2025 SEASON PREVIEW: Golden Square FNC
Golden Square Football Netball Club: 2025 Season Preview
2024 was an in different year for Golden Square. A 17 & Under Netball Grand Final appearance was the highlight from a season that followed one that the Club will remember forever.
While a lot has transpired at Wade Street in the last 18 months, 2025 is a new year and sees a new era of football and netball on the horizon at Golden Square FNC
Football Preview
After a Senior premiership in 2023, 2024 saw the Clubs leadership and youth shine as they notched up an elimination final victory before going down to Strathfieldsaye in a semi-final.
Six months later, the Bulldogs have had several key departures, most noticeably, gun midfielder Tom Toma who returns home to Cohuna FNC after balancing Golden Square duties while being VFL listed with Essendon.
Disappointingly for the Bulldogs, up and coming ruckman, Kai Daniels transferred to Pyramid Hill FNC late in the 2025 pre-season despite training with Golden Square, and VFL squads at Essendon and Richmond.
Square also lose Jack Threlfall to Harcourt after putting together 33 Senior matches for the Club across 2023 and 2024.
The incoming players at the Bulldogs sees them welcome Jake Maher to the Club who joins the club with some experience at VAFA level.
Harry Law also joins the Club as a mobile forward following an injury plagued 2024 while Carson James has shifted from Strathfieldsaye to bolster the Bulldogs’ midfield stocks.
Excitingly, former Bulldog big man Daniel Keating re-joins Square after not playing since 2021.
Given the quality of the outbound players at Wade Street, it’s hard to forecast how 2025 will play out but given the foundations and leadership within the Club, the Bulldogs will always be around the mark.
From the Coach
Now in his 2nd year in charge, Golden Square Senior Coach, Brad Eaton has certainly put learnings from 2024 into the early stages of 2025.
In a recent interview, Eaton said “we’ve really hit the ground running this pre-season.” Eaton added “compared to 2024, everyone came back in a lot better shape in November which has put us a few steps ahead of this time last year.”
On the number of high-profile departures, Eaton said, “it’s always disappointing to lose elite talent. You can’t replace what Tom (Toma) and Kai (Daniels) give you particularly this late in the pre-season.”
“While a few have left the Club, we’re really excited by some of our recruits, particularly Daniel Keating who was pushing for a Round 1 spot as our starting ruckman before he tweaked a hamstring 2 weeks ago. He’ll be touch and go for Round 1 now.”
When asked about pre-season stars, Eaton said “two that have really gone to that next level are Tom Strauch and Zack Wescott. Both have put the work in behind the scenes and should take a big step in 2025.”
On the season ahead, Eaton said “we’re excited to have a season where every match is a challenge and with a group of young players that continue to improve, we’re hopeful that we will see some September action.”
Netball Preview
Golden Square has worked hard to re-build its netball program over the last 24 months and in her second Season as A-Grade coach, Teigan Redwood hopes to see the Club go to the next level on the netball court in 2025.
Redwood is no stranger to BFNL netball having played in the League previously before spending some time in the LVFNL and playing Melbourne. After taking up a role Golden Square’s Director of Netball for 2024, she was quickly thrust into the A-Squad Coach role mid-season.
After an exciting 2024 which saw their 17 & Under team make a Grand Final, Redwood has her troops back early for 2025 a pre-season campaign which has seen the A-Squad use their training sessions pre-Christmas to build fitness and focussing heavily on court work since the turn of the new year.
There’ll be new faces galore in the blue and yellow which include:
- Ella Sheehan – A tall and athletic goaler who is new to Bendigo
- Jess Smith – A quick and experienced midcourter who joins from Perth.
- Macey Brereton – Officially joins Square as a reliable tall defender.
Excitingly, young gun, Mia McCrann-Peters remains with the Club as their full time A-Grade Goaler while also managing her duties with the Bendigo Strikers Under 23 squad.
From the Coach
When speaking on the season ahead, Redwood said “we’re really excited to have players return so we can continue to develop them.” Redwood added “players like Emma Keating and Cass Humphries are two that have had strong pre-seasons and are looking to cement their spots in the A-Squad.”
Redwood particularly highlighted Charlie Hamilton saying, “Charlie has had the opportunity to participate in the Bendigo Strikers Development Squad and she has taken a tonne of benefit of being around that program.”
“As a young player, we have high hopes for what her future holds.”
“In addition to the internal growth, we have loved have our new players join the team and can’t wait to see what they can bring on game day.”
When speaking on their aims for 2025, Redwood said “our focus for this season is on maintaining consistency throughout matches while continuing to improve each week.”
“Coming together as a team and doing the simple things right will leave us in great stead to make a move up the ladder this season.”
A Look Ahead
Golden Square’s football department has already played in two practise matches, battling Kyabram and Rochester with the squad taking lots of confidence from both matches.
Before Round 1, the entirety of the Club will host Huntly FNC in a day that coincides with the Club’s Family Day.
Round 1 see Square host Eaglehawk before travelling to Camp Reserve to battle Castlemaine on Good Friday.
