NORTH Bendigo triumphed in its final game of the season in Sunday’s round 18 clash with Bendigo Thunder in Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy.
The Bulldogs and Thunder played at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
As North Bendigo chased its third win of the season, Thunder was just as desperate to achieved its first.
North Bendigo raced to a 15-nil lead by quarter-time and was up 18-0 at the long break.
Bendigo Thunder struck back to score two goals in the third off the boot of Stacey Barbagllo.
The Bulldogs also added two majors to lead 31-12 going into final quarter of the ’25 campaign.
Although Thunder scored the sole major of the last through Barbagallo it was the Bulldogs who marked a 33-18 victory.
Maddison Mansfield led North Bendigo’s attack on two goals as Kayla-Brea McIntosh and Shae-Lee Murphy-Burke were also on target.
Best for North Bendigo were Kira Gibbons, Marguerita Murphy, Shae-Lee Murphy-Burke, Quetta Holloway-Jinks, Maddie Jelbart and Kayla-Brea McIntosh.
The North Bendigo team was jointly coached by Jaydene Burzacott and Zak Carter.
A list of Bendigo Thunder’s best players was not supplied.
Thunder was coached by Mick McInnes.
Finals-bound teams Castlemaine and Eaglehawk scored big wins.
The Jordan Cochrane-coached Castlemaine slammed on 10 goals straight in the first quarter of its home game against Marong at Camp Reserve.
The Magpies led 92-1 at half-time and then scored another five goals in the third term.
Castlemaine kept Marong goalless in a 145-6 victory.
Brianna Burt and Maeve Tupper capped superb matches with six goals apiece as Jemma Finning and Rebekah Forrest added three and two goals.
Best for Castlemaine were Maeve Tupper, Brianna Burt, Grace Brady, Cassidy McLean, Lily Den Houting and Amelia Britt.
Marong’s best were Taylah Patching, Dani Jeffery, Alicia Turner, Liza Jane Edwards, Katrina Alford and Jaime Sawers.
The Jimmy Evenden and Daniel Bourke coached Marong ends the season with a 5-9 record and fifth place.
Eaglehawk scored a 73-point victory against the Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons in their den in Scott Street.
The Molly Metcalf-coached Hawks led 27-nil at half-time.
As the Hawks scored four straight goals in the third, White Hills did break through the defence with a goal by Jessica Kipping.
The Hawks warmed up for a first semi-final showdown with Sandhurst by scoring another four goals on the White Hills ground.
Kelly Mensforth led the Borough’s attack on three goals as Molly Pianta, Drew Ryan and Abbey Willcox added two each.
Best for Eaglehawk were Abbey Willcox, Lily Jenkins, Sophie Cullen, Lexie Moss, Emily Galtieri and Molly Metcalf.
Sasha Pearce, Nadia Peebles, Sharni Barker, Georgia Cook, Amelie Haigh and Chelsea Edwards were best for the Demons.
A White Hills team coached by Phil Murley had a win-loss record of 4-10 to finish sixth on the ladder.
Golden Square and Sandhurst had the bye.
Standings in the Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy competition after 18 rounds:
Castlemaine 831 per cent, 52 points; Golden Square 755, 44; Eaglehawk 397, 40; Sandhurst 192, 40; Marong 54, 20; White Hills 47, 16; North Bendigo 26, 12; Bendigo Thunder 2, 0.
Finals action kicks off this Sunday at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
Eaglehawk and Sandhurst will contest the first semi-final from 12.40pm.
It’s a rematch of last September’s grand final as Castlemaine faces Golden Square in the second semi-final at 2.30pm.
