2022 Black Diamond Grand Final Reviews

Black Diamond Cup Men’s – Killarney Vale v Terrigal Avoca

Killarney Vale end the drought – Written by Alex Tigani

There was a sense of relief for Killarney Vale coach Corey Shackleton in the days after his side’s 11-point premiership win against Terrigal-Avoca.

And rightly so.

Even the minor premier, which had annihilated the Panthers in the second-semi-final a fortnight earlier, was no guarantee to defeat the league’s modern-day powerhouse.

Key forward Brandon Lloyd set the tone early for the Bombers with the opening goal, igniting his supporters in the opening minute of the match.

Big man Mitchell Price, the 2020 Elliott-Davey medal winner, replied for the Panthers to hand them a narrow lead.

Dual Elliott-Davey medallist Tim Oosterhoff, who had kicked 100 goals in 2022, brought back some of his ruck craft and fed Joshua Mifsud for a memorable goal.

After a goalless 15 minutes the tall target had a grand opportunity to extend his side’s lead on the siren.

Though he would hit the woodwork, the chase down by his teammate Ryan Arthur made for the opening quarter highlight in the leading play.

For the second straight quarter, Lloyd found the first goal.

Fill the hill was the slogan for Panthers supporters who cheered on Scott Burkinshaw on the last line of defence.

Bombers’ fans were left in frustration with an eight-minute patch of missed opportunities as Terrigal Avoca’s Luke Bury trimmed the margin back to four points.

The Panthers then regained the lead at the main break when Price landed his second.

Who would be the answer for Killarney Vale in the premiership quarter?

Enter Trent Stubbs.

After a missed opportunity in the second term, the former Collingwood rookie displayed an eight-minute patch unlike any other in the Black Diamond Cup grand final history.

A four-goal display elevated the 30-year-old from grand final contributor to the league’s cult hero as the Bombers secured a 28-point lead.

Even his coach Corey Shackleton displayed a smile as he embraced forward on the bench at the 11-minute mark.

It should also be noted that Arthur, a contender for this year’s team of the year, also snuck a goal in the Stubbs’ patch while Luke Flack’s assist in the final goal was noted by opposing coaches watching live across the region.

Flack then ignited the home crowd with a goal to cap off the premiership quarter.

The Panthers never surrendered as they scored three of the opening four goals of the final term.

Killarney Vale’s Lachlan Waters had the last laugh when scoring the sealer.

Little did he know he would be accepting two medals when called to the premiership dais.

“Terrigal have killed us throughout my senior footy career so it was good to finally get one over you,” Waters said.

These words were sincere as Terrigal-Avoca had played in every grand final for the past decade, capturing premierships in 2012, 2014-15, 2017 and 2019-20.

“It was unreal to have two Central Coast teams playoff at a Central Coast venue,” Terrigal Avoca captain Kurt Flemming explained.

“Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come.”

Winning captain Brad Edwards called up all of his players, the final teammate being Brendan Lewis who watched on as his former teammates won the 2007 grand final against Newcastle City.

This time, he received the loudest applause.

Then, there was the coach Corey Shackleton.

“Over the past four years we have taken on so much from how Terrigal perform in the big moments so it has been really great to get here now and just challenge you guys, ten years of making grand finals in a row is just outstanding,” Shackleton declared.

From there he thanked his club’s supporters, sponsors, leaders and volunteers.

Then he praised his entire playing squad, not just the 22 who were selected to take to the field.

“They are all just as part of it as the players who played today, I legitimately love everyone of you and you know what – we did it – here it is,” he concluded.

FINAL SCORES
Killarney Vale 11.5 (71)
Terrigal Avoca 8.10 (58)

 

Black Diamond Cup Women’s – Newcastle City v Killarney Vale

City pip Bombers in thriller – Written by Alex Tigani

Newcastle City celebrated its fifth consecutive women’s premiership in the top tier this year.

However this one did not go to script.

