Magpies' Under 18s lead the way in a building year
2026 at Camp Reserve was a year of building for Castlemaine as the club continues to end it’s Finals drought. 2026 also saw the Magpies return to the A-Grade netball competition giving them a full compliment of 6 netball squads for the first time in a number of years.
It was the young Magpies that led the way on the football field with the Castlemaine Under 18’s finishing the home and away season in fourth position at 10 wins and 6 losses. Filled with promising talent the team would defeat Golden Square by 39 points in the elimination final, before ultimately going down to the eventual premiers Sandhurst in the first semi-final.
A season highlight for the Under 18s was handing Sandhurst one of only three home-and-away losses, winning 5.8.38 to 4.11.35 at Queen Elizabeth Oval in round 9. They also opened the year with a three-point win over Golden Square.
Ina bright sign for the future, both Ben Jardine and Brian Sahifk-Eid finished tied for third position in the League medal count.
The Seniors started strongly with wins over Golden Square (by 8 points) and Kangaroo Flat in the first two rounds, and eventually finished sixth with six wins. They also won both meetings with Golden Square, including a 10-point result in round 10 for their first victory at Wade Street for 20+ years. The Reserves finished eighth with three wins.
It was a tough year on the netball courts for the girls from Maine with no squad reaching finals. A Grade drew 37–37 with Broadford in round 17, A Reserve won twice, including 56–43 over Strathfieldsaye, and the 15 & Under girls lost to Kangaroo Flat by a single goal in round 2.
Some highlights for Castlemaine include young-guns Oliver Britt, Ben Jardine and Oscar Giddings making the final team for the BFNL Under 18’s Interleague squad while 2026 coach and star Bailey Henderson was named Vice-Captain of the Senior side. Michael Hartley and Harry Sheahan who featured in the Senior squad.
Young defender, Olivia Henderson was named as a finalist in the Netball Rising Star Award while mid-courter, Piper Fynch was a standout in the BFNL’s 15 & Under Rep team.
Looking ahead to 2027, there will be some significant change at Camp Reserve with Coach Bailey Henderson moving away from the club while star big man, Michael Hartley has moved to Newbridge.
Excitingly, the Magpies have announced Clayton Scoble as their new Senior Coach.
2026 results snapshot
|
Team
|
W–L–D
|
Finish
|
Finals / best result
|
|
Seniors (football)
|
6–10–0
|
6th
|
Won 14.10.94 to 12.14.86 v Golden Square (R1)
|
|
Reserves (football)
|
3–13–0
|
8th
|
Won by 38 v Gisborne (R5)
|
|
Under 18s (football)
|
10–6–0
|
4th
|
Won elimination final v Golden Square by 39; lost 1st semi v Sandhurst by 31
|
|
A Grade (netball)
|
1–14–1
|
8th
|
Won 57–43 v Broadford (R8)
|
|
A Reserve (netball)
|
2–12–0
|
8th
|
Won 56–43 v Strathfieldsaye (R13)
|
|
B Grade (netball)
|
0–16–0
|
9th
|
Lost 36–52 v Golden Square (R10)
|
|
B Reserve (netball)
|
1–15–0
|
8th
|
Won 44–24 v Broadford (R8)
|
|
17 & Under (netball)
|
2–14–0
|
8th
|
Won 56–35 v Broadford (R8)
|
|
15 & Under (netball)
|
0–12–0
|
7th
|
Lost 42–43 v Kangaroo Flat (R2)
|
