SEMI-FINALS for the Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s and under-18 girls footy competitions will be played this Sunday in Castlemaine.
An intense rivalry between Golden Square’s and Castlemaine’s senior women’s teams rolls on as they meet in the second semi-final at The Railway Hotel in Camp Reserve from 2.30pm.
Both teams completed the home-and-away series on identical win-loss tallies of 16-2.
The Darren Walsh-coached Golden Square achieved a percentage of 981.
Despite finishing on top of the ladder, Golden Square makes its way to Castlemaine.
Both of the Bulldogs’ defeats were at The Railway Hotel Oval.
In the rematch of the ’25 grand finalists it was Castlemaine which kicked off a new campaign by scoring a 47-34 victory in round one at Camp Reserve.
When the teams met in round four it was Golden Square which broke the Magpies’ winning streak in a 29-21 result at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street.
Indigenous Round featured Castlemaine against Golden Square at Camp Reserve.
The Jordan Cochrane-coached Magpies won 40-24.
A key for Castlemaine will be limiting the supply to and impact of Golden Square gun forwards Gabby Drage, 76 goals; and Kira Gibbons, 44 goals.
Leading goalkicker for Castlemaine is Tiahna Cochrane on 24 goals.
In a superb start to the season Shelby Knoll kicked 21 goals in three matches, but has not played since the round six match against Sandhurst.
For the second semi, Castlemaine’s defenced led by Taylah Sartori, Jemma Finning, Grace Brady and Eillish Cumming is up against Gabby Drage, Kira Gibbons, Gemma Roberts and Sarah Mannes.
An intriguing duel will be in the centre where Castlemaine captain Tiahna Cochrane takes on Golden Square co-captain Liz Watkins.
Emma Pedretti faces a huge task in the ruck against the athleticism and experience of Golden Square’s gun recruit, Karley Hynes.
A Magpies’ attack led by Paynton Jolliffe, Tiffany Bradley and Hannah Cochrane will try to break free of Lauren Knight, Kate Douglass and co-captain Carly Geary.
It’s a clash of the Dragons and Hawks as Sandhurst faces Eaglehawk in the senior women’s first semi-final from 12.40pm.
Premiership hopes for Sandhurst or Eaglehawk will be ended in the seniors first semi-final.
Victorious in all three meetings between the clubs this season, Sandhurst will start hot favourite.
A Sandhurst team jointly coached by Andrew Saladino and Liam Ireland completed the home-and-away series in third place on a 13-5 record.
The Molly Metcalf-coached Eaglehawk was fourth on a nine-nine record.
Most recent clash between the clubs was in round 11 where Sandhurst scored a 76-8 victory at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo.
The maroon and blue had won on Eaglehawk’s turf at C and M Oval in Canterbury Park by 34 points in round four, and by 37 points in the opening round.
Leading goalkickers for Sandhurst have been Grace Campbell, 24; Lily Campbell, 15; Charlotte Scanlon, 14; and Samantha Johnston, 11.
The Hawks’ attack is led by Kelly Mensforth and Molly Metcalf on 17 goals; Lilly Stevenson, 15; Caitlin Evans, 12; and Hannah Kenny, 10.
Sandhurst’s squad includes co-captains Sarah Baldwin and Ruby Campbell, Phoebe Cuttriss, Taylah Klemm, Alannah Prowse, Lauren Suleiman and Chloe Swatton.
Best for Eaglehawk in last Sunday’s win at White Hills were Monique Gavriliadis, Emily Galtieri, Lucy El Hage and Molly Metcalf.
The Two Blues’ squad includes Eliza Long, Lexie Moss and Shanae Sawyer.
A big day of four contests at The Railway Hotel Oval in Camp Reserve kicks off at 9am when the under-18s first semi-final is played between White Hills and Eaglehawk.
The only time they met in the home-and-away series was last Saturday where White Hills scored a 64-28 victory on its turf in Scott Street.
An 11-3 record meant the Demons were third on the ladder and Eaglehawk was fourth on 10-5 tally.
Leading goalkickers for White Hills are Maddison Collard, 18; Jayda Alford and Adele McNaughton, 14 each.
The Hawks’ attack is led by Zoe Hodgskiss with 23 goals as Kyah Spiteri has slotted 10, and Tahlia Thorpe and Darcy Martin have kicked nine and eight.
First to the under-18s grand final is the prize for the winner of the second semi-final to be played by Woorinen and Strathfieldsaye Storm from 10.50am.
A 15-nil run by the Woorinen Tigers includes a 56-point victory at home against Storm in round five, and a 37-22 result at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane in the 13th round.
Woorinen’s strong attack is led by Prue O’Sullivan, 30 goals; and Stella Bibby, 17 goals.
The yellow and black has had Lana and Zoe Brooks kick 13 goals each, and Charli Conway chip in with 11.
Leaders of Storm’s attack in an 11-4 run have been Marlie Skinner, 19; Jorja Cunningham, 16; and Kirra Molloy, 11 goals.