Castlemaine win for the first time in Strathfieldsaye

Castlemaine have been one of the feel good stories in the Bendigo league this year and it continued on Saturday in a stunning away win over Strathfieldsaye. We go inside the historic win.

Castlemaine had their best win in the Bendigo league in years on Saturday. Picture: Castlemaine Football Netball Club.

Despite creating history for Castlemaine over the weekend Magpies coach Michael Hartley admits there is a feeling of what could have been this season.

Castlemaine, for the first time, defeated Strathfieldsaye away from home on Saturday, beating the Storm by 23 points, 9.14(68) to 6.9 (45).

After opening up a 13-point lead at half time the Magpies kept the Storm to just one goal in the second half, while adding two themselves.

The margin could have been larger with Castlemaine kicking 10 behinds in the final two terms.

Castlemaine’s Kalan Huntly had his best game of the season, kicking four goals in the win.

“I didn’t even know it was a thing until someone told me after the game,” Hartley said about winning at the Storm for the first time.

“Pretty cool to go there and create history.

“It wasn’t something we were aiming to do but any win is a really good win.”

Hartley said the win was inspired after the disappointment of two weeks ago against Golden Square.

In a pivotal game for their finals aspirations, the side faltered, losing by 71 points to the reigning premiers.

“I showed my disappointment after the game in the post-game chat,” Hartley revealed.

“I was pretty flat about how we performed and felt we could do better.

“Training after that game was pretty difficult, a bit of contested footy and back to the way of Castlemaine footy.”

It clearly worked with Castlemaine winning their past two matches against top five sides Eaglehawk and Golden Square.

Now, the team is still alive in the finals race, but need to win their last three against Kangaroo Flat, Gisborne and Sandhurst.

Castlemaine is all smiles after their win over Strathfieldsaye on Saturday. Picture: Castlemaine Football Netball Club.

“I go into every game telling the boys we’re a chance,” Hartley said.

“We’re capable on our best day to have a crack at anyone.

“Gisborne and Sandhurst are fairly good sides and a bit further down the line than us.

“But we are going to get in and give it a big crack.”

While Hartley has been pleased with the season, he concedes two games could be the difference to whether the team makes the top five or not.

But it’s a building block to next year.

“We’ve missed a few (wins),” Hartley conceded.

“The South Bendigo one (in round 2) was a bit poor early on. We should have got that done early on and lost by 40.

“There was also the first game against Golden Square. We were up by 11 halfway through the last and lost by 12.

“There’s two opportunities lost which could be significant to whether we make finals. I was hoping six or seven win (at the start of year) and we are there and thereabouts.

“I’m pretty proud of where we have come even if we don’t make the top five.”

Now the focus is on making sure the team makes it, if it misses this year.

Hartley has already started focusing on that, looking at ways to improve in training while also improving the squad.

“I feel like I’m talking to every footballer in Victoria,” he revealed.

“We’ve got a few position we want to bolster, so I’m talking to blokes here and there.

“I’ve also been talking to a few of my mates at a higher level, so hopefully we can get one of them.”

Castlemaine have the bye this weekend.