-By Nathan Dole
FORWARDS in Castlemaine’s and Golden Square’s teams capitalised on plenty of chances in the weekend’s start to the Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy season.
The Magpies and Bulldogs racked up tallies of 167 and 228 points.
Castlemaine scored 25 goals in Sunday’s match on North Bendigo’s turf at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street.
The Jordan Cochrane-coached Magpies flew out of the blocks in their pursuit of a fourth consecutive premiership.
Castlemaine led 52-nil at quarter-time and then scored scored 6.3 as it kept the Bulldogs scoreless across the opening half.
The Magpies’ high level of intensity at the contest and skill level did not let up on the way to a 167-nil victory.
Eloise Gretgrix led the attack on five goals as Ella and Tiahna Cochrane added four and three each.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Pies were Brianna Burt, Eillish Cumming, Georgia Gordon and Rachael Stubbings.
Best for Castlemaine were Jemma Finning, Tiahna Cochrane, Amelia Britt, Brianna Burt, Eillish Cumming and Ella Cochrane.
It was a daunting start to the season for North Bendigo and co-coaches Jaydene Burzacott and Zak Carter.
Best for the red, white and blue were Quetta Holloway-Jinks, Roweena Ilsley, Shae-Lee Murphy-Burke, Mia Bolitho-Williams, Kayla-Brea McIntosh and Marguerita Murphy.
Golden Square marked the highest score of the round in Sunday’s match on Bendigo Thunder’s turf at Weeroona Oval.
The Bec McLay and Carly Geary-coached Golden Square booted nine goals in the first term and then followed up with hauls of 10, nine and six goals.
By the final siren the blue and gold had scored 34.24 (228).
Kodi Jacques marked her return to the CVFL by kicking seven goals as Sarah Mannes added six.
Golden Square captain Liz Watkins kicked five goals and Emma Crossland booted four majors.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Bulldogs were Gemma Free, three; Mackenzie Bickley and Carly Geary, two.
Tania Kerrison earned best afield honours as Emma Crossland, Liz Watkins, Ava Barker, Sarah Mannes and Terina Pickering featured in Golden Square’s best.
On a tough afternoon for Thunder, Stacey Barbagallo, Shasta Martion, Katherine Christie, Alannah Leach, Sharlene Cole and Ella Tregale were best for the Mick McInnes-coached team.
The season kicked off with Friday night’s match between Eaglehawk and White Hills under the Canterbury Park lights in Eaglehawk.
A semi-finalist last season, Eaglehawk made a strong start to the ’25 campaign.
Eaglehawk led 21-nil at quarter-time and 34-nil by the main break.
The Phil Murley-coached White Hills fought back to score a goal off the boot of Daisy Gee and also did well to keep the Hawks scoreless in the third quarter.
Led by the play of Lily Jenkins, Chloe Green and Kelly Mensforth, Eaglehawk added 5.5 and kept the Demons scoreless in the last term.
At the final siren the Molly Metcalf-coached Eaglehawk led 69-8.
Kelly Mensforth kicked two goals for the Borough as Anya Cardalini, Lucy El Hage, Chloe Green, Lily Jenkins, Melanie Krause, Molly Metcalf, Molly Pianta and Lana Westaway were on target.
Eaglehawk’s best included Eliza Long, Ellie Bailey and Shelby Faulkner.
Nadia Peebles, Oakley Turner, Acacia Edwards, Kadeisha Smith, Gabby Speirs and Tracey Anderson played well for the red and black.
Details from the Marong and Sandhurst match played at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park on Sunday were not supplied.
Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy ladder:
Eaglehawk 837 per cent, 4 points; Golden Square 0, 4; Castlemaine 0, 4; White Hills 11, 0; Bendigo Thunder 0, 0; North Bendigo 0, 0; Marong, Sandhurst.
Leading goalkickers:
7 Kodi Jacques, Golden Square.
6 Sarah Mannes, Golden Square.
5 Eloise Gretgrix, Castlemaine.
5 Liz Watkins, Golden Square.
4 Ella Cochrane, Castlemaine.
4 Emma Crossland, Golden Square.
3 Tiahna Cochrane, Castlemaine.
3 Gemma Free, Golden Square.
2 Mackenzie Bickley, Golden Square.
2 Brianna Burt, Castlemaine.
2 Eillish Cumming, Castlemaine.
2 Carly Geary, Golden Square.
2 Georgia Gordon, Castlemaine.
2 Kelly Mensforth, Eaglehawk.
2 Rachael Stubbings, Castlemaine.
All round two matches will be played next Sunday from 1pm.
Golden Square takes on Eaglehawk at the Wade Street ground in Golden Square.
Sandhurst and Castlemaine clash at Ewing Park in Bendigo’s Williamson Street.
Marong and Bendigo Thunder will meet in the Panthers’ den at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
North Bendigo and White Hills have the bye.