It was a massive weekend of football and netball action at the Camp Reserve as the Castlemaine Football Netball Club hosted Maryborough in the Stephen Brown Memorial round.
Stephen Brown and his family have had a significant impact on the Castlemaine club and on the young people of Maryborough where he taught for many years. In recognition of this impact the Magpies honour him each year in a memorial round.
The weekend also saw the club celebrate its Sponsors and Life Members Day welcoming sponsors and Life Members to the club for a special afternoon tea to celebrate their contribution to the club.
Saturday’s Round 10 fixture between the two young Magpie sides was also live-streamed as part of the Bendigo Football Netball League’s ‘Match of the Round’.
The action kicked off Friday night with the Castlemaine Magpie AFL Central Vic Women’s side hosting North Bendigo under lights at the Camp Reserve.
The Castlemaine side came into the match fresh from two week’s break following a league bye and then a second fixtured bye.
Castlemaine opened their account with a three goal first quarter effort and never took their foot of the gas kicking 10 goals to win by 75 points and retain their top spot on the table eight points clear of nearest rival Eaglehawk.
Tiffany Bradley booted 3, Tiahna Cochrane 2 and Ella Cochrane, Meg Ginnivan, Ainsley Taft, Jemma Finning and Abbey Bertram one each.
Best for Castlemaine were Tiahna Cochrane, Ella Cochrane, Eillish Cumming, Abbey Bertram, Meg Ginnivan and Jemma Finning.
On Saturday the Under 18s hit the park first up. The Magpie U16 and U18 sides had received a treat earlier in the week with Werribee VFL coach Michael Barlow and the Magpies’ very own Bailey Henderson taking training for the evening. There were smiles all around on what was a very chilly night on the track and the U18s squad entered Saturday’s clash with some new insights.
The first quarter was an even contest with both sides kicking a goal and only five points seperating the teams at quarter time.
The Borough boys lifted the intensity in the next two quarters slamming on another seven goals and keeping the home side to three points to open up a 50 point lead at three quarter time.
To their credit Castlemaine found something extra in the final term kicking an incredible six goals while holding Borough scoreless. However, they just couldn’t bridge the gap and went down by just 10 points.
Tate Whaley had a great match kicking two goals with Archie Rixon, Alec Staples, Mitchell McKnight, Xavior Noy and Alton Bracken kicking one each.
Best for Castlemaine were Theo Mellick-Cooper, Alton Bracken, Curtis McLennan, Zachary Lord, Caspian Lord and Alec Staples.
In the Reserves Maryborough kicked three goals in the opening term to Castlemaine’s point to jump out to a 21-point lead at the first change. Castlemaine valiantly fought back in the second half but Maryborough eventually ran out winners by 30 points.
The Castlemaine Seniors were determined to get back on the winners list in honour of the late Stephen Brown and his son Lachlan as part of the Sponsors and Life Members fixture. Lachy is a Life Member of the club with the talented midfielder and Best and Fairest winner being joint-captain of the 2000 Premiership side. He has also coached Under 18s and Senior sides at the club.
The match started out as a bit of an arm wrestle with both sides trying to gain the ascendency and only managing a goal each in the opening term.
In the second Castlemaine added another three goals to the Borough’s two to hold a 10-point lead at half-time.
The visitors switched things up a gear in the third stanza smashing on another three goals, with Castlemaine only managing four points.
But the Maine boys recovered in the last term kicking another five goals while keeping Borough to five points and running out winners by 19 points.
Young gun Ben Moran led the way for Castlemaine with 3, Matthew Filo, Riley Pedretti, Ethan Hein, Bailey Henderson, Callum McConachy, and Brodie Byrne added one each.
Best for Castlemaine were Matthew Filo, Riley Pedretti, Brodie Byrne, Callum McConachy, Tyson Hickey and Ethan Hein.
On the netball court the Castlemaine Magpies sides were on fire claiming four wins from four matches. The 17&U side started the day with a great win over Maryborough 48-31. B Grade also had a win 46-29, B Reserve won 48-31 and A Grade capped off the day with another great victory 66-30. A Reserve had the bye.
The Magpies wound up the day with a ‘Back2School’ social event in the clubrooms.
This weekend the Magpie BFNL sides have a league-wide bye before returning on Saturday July 8 to take Gisborne at Gardiner Reserve in Round 11 competition.
The Magpie Women will also enjoy another bye this weekend before travelling to Canterbury Park to take on second-placed Eaglehawk in Round 9 on Friday July 7 at 7.15pm. The fixture will mark the ‘Pink Round’.
