Castlemaine Football Netball Club played host to top-of-the-table Sandhurst in the final round of the home and away season last Saturday.
It was a big day for the Castlemaine club hosting their annual Life Members Day and with several players notching up game milestones – Kalan Huntly playing his 100th game, Tyson Hickey his 50th and netballer Sharon Dredge notching up 200 games.
The Magpies were keen to bounce back from their loss to Gisborne and take the game right up to the highly fancied Dragons and did just that.
Castlemaine slammed on three goals and a couple of points before the Dragons awakened from their slumber and got their first goal on the board.
The visitors soon turned the tide banging on another four goals and by quarter-time had snatched a 13-point lead.
Sandhurst kept the momentum rolling early in the second term kicking another two goals off the boot of Fergus Greene before Castlemaine rallied and added two of their own through the in-form Zavier Murley and Jackson Hood.
The Dragons slipped through two more and at half-time led by a commanding 33 points.
The Magpies continued to battle hard in the third term, putting their bodies on the line to shut down the Dragons’ passages to goal and held them to just two goals for the term, but failed to convert their own opportunities. At the final change the margin had blown out to 42 points.
Magpie coach Michael Hartley stood up in the opening minutes of the final term kicking a much-needed goal but Greene soon found one in reply for Sandhurst.
Bradley Keogh snatched one back for the home side but the Dragons continued to dominate bagging two more via Lachlan Tardrew and Joel Wharton.
Castlemaine never gave up, securing late goals through Brodie Byrne and Bradley Keogh, but in the end the Dragons roared to a 51-point victory.
Castlemaine’s best were Michael Hartley, Declan Slingo and Zavier Murley.
The Magpies finished the season in sixth spot on the ladder just missing out on a finals berth. However, they will no doubt be pleased with the continued growth and development of the young side will aim to continue their positive trajectory and be a finals contender in 2025.
The Reserves had a tough day of it going down to fast-paced Sandhurst outfit. The Dragons opened with a five-goal first term. Castlemaine bounced back in the second term kicking three goals of their own but the damage was done and Sandhurst eventually ran out winners by 78 points.
Castlemaine was well served by Campbell McLennan who kicked 2, Ethan Hein and Ethan Maltby.
The Under 18s faced a similar fate with the Dragons opening the match with a five-goal haul and going on to smash out a 91-point win.
Jackson Balcombe, Curtis McLennan and Thomas Ford never gave up working hard from start to finish for the Magpies. Despite the setback, the Magpies finished in fourth place on the ladder and will tackle Kangaroo Flat this Sunday in the Elimination Final at the Queen Elizabeth Oval at 10.15am.
Netball
On the netball court the Magpie A Grade side had a challenging day going down 23-96 despite a valiant effort. A Reserve 30 lost to Sandhurst 63. B Grade 29 gave their all against Sandhurst 44. B Reserve 36 lost to the Dragons 72. 17 & Under was once of the closest bouts of the day the young Castlemaine side 38 lost to Sandhurst 62.
Women’s Football
The Magpie Women’s finals fate is up in the air after their semi final clash against Golden Square was forced to be abandoned due to the inclement weather and lightning at the Queen Elizabeth Oval on Sunday.
A meeting was scheduled to decide the path forward. But it is anticipated that Golden Square would meet the winner of the other semi final Woorinen in this weekend’s preliminary and given the Magpies’ unbeaten run they may earn a spot in the grand final.
See Friday’s Castlemaine Mail for more.
