The Singleton Roosters are probably wishing every round of the AFL Hunter Central Coast (AFLHCC) season celebrated Sir Doug Nicholls fixtures.
The annual indigenous showpiece provided an excellent background to the club’s impressive victories over the Gosford Tigers at Rose Point Park at the weekend.
On the eve of the match, senior vice-president Jake Mellon admitted the showdowns – to commemorate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and contribution to Australian football – meant a lot to the Roosters.
“It’s a pretty special round, this one,” he said.
“We have a lot of indigenous players at the club, so we’re keen to support them and acknowledge their proud heritage.”
And, that’s exactly what they did, by letting their footy do the talking on the field.
Singleton knocked over Gosford 8.8-56 to 4.13-37 in the Black Diamond Cup Men’s encounter.
But, the Tigers started the stronger by leading 1.6.-12 to 1.1-7 at the first break.
Singleton, with Alex Stafa, Sam Brasington and Dylan Hixon on point with their kicking boots, then lifted a gear.
The hosts went in at half-time ahead 4.3-27 to 1.9-15.
Even though Gosford responded well in the third term, the visitors still trailed 7.4-46 to 3.13-31.
In the final period, the Roosters remained in control to run out 19-point winners.
Stafa, Brasington and Hixon each landed two goals, with Cameron White and Zac Gayfer also chipping in.
The Tigers’ majors were scored by Jack Colvin, Oliver South, Lachlan Henderson and Brad Deitz.
In the best player honours, Singleton’s stars included Brasington, Sam Howard, skipper Jed Ellis-Cluff, David Oman and Gayfer.
Sam Hughes, South, Josh Gleisner, Pat Murphy, Cameron Cox and Colvin stood out in a losing side.
In other senior results, the Warners Bay Bulldogs defeated the Killarney Vale Bombers 11.7-73 to 5.7-37, the Maitland Saints hammered the Nelson Bay Marlins 19.11-125 to 5.3-33, the Terrigal Avoca Panthers overpowered the Cardiff Hawks 21.20-146 to 2.6-18 and the Newcastle City Blues enjoyed the bye.
Meanwhile, the second-placed Roosterettes put the Tigresses to the sword, 7.12-54 to 1.1-7, in the Black Diamond Plate Women’s clash.
Singleton youngster Kyah McBride led the way with a four-goal haul and was ably supported by Nikki Robson, Olive Thomas and Amy Johnson.
Claire Walsh was the lone scorer for Gosford.
The Roosterettes’ best were McBride, Thomas, Robson, Lua Roser, Hannah Cox and Neisha Macpherson.
For the Tigresses, Tayla MacKay, Emma Brady, Nikita Carter, Brooke Ashcroft, Hayley Nichols and Courtney Mitchell shone.
AFL Hunter Central Coast
Round seven results:
2021 Black Diamond Cup Men’s
Warners Bay Bulldogs defeated Killarney Vale Bombers 11.7-73 to 5.7-37
Maitland Saints defeated Nelson Bay Marlins 19.11-125 to 5.3-33
Singleton Roosters defeated Gosford Tigers 8.8-56 to 4.13-37
Terrigal Avoca Panthers defeated Cardiff Hawks 21.20-146 to 2.6-18
Bye: Newcastle City Blues
2021 Black Diamond Cup Women’s
Killarney Vale Bombers defeated Warners Bay Bulldogs 11.10-76 to 1.4-10
Newcastle City Blues defeated Wyong Lakes Magpies 14.6-90 to 1.2-8
Lake Macquarie Dockers defeated Maitland Saints 9.11-65 to 4.2-26
Cardiff Hawks defeated Terrigal Avoca Panthers 12.16-88 to 1.5-11
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