footy coaching career were Golden Square winning the CVFL senior women’s footy premiership in 2019.
Football operations manager for the Junior/Female competitions run under the AFL Central Victoria umbrella, Nathan Williams said the CVFL’s coaches, players and officials were all set for Sunday’s challenge.
“Inter-league is a unique opportunity for players across the various competitions to showcase their talent and to learn from the people around them,” Williams said.
Full fixture the for weekends games can be found here: https://www.playhq.com/afl/org/worksafe-afl-victoria-representative-games/2023/cv-gm-and-ne-senior-women/cc459b04/R1
The Champions IGA-backed Central Victoria Football League’s senior women’s team to play at Shepparton:
Bendigo Thunder – Acacia Edwards, Jessica Kennedy, Britney Mueck, Shae-Lee Murphy-Burke, Hannah Perry.
Castlemaine – Charlotte Beavan, Abbey Bertram, Eillish Cumming, Lily Den Houting, Aisling Tupper.
Eaglehawk – Eliza Long, Molly Metcalf, Freyja Pearce, Molly Pianta.
Golden Square – Keely Hare, Bree Heiden, Olivia Hogg, Paynton Joliffe, Natasha Tile, Liz Watkins.
North Bendigo – Maddie Jelbart.
Strathfieldsaye – Chelsea Reeves.
Woorinen – Carlee Hazlett, Katelyn Hazlett, Natasha Kelly.
Emergencies:
Golden Square – Marnie Gudge.
North Bendigo – Kira Gibbons.
Woorinen – Tenay Fellows.