13/09/2026
⚽️HISTORY MADE: SWAN HILL WOMEN BREAK CASTLEMAINE HOODOO AND REACH HISTORIC GRAND FINAL⚽️
Swan Hill Women 3 def Castlemaine 0
Preliminary Final — Sunday, 13 September 2026 | Echuca
By Swan Hill Soccer League
There are wins, and then there are moments that become part of a club’s history.
On Sunday, 13 September, the Swan Hill Women’s team travelled to Echuca to take on Castlemaine in a Preliminary Final, knowing exactly what was at stake.
For years, Castlemaine had been the side Swan Hill simply could not overcome. An unbroken streak of losses stretching back years had become a painful chapter in the history of the women’s team.
But this time, the Swan Hill girls arrived with belief.
They had one clear objective — play their game, back themselves and finally change the story.
Before the match, coach Shane delivered three simple words to the team:
“We before me.”
Those three words became the motto for the day.
From the opening whistle, Swan Hill played with determination, composure and an unmistakable sense of purpose. The girls immediately put Castlemaine under pressure, with an early shot on goal signalling that Swan Hill had no intention of sitting back.
The forwards and midfielders worked tirelessly to break down Castlemaine’s lines, pressing high and forcing mistakes.
The pressure soon paid off.
Within the opening 10 minutes, Judaya Majur found the back of the net to give Swan Hill the breakthrough they had been searching for.
Castlemaine responded with pressure of their own, testing the Swan Hill defence repeatedly.
But the back line stood firm.
Abbey, Amity, Amy and Ruby Smith worked tirelessly to keep Castlemaine away from goal, repeatedly clearing the danger and refusing to allow their opponents an easy path to an equaliser. Annabelle provided strong support from centre defence, helping Swan Hill absorb the pressure and regain control.
Swan Hill continued to attack.
On the wing, Luciana produced a fantastic piece of work, delivering an excellent ball forward for Judaya.
In the 37th minute, Judaya made no mistake.
Despite a low dive from the Castlemaine goalkeeper, the ball found its way into the net for Judaya’s second goal of the afternoon.
Swan Hill led 2–0.
The belief was growing.
The team’s substitutions also played a crucial role, with Malyna earning high praise for the impact she made during her time in midfield. She worked incredibly hard whenever called upon, providing fresh energy and helping Swan Hill maintain its intensity.
At half-time, the message from the coaches was simple:
Keep believing. Keep working. Keep playing for each other.
Castlemaine came out strongly after the break, showcasing the excellent passing game that had made them such a difficult opponent over the years.
But Swan Hill refused to panic.
The girls reset, worked together and continued to fight for every ball.
Then came another defining moment.
In the 53rd minute, Trinity Shelton showed exactly what the Swan Hill team had been asked to demonstrate all afternoon — determination and refusal to give up.
Her first effort was blocked, but Trinity reacted immediately as the ball deflected back to her.
She wasn’t finished.
Trinity followed up and fired the ball into the net.
Swan Hill 3–0.
Castlemaine continued to search for a way back into the contest, but Swan Hill’s defence and midfield stood strong.
Enya also came into the second half firing on the wing, working tirelessly up and down the field and putting everything on the line during multiple plays. She even found the back of the net, only for the goal to be overturned following a handball.
It didn’t matter.
By the final whistle, Swan Hill had done something that had eluded the club for years.
Castlemaine 0. Swan Hill 3.
The streak was broken.
The history had changed.
And the Swan Hill Women were heading to the Grand Final.
This was about much more than a football result.
It was about belief.
It was about trust.
It was about every player putting the team ahead of themselves.
“We before me.”
Those words were spoken before the game — and the girls lived by them for the full 90 minutes.
Every player contributed. Every player fought. Every player trusted the person beside them.
After years of falling short against Castlemaine, the Swan Hill Women finally changed the story.
And now, they have the opportunity to write the biggest chapter yet.
SWAN HILL WOMEN ARE GRAND FINAL BOUND.
On behalf of coaches Shane and Emma Rovere, there was enormous pride in the team’s achievement.
“On behalf of Shane and myself, we couldn’t be more proud of the way the team played today. Their effort was exceptional, and we are ecstatic to lead the team to the first final in our women’s history.”
— Emma Rovere
From years of disappointment to a historic Grand Final appearance — the Swan Hill Women have shown what belief, unity and teamwork can achieve.
History is being made.
CARN THE SWANNERS! 💙⚽
WE BEFORE ME.
GRAND FINAL HERE WE COME!