Leading goalkickers, pending update from North Bendigo v Golden Square, round 17:
53 Eloise Gretgrix, Castlemaine.
31 Brianna Burt, Castlemaine.
31 Jemma Finning, Castlemaine.
30 Scout Carmody, Sandhurst.
22 Gabby Drage, Golden Square.
22 Kelly Mensforth, Eaglehawk.
22 Liz Watkins, Golden Square.
15 Tiahna Cochrane, Castlemaine.
15 Kira Gibbons, North Bendigo.
15 Molly Pianta, Eaglehawk.
15 Charlotte Scanlon, Sandhurst.
13 Georgia Gordon, Castlemaine.
13 Amelie Haigh, White Hills.
13 Maeve Tupper, Castlemaine.
12 Ruby Campbell, Sandhurst.
12 Sarah Mannes, Golden Square.
11 Lauren Knight, Marong.
Sandhurst broke Woorinen’s unbeaten run in the CVFL under-18 girls match on Sunday at Bendigo’s Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Sandhurst line-up made a great start to lead 14-4 at quarter-time.
The Dragons then won the second, 7-2, before the ladder-leading Tigers fought back with goals by Sunny Barry and Stella Bibby as they kept Sandhurst scoreless in the third term.
In the last it was the Dragons who scored the only goal to complete a 27-18 victory.
Ellie Bellenger, Leni Brown, Tully Place and Chloe Tweed all goaled for Sandhurst.
Best for Sandhurst were Myah Humphrey, Ashlee Campbell, Charlotte Liddy, Tully Place, Chloe Tweed and Leni Brown.
Woorinen’s best were Meg Young, Charli Conway, Lauren Clarke, Eva Coffey, Ruby Butler and Lanie Somerville.
It was a dramatic finish to the Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons clash with Eaglehawk in Scott Street, White Hills.
The Demons had already secured a place in the first semi-final, but were determined to take the points against the Hawks.
Eaglehawk led 8-2 at quarter-time before it was eight-all at half-time.
The Demons fired up to add 2.2 in the third and kept the Two Blues scoreless.
In its final term of the season, Eaglehawk played brilliantly to score 2.1.
At the final siren White Hills led 22-21.
Tarliah Murphy capped a great match with all three goals for the red and black.
The Hawks’ goalkickers were Kelly Neighbour, Lana Ring and Imogen Wilson.
Best for White Hills were Belle Mapperson, Layla O’Brien, Madisyn Morrison, Mikayla Gladman and Ella Watkins.
Eaglehawk’s best were Tahlia Thorpe, Macey Scoble, Olivia Bluemore, Jessica Brown, Tia Anderson and Imogen Wilson.
It was final game of the season for Kangaroo Flat as it took on the second-placed Golden Square at Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park.
The Bulldogs won 37-3 as Ruby Demeo kicked two goals and Jayde Chappel, Lucy Johansen and Ella Meharry added one each.
Best for Golden Square were Shoshanna Love, Lucy Gilbee, Jayde Chappel, Georgina Stobie, Ella Meharry and Makayla Roberts.
Kangaroo Flat’s best were Shelby Kitchingham, Molly Manton, Eve Conroy, Tahlee Gray and Scarlett Ward.
Strathfieldsaye had the bye.
Standings in the Champions IGA-backed CVFL under-18 girls footy competition after 18 rounds:
Woorinen 1012 per cent, 44 points; Golden Square 197, 36; Sandhurst 221, 34; White Hills 156, 26; Strathfieldsaye 78, 20; Eaglehawk 22, 8; Kangaroo Flat 5, 0.
Semi-finals will be played this Sunday at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
Sandhurst faces White Hills in the first semi-final at 9am.
It’s the clash of the Tigers and Bulldogs as Woorinen meets Golden Square in the second semi-final from 10.50am.
Leading goalkickers:
27 Sunny Barry, Woorinen.
27 Mia Maxted, Sandhurst.
25 Tarliah Murphy, White Hills.
24 Chloe Tweed, Sandhurst.
20 Ruby Demeo, Golden Square.
19 Charli Conway, Woorinen.
19 Ruby Tierney, Woorinen.
16 Sophie O’Connell, White Hills.
12 Stella Bibby, Woorinen.
11 Issy Boulton, Woorinen.
11 Meg Young, Woorinen.
10 Ella Henery, White Hills.
10 Lily Mansfield, Golden Square.