AFL Hunter Central Coast Senior Week 1 Plate Finals Preview 2022
by Alex Tigani
AFL BLACK DIAMOND MENS PLATE
Second Semi Final (2:15pm – Dick Burwell Oval)
The Entrance Bateau Bay (2nd) vs. Nelson Bay (3rd)
Newcastle City’s line-up are ready to avenge the heartache of their 2020 grand final defeat to Terrigal Avoca. The question is, who is their biggest threat?
The Entrance Bateau Bay put on a clinic to defeat the minor premier 11.22 (88) to 3.3 (21) with nine unanswered goals in Round 10. It marked the seventh straight week key forward Scott Reed finished with 3+ goals. However the line-up has been unable to match the premiership favourite since.
They will need to make an early statement on the Marlins through former Terrigal Avoca Panther Kenneth Szaladzinski and his vice-captain Ryan Besley, one of five remaining members from his club’s 2019 grand final side. On paper, this side can make a grand final.
MEANWHILE Nelson Bay has ticked most boxes in the AFL Black Diamond Plate men’s competition after their entry from the top tier. They enter the finals hot off of a three-game winning streak and former Sydney Swan Craig Bird was the star of the show last week with four goals in their 80-point win over Cardiff. The home ground advantage will also be of great benefit.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Craig Bird (Nelson Bay). Enough said.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 14, 2022. The Entrance Bateau Bay 10.8 (68) defeated Nelson Bay 9.11 (65) at Bateau Bay Oval.
FINAL PREDICTION: Nelson Bay by 24 points.
First Semi Final (2:15pm – Pasterfield Sports Complex)
Wyong Lakes (4th) vs. Terrigal-Avoca (5th)
The Magpies’ impressive 4-0 start to the season was a talking point around the AFL Hunter Central Coast region in the first half of the season. Though they were unable to hold onto their spot in the top three, you can never underestimate a group under the guidance of Josh Lawler (football operations) and that proved to be the case when celebrating recent home wins against Cardiff and Nelson Bay.
Both of their head-to-head clashes were decided by a margin below three goals in 2022 with one win to each side. Though Terrigal Avoca prevailed in their last meeting the availability of top tier talents Luke Bury and Joshua Polglasse certainly helped the Panthers’ cause in their last 13-point win over the Magpies. Local representative legend Pete Van dam and Corey Billins will be two players to watch for the Panthers going forward in this finals series.
Overall, it is very hard to see Wyong letting this one slip. Three very unlucky players have made way for returning ruckman Brayden Tos, winger Pete Drzal and small forward Matthew Gray who scored a crucial goal against the Panthers in Round 8.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Brayden Tos (Wyong Lakes). His record speaks for itself as the 2017 Granland medal winner and the best on the ground for the Hunter Central Coast representative line-up in 2019. He can play ruck or forward and will be a hard match up for his Panthers’ opponents.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 8, 2022. Wyong Lakes 9.10 (64) defeated by Terrigal Avoca Panthers 11.11 (77) at Central Coast Sports Complex.
FINAL PREDICTION: Wyong Lakes by 36 points.
AFL BLACK DIAMOND WOMENS PLATE
Second Semi Final (11:45am – Dick Burwell Oval)
Lake Macquarie (2nd) vs. Newcastle City (3rd)
Lake Macquarie has one of the best women’s lists in the competition and the proof is in the pudding. Since entering the AFL Black Diamond Women’s Plate competition only minor premier Cardiff have been able to hold off the Dockers.
Defensively the Dockers enter the first week of the finals competition having won 14 of their past 15 matches. Defensively they have one of the best records as they have been able to keep their opponents to one goal or less in nine of their 15 wins. They field a midfield worthy of re-entry to the top tier competition while up forward a haul of five goals brought Emma-Jayne Howe’s goal-kicking tally to 58 for the season.
Can the Dockers avenge their 2020 grand final loss to Singleton? Last week’s 51-point win over Newcastle City indicates that the squad is ready for another crack at the grand final.
Rosie-Bless Bourke has been rated as one of the league’s most underrated players by her opponents. She may be the answer for Newcastle City this Saturday.
PLAYER TO WATCH: For years Emma-Jayne Howe (Lake Macquarie) has been the goal-sneak of the competition. In that same time, Apryl Bailey has continued to improve up forward and she also enters the final with 24 goals to her name. A proven representative talent, there’s every chance she may line-up on Newcastle City’s lockdown defender as the game goes on.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 18, 2022. Lake Macquarie 9.9 (63) defeated Newcastle City 1.6 (12) at Tulkaba Park.
FINAL PREDICTION: Lake Macquarie by 42 points.
First Semi Final (11:45am – Pasterfield Sports Complex)
Terrigal Avoca (4th) vs. Wallsend West Newcastle (5th)
Terrigal Avoca bounced back from a season opening defeat to Lake Macquarie with three straight wins against Port Stephens, Gosford and The Entrance Bateau Bay. Yet form slumps and player availability meant we were unable to see them string three consecutive wins since May and, as a result, they have been denied the double chance this finals series.
Our BarTV cameras saw the Swans celebrate a 7.6 (48) to 1.3 (9) victory over the Panthers at Hylton Moore Oval however you can’t read too much into this result. The Swans were strengthened by Maitland stars Halle Craige and Emily Docking while the Panthers were best served by Kirstie Hutton and Bronte Korsch; a luxury they will not have this time around either.
After the heartache of a shock preliminary final defeat to Singleton in 2020, expect Wallsend West Newcastle to come out firing.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Jaz Hooke (Wallsend West Newcastle) had a second quarter to remember up forward when these two sides last met. That afternoon she booted three goals in a ten-minute highlight reel, four for the match and 47 for the season. There’s every chance we will see her boot her 50th for the season by halftime this Saturday.
LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 11, 2022. Terrigal Avoca 1.3 (9) defeated by Wallsend West Newcastle 7.6 (48) at Hylton Moore Oval.
FINAL PREDICTION: Wallsend West Newcastle by 40 points.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alex Tigani is the deputy editor of The Hunter River Times newspaper who enters his second season on the AFL Hunter Central Coast BarTV commentary team. Prior to his stint in the Hunter Valley he was the editor of the Geelong and District Football League record, presenter on the GDFL Footy Show (Channel 31 Melbourne and Geelong) and a freelance writer for the Geelong Advertiser.
Email: alex@hunterrivertimes.com.au
Twitter: AETigani
Instagram: Alextigani