Unlike their 36-point triumph in 2019 against Maitland or their 59-point annihilation of Nelson Bay in 2017, the powerhouse settled for a 3.6 (24) to 3.3 (21) win against Killarney Vale.

Neither side could convert until Meagan McDonald scored her first of two goals less than 30 seconds into the third term.

Her second goal handed her side a 14-point lead eight minutes into the term before Holly Buchanan put the Bombers on the board with her first goal since Round 5.

Mia Wilson continued the momentum with another two goals to hand the Bombers a two-point lead at the final break.

Though five of the decider’s six goals were scored in third term, the highlight of the quarter was the omission of teenager Nikita Carter who departed the ground to check on her opponent Raegan Dunn after an accidental clash on the boundary line.

In the end there could only be one winner as former GWS Giant Sarah Halvorsen set up her teammate Caitlin Holcombe for the winning goal.

Halvorsen was judged best on ground by the umpires.

“That was a proper contest and it was the best one that we have had all year,” Newcastle City ball winner Taylor Joyce said.

“We have had a strong group across the board with a core group that has stuck together for a few years.”

Killarney Vale captain Bethany Wood also admitted she was proud of her group after they held limited to one goal the last time the two sides had met.

“Newcastle City has been the benchmark of the league since the comp started it and they bring it every week so we knew what we were up against,” Wood added.

“I’m so proud of the girls, we finished fourth and nobody expected us to be here today – even the preview said we were going to get flogged by 60 points and it was only three points.”

Behind the scenes, the Newcastle City girls revealed that coach Jon Clark would retire after four years while it is understood that Killarney Vale coach Michael Smith welcomed his first child a few days earlier.

“Before we hand the medals out we really want to thank our retiring coach Clarky, thank you for the past four years of efforts, late nights, messages and hard work,” Joyce added.

FINAL SCORES
Newcastle City 3.6 (24)
Killarney Vale 3.3 (21)

 

Black Diamond Plate Men’s – Nelson Bay v Newcastle City

Written by David Redden

A superb defensive performance from Nelson Bay, in which they kept Newcastle City to five goals, was the catalyst for their deserved AFLHCC Plate Grand Final victory in a game played in a strong cross-breeze at the Bateau Bay Sporting Facility.

Final scores were Nelson Bay 9.5.59 to Newcastle City 5.8.38.

There was early drama, with star Marlins ruckman Billy Barton yellow-carded and placed in the Sin Bin after only three minutes after an off-the-ball incident.

A serious early injury to key Nelson Bay backman Adam Blyth (dislocated left shoulder) left the Marlins with 21 men for the majority of the game.

City were up and about in a close first half, keeping star Marlins full-forward Wayd Blackburne quiet and winning plenty of ball in contests through Damian Magin, forward-ruckman Cam Keast, skipper Eddie Court and midfielders Jarrod Anderson and Ben Cant.

Key backman Harrison Lack, Kai Offen and Nik Ellis-Brody, thrown back to cover for the injured Blyth, very important for the Marlins.

City suffered significant injuries around half-time to Thomas Hanley and Oliver Gilmour (both ankle injuries), leaving them with nineteen fit men on a warm, humid afternoon at Passage Road and Nelson Bay took care of business in the second half.

On-ballers Craig Bird, Barton and half-forward David Wood were unstoppable and fed the brilliant League Best & Fairest Blackburne, who finished with six goals despite City keeping the Marlins to just the nine majors overall.

Youngster Lack won the Steve Smith Medal for best on ground, aided and abetted by Offen, Bird, Barton and Blackburne.

City did not stop all day, with coach Marty Reiman a proud but dejected figure after the game. The Blues were best served by Anderson, Cant, Magin, Jarred Matson and Dom Stanbridge.

FINAL SCORES
Nelson Bay 9.5 (59)
Newcastle City 5.8 (38)

 

Black Diamond Plate Women’s – Lake Macquarie v Cardiff

Lake Macquarie prevail in decider – Written by Alex Tigani

Lake Macquarie rectified an upset qualifying final win by finishing the season on top as the premiers in the Women’s Plate competition.

