Run to the Finals – Predictions for all competitions!

Written By David Redden

 

With five rounds remaining in the inaugural AFLHCC season, it’s time to look into the crystal ball and predict the possible Top 6’s in all three Grades PLUS have a look at potential finals.

AFL HCC BLACK DIAMOND CUP:

Once again, Terrigal Avoca, Newcastle City and Cardiff are blazing the trail at the top of the Cup ladder. The three clubs have lost 4 games between them, coincidentally all to one another.

Cardiff and Terrigal Avoca have played each other twice (with results 1-1), with the Round 15 BARTV clash at No.1 Sportsground against Newcastle City their best opportunity to get into the Top 2, have a week’s rest and book a Preliminary Final berth.

If City win that fixture, it’s a pretty safe bet that Terrigal Avoca and Newcastle City will finish in the Top 2, with both City and Terrigal therefore setting their mind on a respective preliminary final on Saturday August 31^st.

Killarney Vale looks safe to finish either fourth or fifth, giving them a do or die semi-final on Saturday August 24^th.

Singleton’s recent good form has seen them leapfrog a depleted Warners Bay into the all-important fifth place. The two sides meet in Round 15 in a crucial clash at Feighan Oval. Maitland, who finish the season with Terrigal Avoca, Nelson Bay, Cardiff, Killarney Vale and Warners Bay, must win at least three games on the run home, and the last round against Warners Bay in Rutherford could be a sudden-death semi-final qualifier.

Predicted finishing positions – AFL HCC Black Diamond Cup 2019

1. Terrigal Avoca
2. Newcastle City
3. Cardiff
4. Killarney Vale
5. Warners Bay
6. Singleton

Potencial Semi final match ups:

Cardiff vs. Singleton

Killarney Vale vs. Warners Bay

 

AFL HCC WOMENS:

The Top 6 in the Womens Competition seems set, it’s just the finishing order that needs deciding.

Terrigal Avoca’s two superb recent victories over Wyong Lakes and Newcastle City sees them 12 points and 241% ahead of Singleton in sixth place. The Top 6 is so tight that third to sixth (in order, the Magpies, Blues, Hawks and Panthers) are separated by percentage only, with Wyong Lakes’ superb defence seeing them in third spot.

Killarney Vale are bowling along in front, 1 game and 119% in front of second-placed Maitland. The Bombers finish with Nelson Bay, Gosford, the Bye, Port Stephens and a massive Round 18 clash at Rutherford against Maitland. Killarney Vale seems odds-on to finish 1 or 2 and play a Preliminary Final after a week’s rest.

Maitland finish with the Bye, Nelson Bay, Muswellbrook, a huge clash away to Cardiff then Killarney Vale. Maitland would need to beat one of either Cardiff or Killarney to secure a week off before a preliminary final.

Wyong Lakes, Cardiff, Terrigal Avoca and Newcastle City will all want to finish third or fourth, and their battle for those positions and the possibility of knocking Maitland out of the Top 2 will frame the last five weeks of the season.

Predicted finishing positions – AFL HCC Women’s 2019

1. Killarney Vale
2. Maitland
3. Wyong Lakes
4. Newcastle City
5. Terrigal Avoca
6. Cardiff

Potencial Semi final match ups:

Wyong Lakes v Cardiff

Newcastle City v Terrigal Avoca

 

AFL HCC BLACK DIAMOND PLATE:

Once again, the two dominant sides in the Plate, Terrigal Avoca and Newcastle City, have ladder separation from TEBB, Killarney Vale, Muswellbrook and Warners Bay.

It’s very hard to see those two clubs being knocked out the Preliminary Finals, with attention then focussing on whether Cardiff can knock Muswellbrook and/or Warners Bay out of the Top 6.

Predicted finishing positions – AFL HCC Black Diamond Plate 2019

1. Terrigal Avoca
2. Newcastle City
3. TEBB
4. Killarney Vale
5. Muswellbrook
6. Warners Bay

Potencial Semi final match ups:

TEBB v Warners Bay

Killarney Vale v Muswellbrook

 

It should be a fascinating end to the Home & Away and a wonderfully competitive finals series.

 

Stay tuned for Finals venue announcements next week!