For years the club didn't have a senior team for its junior female players to progress to, but after the latest announcement that CFNC has entered the Central Victoria Football League Women's competition, Cochrane is on her way back home.

The former Carlton AFLW player and Golden Square star has been named as the inaugural coach of the senior Magpies.

Despite great success with the Bulldogs, the decision to return to Camp Reserve was a no-brainer.

"It was a very easy decision as I started with Castlemaine as a junior and had a lot of success there and when the opportunity came up, I didn't think twice," Cochrane said.

"The club has made it very clear that it's committed to growing and developing aspiring young female footballers and roles for women within the game which is something I'd be very proud to be involved with."

Cochrane is taking on a playing-coach role for the 2022 CVFLW competition and plans to get stuck into the job as soon as possible.

"My first aim is to build a high level of camaraderie within the team both on and off the field early on to foster a team environment where people feel safe," Cochrane.

"Through my experience in the AFLW and the sport more broadly I understand that culture is the most important factor in being able to grow a positive club environment."

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However, more than anything there's one particular moment Cochrane anticipates the most, running out onto the field donned in the Castlemaine colours.

"For myself and a lot of the other girls who played with us as juniors it's going to be a very special and proud moment to wear the black and white again," she said.

"Not just for us, but for a lot of people throughout the town who are eager to support us."

In addition to Cochrane, the club has also announced that Georgia Banks has been appointed as team operations manager.

Banks, who is originally from Bairnsdale, recently moved to Castlemaine with her partner and was seeking an opportunity to share her football expertise.

"For the club to have a team in the CVFLW really is great news as it's a goal that's been in the works for quite some time," Banks said.

"The club's junior girls teams have been very successful in the past and now they have that next step up to play senior football in Castlemaine."

Banks played football in the Melbourne-based Renegade Pub Football League for several seasons which has now given her an insight into how she aims to enhance the Magpies' women's program.

Key learning from the experience includes having constructive connection with the club's local community and most importantly a strong culture.

"I am going to make sure the girls are integrated within the club, whether it's with the netball team, the senior men's team and especially with female juniors," Banks said.

"We want to make sure that our players are happy to be a part of the club as it's not just about making sure the team culture is strong.

"It's about club culture too."

As restrictions begin to ease and pre-season looms the club already has plans for the senior women's and men's teams to combine at training sessions.

The women's team has plenty of key signings in the works and will also be holding information sessions for potential players to learn more about the club.

Players of all experience are welcome to attend the sessions at the CFNC club rooms at Camp Reserve on Monday October 25 and Wednesday November 3.

The aim for the sessions are to share key information about the women's program, but also an opportunity to meet both Cochrane and Banks.

Magpies president Caleb Kuhle couldn't be prouder to be at the helm in what marks a new chapter in the club's 162-year existence.

"This is a proud moment for a historic club; we are proud to be able to offer an opportunity for our local female footballers to continue playing the game they love in a highly competitive premier league," he said.

"At CFNC, we want to provide optimal opportunities for budding sports people across central Victoria and welcome our adoption into this league.

"We have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to get this opportunity off the ground and can't wait to see what 2022 has in store."

The AFL Central Victoria commission approved the club's application last week, which now takes the league to nine teams for the 2022 competition, up from the original five in its inaugural 2018 season.

As it currently stands Bendigo, Castlemaine, Eaglehawk, Golden Square, Kangaroo Flat, Kerang, Kyneton, North Bendigo and Strathfieldsaye will make up the 2022 season.

Banks was pleased by the CVFLW's booming growth which has seen it lift from five teams in its inaugural year to nine in the 2022 season.

"The league is really starting to mature into a strong competition," she said.

In addition to the CVFLW side, Magpies will also enter its first A-Grade BFNL netball squad for the first time since 2017.

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