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GALLERY: HCCAFL launches into new season

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Will the Panthers pounce, the Bombers strike, the Hawks fly high or City dominate the landscape?

The answers to those questions and more are expected to be revealed over the coming months following the launch of the 2022 Hunter Central Coast AFL (HCCAFL) season at the weekend.

Representatives from the 15 clubs, as well as the umpires’ association, converged on the Belmont 16s on Saturday to kick-start another year, which begins on 2 April.

“Fingers crossed everything goes well,” HCCAFL competition coordinator Lauren Francis said.

“We’ve already had to rejig the draw as we had to check on team numbers at the last minute.

“But, it’s done now.

“So, hopefully, we’re not having to look at it too much again.

“We’ll keep a close eye on things, with COVID and everything, however we just need to get the season up.”

While the Black Diamond Cup Men’s division suffered a slight blow with the withdrawals of Nelson Bay and Gosford, Francis said there were many positives heading into 2022.

“Killarney Vale (Bombers) will field addition male and female sides, so they’ll have similar numbers to Newcastle City Blues, which is great,” she told the Newcastle Weekly.

“The Entrance Bateau Bay has also added a men’s team in the Plate – that part of the Central Coast seems to be doing very well.

“I think everyone’s just looking forward to getting back on the field again after the past two seasons.”

The Terrigal Avoca Panthers and Cardiff Hawks dominated the men’s and women’s competitions respectively in 2021.

And, Francis believes they’ll be among the frontrunners again.

“The Panthers are always your standout in the men’s,” she said.

“However, Killarney Vale will give it a good push this year.

“Newcastle City is always up there, too.

“It’ll be interesting to see how Warners Bay (Bulldogs) go.

“I feel they could be a dark horse in 2022, which would be great.

“In the women’s, the Hawks looked impressive last season in the Cup and Plate.

“They fielded the two squads in 2021 and finished top in both divisions.

“So, they’ll be strong, as will Newcastle City.

“They recently had eight or nine girls play across the Summer Series in the Swans set-up.

“I’m sure the Bombers will make their presence felt as well.”

HCCAFL round one draw

(Saturday 2 April)

Black Diamond Cup Men’s

  • Cardiff Hawks v Newcastle City Blues (Pasterfield Sports Complex)
  • Killarney Vale Bombers v Terrigal Avoca Panthers (Adelaide Street Oval)
  • Warners Bay Bulldogs v Singleton Roosters (Feighan Oval 1)
  • Bye: Maitland Saints

Black Diamond Cup Women’s

  • Cardiff Hawks v Newcastle City Blues (Pasterfield Sports Complex)
  • Killarney Vale Bombers v Terrigal Avoca Panthers (Adelaide Street Oval)
  • Wyong Lakes Magpies v Maitland Saints (Don Small Oval/Northlakes)
  • Warners Bay Bulldogs v Singleton Roosters (Feighan Oval 1)

Black Diamond Plate Men’s

  • Cardiff Hawks v Newcastle City Blues (Pasterfield Sports Complex)
  • Killarney Vale Bombers v Nelson Bay Marlins (Adelaide Street Oval)
  • Wyong Lakes Magpies v Wallsend West Newcastle Swans (Don Small Oval/Northlakes)
  • Lake Macquarie Dockers v Terrigal Avoca Panthers (Tulkaba Park)
  • Bye: The Entrance Bateau Bay

Black Diamond Plate Women’s

  • Cardiff Hawks v Newcastle City Blues (Pasterfield Sports Complex)
  • Killarney Vale Bombers v Port Stephens Power (Adelaide Street Oval)
  • Gosford Tigers v Wallsend West Newcastle Swans (Adcock Park)
  • Lake Macquarie Dockers v Terrigal Avoca Panthers (Tulkaba Park)
  • Bye: The Entrance Bateau Bay

Black Diamond Shield

  • Muswellbrook Rams v Newcastle City Blues (Feighan Oval)
  • Gosford Tigers v Maitland Saints (Adcock Park)
  • Warners Bay Bulldogs v The Entrance Bateau Bay (Feighan Oval 1)
  • Bye: Killarney Vale Bombers

2021 HCCAFL award winners

Minor premiers

  • Black Diamond Cup Men’s – Terrigal Avoca
  • Black Diamond Cup Women’s – Cardiff
  • Black Diamond Plate Men’s – Terrigal Avoca
  • Black Diamond Plate Women’s – Cardiff
  • Black Diamond Shield – Warners Bay

Leading goalkickers

Black Diamond Cup Men’s

  • Mitchell Crawford (Newcastle City) 31
  • Brandon Lloyd (Killarney Vale) 27
  • Harrison Pitt (Terrigal Avoca) 27
  • Angus Quail (Terrigal Avoca) 18
  • Michael Roach (Terrigal Avoca) 16
  • Lachlan Henderson (Gosford) 14

Black Diamond Cup Women’s

  • Emily Conlan (Cardiff) 21
  • Emma-Jayne Howe (Lake Macquarie) 18
  • Willow Smith (Newcastle City) 18
  • Tayla Gregory (Cardiff) 17
  • Luarna Greentree (Wyong Lakes) 14

Black Diamond Plate Men’s

  • Justin McPhan (Wyong Lakes) 33
  • Ethan Formby (Terrigal Avoca) 29
  • David Graan (Cardiff) 24
  • Andrew Walker (Cardiff) 23
  • Scott Reed (The Entrance Bateau Bay) 18

Black Diamond Plate Women’s

  • Kyah McBride (Singleton) 10
  • Claire Walsh (Gosford) 8
  • Erin Bradshaw (Cardiff) 7
  • Jazlen Hooke (Wallsend West Newcastle) 7
  • Sarah Livesey (Wallsend West Newcastle) 7

Black Diamond Shield

  • James Drury (Newcastle City) 24
  • Matthew Weaver (Killarney Vale) 22
  • Ryan Clarke (Warners Bay) 21
  • Zach Symons (Warners Bay) 9
  • Richy Lyons (Killarney Vale) 8

Representative players of the year

  • Ashleigh Page (Killarney Vale)
  • Aaron Duncan (Killarney Vale)
  • Goal umpire of the year: Cameron Moore
  • Boundary umpire of the year: Jonah Finlay
  • Field umpire of the year: David Parsons
  • James J Arnold Clubperson on the Year: Nadene McBride (Singleton), Corey Shackleton (Killarney Vale)

Best and Fairest

  • Black Diamond Cup Men’s: Jack Grimmond (Terrigal Avoca)
  • Black Diamond Cup Women’s: Clare Cummings (Cardiff)
  • Black Diamond Plate Men’s: David Graan (Cardiff)
  • Black Diamond Plate Women’s: Kate Booth (Wallsend West Newcastle), Elise Garlick (Muswellbrook)
  • Black Diamond Shield: Sam Rumball (Warners Bay)

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