The second placed line-up kept their premiership hopes alive with wins over Terrigal-Avoca and Newcastle City to secure a second straight grand final berth.

Gun forwards Emma-Jayne Howe and Apryl Bailey looked lively early however it was Kalari Beitsch and Kimberely Trappett thanks to some brilliant kicking by vice-captain Chelsea Flemming.

Tall target Eliza Schramm responded for the Hawks who trimmed the Dockers lead to five points at the first break.

An injury to Cardiff defender Tenaya Marks enabled the Dockers to score the only goal of the second term courtesy of Trappett.

Goal-kickers Howe, Trappett and Bailey all scored their second major in the premiership quarter to extend the side’s lead to 36-points.

By the time one Cardiff player found the goal-post from directly in front, lady luck was clearly on Lake Macquarie’s side.

Thankfully, Schramm stood tall to kick two quick goals.

Though Howe lead the goal-kicking at final break with three, Trappett appeared destined for the individual medal thanks to a memorable eight-minute patch.

By the time she kicked her third, only three minutes into the final term, the premiership medals were heading back to Tulkaba Park.

“If Trappett doesn’t win the medal today, I will storm the stage myself and ask for a recount,” BarTV commentator Cori Hopper declared.

The Hawks finished the game with some jovial goal-celebrations and fierce momentum at each stoppage.

Yet even Dockers’ defender Hannah Olive was able to stand up on the last line of defence to deny the Hawks from trimming the final margin.

Lake Macquarie captain and league best and fairest winner Sheldon Jannisen called out her teammates to accept their premiership medals.

She then held back tears when presenting the final one to her coach and proud father John.

“I’m about to cry,” she announced.

“I have seen the hard yards that Dad has put into this club the last 25 years and it is really nice to bring one of these home for him.”

FINAL SCORES
Lake Macquarie 9.5 (59)
Cardiff 5.8 (38)

 

Black Diamond Shield – Warners Bay v Muswellbrook

Written by David Redden

The AFLHCC Shield Grand Final between Warners Bay & Muswellbrook was a very hard-fought game of football, played in a strong cross-breeze at the Bateau Bay Sporting Facility.

After a dogged first half in which only four goals were kicked, Warners Bay pushed away in the second half, kicking six goals to four to run eventual winners, 8.12.60 to Muswellbrook’s 7.4.46.

The tricky conditions made scoring very difficult in a rugged first half, with Muswellbrook leading at the main break by a mere four points.

The Cats backline were superb early on, with Lindsay Patterson and Campbell Schmierer repelling countless forays into their defensive fifty metre arc. Shaun Wilkins featured in his role as back-up ruckman, providing a great match for giant Bulldogs ruckman Robert Barlow. Sam Rumball excelled in the first half in a midfield role for the Dogs, whose kicking in the first half (2.6) provided frustration for player-coach Elliot Maher.

After the mother of all half-time sprays from Maher, Warners Bay came out firing in the premiership quarter, their run and carry providing a huge challenge for the bigger Muswellbrook outfit. Barlow started to dominate the hitouts, providing Rumball and Luke McKenna plenty of quality ball in the midfield.

The Dogs kicked 3.4 to 1.0 in the pivotal third quarter, and despite an even last quarter where both sides kicked three goals as the breeze abated for a short period, the Bulldogs had done enough to secure a priceless flag for the Feighan Oval faithful.

Warners Bay had eight individual goal kickers, whilst key forwards Jayden Galvin and Cam Benkovic kicked two each for the Cats.

Barlow won the Bill Best Medal for best on ground, well supported by Rumball, McKenna, Leo Vo and Donald Paton.

Muswellbrook, gallant in defeat, were best served by Wilkins, Paterson, Schmierer and Ben Howarth.

FINAL SCORES
Warners Bay 8.12 (60)
Muswellbrook 7.4 (46)