Round 1 is here!

Get Excited as Alex Tigani Previews AFL Hunter Central Coast First Round of 2023

AFL BLACK DIAMOND MENS CUP

Killarney Vale vs. Cardiff – Live on BarTV

We open this season with a blockbuster at Adelaide Street Oval.

The Bombers will aim for back-to-back premierships for the first time since the merger of the Newcastle and Central Coast competitions in 2000 while Cardiff look every chance to end a 17-year premiership drought. The home side will have a few gaps to fill following the departures of Tim Oosterhoff (Coolamon), Trent Stubbs (Balmain) and AFLHCC representative medallist Aaron Duncan (Parramatta) yet should still enter the with confidence through the next generation of premiership talent via Ryan Arthur, Jye Boby and Brandon Lloyd. Cardiff’s midfield is also looking strong making this a mouth-watering season opener.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Luke Flack (Killarney Vale). His run in the middle will be very important due to the Bombers’ absent ball winners this weekend.

LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 12, 2022. Cardiff 5.11 (41) defeated by Killarney Vale 22.7 (139) at Pasterfield Sports Complex.

FINAL PREDICTION: Cardiff by 12 points.

Singleton Roosters vs. Terrigal Avoca

After securing a sole win in 2022, many would feel sorry for Singleton after learning they will kick start the season against last year’s top four sides. Incoming senior coach Tim Hare has embraced the challenge after a fitness themed pre-season and a 62-point trial match win against Muswellbrook for the Nathan Duncan Shield. The Roosters will bring back a number of key players in season 2023 while youngsters Dorian Thornberry, Seth Kolatchew and Lachlan Wellard have all been selected to make a senior debut.

It is unlikely to see Terrigal Avoca suffering a shock loss as they aim for a record eleventh straight grand final appearance. Pencil in the Panthers under Chris Bishop once again.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Jackson Channon (Singleton Roosters). The big man has lost 30kg since returning to Rose Point Park. Expect lots of running from ruckman.

LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 12, 2022. Terrigal Avoca 27.17 (179) defeated Singleton 4.6 (30) at Hylton Moore Oval.

FINAL PREDICTION: Terrigal Avoca by 40 points.

Warners Bay vs. Newcastle City

Newcastle City proved to have the quantity of players in 2022 when all three men’s sides made finals. The question remains, do they have the quality to return to the top two of the Men’s Cup competition? Up forward, the likes of Josh Taylor and Mitchell Crawford combined for seven goals the last time these sides met. Expect City to have multi avenues to goal once more.

Warners Bay’s middle tier of players will enter the season with confidence following last year’s Shield premiership. Many of these players will fill spots throughout the ground while up forward Brandt Job is a popular pick for this year’s Maurice Goolagong Trophy.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Lachlan Deverall (Warners Bay). Known to poll an Elliott-Davey medal vote or two regardless of his side’s position on the ladder.

LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 18, 2022. Warners Bay 5.5 (35) defeated by Newcastle City 14.16 (100) at Feighan Oval.

FINAL PREDICTION: Newcastle City by 10 points.

Maitland Saints vs. The Entrance Bateau Bay

The Maitland Saints commence the season with a run of three straight home games therefore they will hope to make the most of this opportunity. The Saints have won two pre-season clashes and have blooded a long list of teenagers in recent years that near the 50-game milestone in 2023. The departure of Xavier Russell (Lavington) is notable however expect a big year out of Sam Jordan who already looms on the team of the year radar.

Do not expect too much out of The Entrance Bateau Bay in the opening month given their limited pre-season. Former Collingwood rookie Scott Reed in what will be his first game at Max McMahon Oval in many years.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Tristan Carter (The Entrance Bateau Bay). A solid contributor in last year’s Plate finals series, he has been named at centre half back.

FINAL PREDICTION: Maitland by 32 points.

AFL BLACK DIAMOND WOMENS CUP

Killarney Vale vs. Cardiff – Live on BarTV

Will this be the grand final preview? It is a brave call given the dominance of Newcastle City over the past decade however one we may have to consider by the end of the weekend if we a treated to a tight contest. Killarney Vale climbed from fourth and a late 87-point defeat to City last season back to the grand final stage. They finished one kick shy of a top tier premiership.

Cardiff was the line-up expected to make the big dance. Although the departures of Danika Spamer, Beth Martini and Hayley Hawkins will be an impact the Hawks will continue to build off of a squad which made grand finals in women’s plate, youth girls 17 and youth girls 15 competitions.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Bethany Wood (Killarney Vale) is worthy of being a premiership captain in 2023. The team’s mission starts this Saturday.

LAST TIME THEY MET: Preliminary final, 2022. Cardiff 3.2 (20) defeated by Killarney Vale 3.4 (22) at Feighan Oval.

FINAL PREDICTION: Killarney Vale by 24 points.

Singleton Roosterettes vs. Terrigal Avoca

This will be an important clash to gage the gap between last year’s finalists and those ready to make their mark in season 2023. Terrigal Avoca have mixed many of their pre-season sessions with their men’s squad while the Roosterettes have worked as a separate entity by blooding talents from their incoming 17s line-up.

Singleton was very competitive in their first Cup clash against the Panthers last year thanks to memorable goals by Karen Davey and Tori Cowburn before Terrigal secured a 103-point win in their second outing. Many suspect this season opener to go down to the wire following the Roosterettes’ trial match wins against Muswellbrook, Maitland and Warners Bay.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Lynan Scott (Singleton Roosterettes). The ball winner can play in any position and looked impressive throughout last week’s tournament.

LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 15, 2022. Terrigal Avoca 17.8 (110) defeated Singleton 1.1 (7) at Hylton Moore Oval.

FINAL PREDICTION: Singleton by 12 points.

Warners Bay vs. Newcastle City

Many have pencilled in a win for Newcastle City following their dominance over the Bulldogs in recent years but do not write off the home side on this occasion. Warners Bay’s ball winners Jasmine Wellings, Rickelle Peris and Cassie Nugent have welcomed a high calibre of talent from Wallsend West Newcastle, most notably Iesha Veness.

Newcastle City will remain the red-hot favourite. Former GWS player Sarah Halvorsen completed her season with a premiership and best on ground medal. She commenced 2023 as one of the standouts for the AFLHCC women’s rep side.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Too many players to pick for this clash. Instead, I would like to wish all the best to both incoming coaches the best for season 2023.

LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 18, 2022. Warners Bay 0.0 (0) defeated by Newcastle City 16.14 (110) at Feighan Oval.

FINAL PREDICTION: Newcastle City by 20 points.

Remaining clashes:

Mens Plate

10:30am – Warners Bay vs. Newcastle City at Feighan Oval

10:30am – Killarney Vale vs. Cardiff at Adelaide Street Oval

2pm – Wyong Lakes vs. Terrigal Avoca at Don Small Oval

Womens Plate

8:50am – Killarney Vale vs. Cardiff at Adelaide Street Oval

10:20am – Maitland vs. The Entrance Bateau Bay at Max McMahon Oval

12:20pm – Gosford vs. Terrigal Avoca at Adcock Park

1pm – Port Stephens vs. Newcastle City at Ferodale Oval

Mens Shield

10am – Singleton vs. Muswellbrook at Rose Point Park

12pm – Maitland vs. The Entrance Bateau Bay at Max McMahon Oval

2pm – Gosford vs. Lake Macquarie at Adcock Park

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.