BY NATHAN DOLE
A 22-POINT victory by Eaglehawk ended Bendigo Thunder’s season in Sunday’s 14th and final round of the Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy home and away series.
Bendigo Thunder went into the match at Weeroona Oval needing to beat the Hawks to hold its place in the top four.
The Hawks made a superb start to score 2.6 to a goal in the first term.
Both teams added two goals in the second as Eaglehawk led 33-18 by the long break.
Thunder’s accuracy was a highlight as it had score five straight goals to three quarter-time, but the Hawks led 45-30 at a quarter to play.
A tally of 1.2 to a point in the last was enough for the Geoff West and Molly Metcalf-coached Eaglehawk to mark a 53-31 victory.
There were 200 reasons to celebrate Metcalf’s milestone.
Eaglehawk’s attack was led by Sienna Hobbs, three; Molly Pianta, two; Jasmine Burzacott and Kelly Mensforth.
Goalkickers for a Thunder line-up coached by Terry Burt and Hannah Perry were Isabella Ayre, three; Jessica Kennedy and Jaime Sawers.
Eaglehawk’s best were Grace Murley, Grace Edlin, Sienna Hobbs, Freyja Pearce, Alex Summerfield and Molly Metcalf.
Isabella Ayre, Acacia Edwards, Jessica Kennedy, Louise Bibby, Alannah Leach and Tamara Kendall were Thunder’s best.
Golden Square moved back to the fourth rung after a 121-point win against North Bendigo at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
The Nathan Manuel-coached Golden Square scored 6.2 to just three behinds in the first term and then added 5.2 to a point in the second.
The classy Paynton Jolliffe went on to kick a match-high six goals in a 20.11 (131) to 1.4 (10) result for the blue and gold.
Other multiple goalkickers for Golden Square were Gabrielle Drage, five; and captain Liz Watkins, four.
Best for Golden Square were Katie Walker, Marnie Gudge, Liz Watkins and Paynton Jolliffe.
Ashlyne McInnes, Quetta Holloway-Jinks, Kira Gibbons, Maddie Jelbart and Paige Panczel worked hard for the Ross Egleton-coached North Bendigo.
Woorinen warmed up for its finals campaign in the CVFL senior women’s competition by scoring a 106-point win against Strathfieldsaye.
The Tigers dominated on their turf at Woorinen to score 5.3 to nil in the first quarter and 5.2 to a point in the second.
Donal Fellows dominated in Woorinen’s attack to kick seven goals as Remi Maher added four in a 107-1 victory.
Natasha Kelly chipped in with three goals for the yellow and black.
Best for Woorinen were Izabella Palermo, Jemma Meehan, Remi Maher, Tenay and Donal Fellows, and Tiana Shepherd.
Alex Campbell-Smith, Mercedes May, Tracey Anderson, Dani Jeffery, Jessica Jackson and Lana Westaway played well for the Tim McCormick-coached Strathfieldsaye Storm.
Castlemaine had the bye.
Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy ladder:
Castlemaine 985 per cent, 48 points; Woorinen 301, 36; Eaglehawk 268, 32; Golden Square 93, 24; Bendigo Thunder 139, 20; North Bendigo 7, 8; Strathfieldsaye 3, 0.
Finals action kicks off next Sunday at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
Eaglehawk and Golden Square meet in the first semi-final at 11.30am.
Castlemaine takes on Woorinen Tigers in the second semi-final at 1.30pm.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
47 Eloise Gretgrix, Castlemaine.
34 Donal Fellows, Woorinen.
34 Sienna Hobbs, Eaglehawk.
27 Paynton Jolliffe, Golden Square.
18 Grace Edlin, Eaglehawk.
18 Natasha Kelly, Woorinen.
17 Tiffany Bradley, Castlemaine.
15 Isabella Ayre, Bendigo Thunder.
14 Kelly Mensforth, Eaglehawk.
14 Jaime Sawers, Bendigo Thunder.
13 Jessica Kennedy, Bendigo Thunder.
12 Abbey Bertram, Castlemaine.
12 Molly Pianta, Eaglehawk.
12 Aisling Tupper, Castlemaine.
11 Tenay Fellows, Woorinen.
11 Remi Maher, Woorinen.
9 Molly Metcalf, Eaglehawk.
9 Britney Mueck, Bendigo Thunder.
9 Ainsley Taft, Castlemaine.
8 Charlotte Beavan, Castlemaine.
8 Tiahna Cochrane, Castlemaine.
8 Lily den Houting, Castlemaine.
8 Carlee Hazlett, Woorinen.
8 Leonie Schulz, Woorinen.
7 Nikeah Anderson, Bendigo Thunder.
7 Jasmine Burzacott, Eaglehawk.
7 Ella Cochrane, Castlemaine.
7 Jemma Finning, Castlemaine.
7 Keely Fullerton, Eaglehawk.
7 Gabrielle Drage, Golden Square.
7 Eve Sheehan, Castlemaine.