AFL HUNTER CENTRAL COAST ROUND 8 PREVIEWS by Alex Tigani

AFL BLACK DIAMOND MENS CUP

Nelson Bay vs. Newcastle City (1pm)

Newcastle City is in the box seat to secure the top spot on the ladder with a big win over Nelson Bay. The visitors bounced back from their shock 6.12 (48) to 5.17 (47) semi final defeat to Nelson Bay in 2017 to win their last seven head-to-head clashes by an average margin of 104 points. It is hard to see their streak against the Marlins coming to an end in this top vs. bottom clash.

Forward Josh Taylor stood up in the absence of Max Quinlan last week to slot six goals in his side’s 83-point win over The Entrance Bateau Bay. The powerhouse also rectified opening quarter defeats to Killarney Vale, Terrigal Avoca and Cardiff when capturing a 17-7 lead in the inside 50 count by the first break. The next step is to improve on goal-kicking accuracy after final scorelines of 9.11 (65), 6.9 (45) and 17.23 (125) in recent weeks.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Michael Hendry (Newcastle City). Named in the club’s senior side for a third straight week.

LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 12, 2021. Nelson Bay 5.9 (39) defeated by Newcastle City 15.8 (98) at Dick Burwell Oval.

FINAL PREDICTION: Newcastle City by 70.

Warners Bay vs. Singleton (2pm)

Arguably the match of the round, the Singleton Roosters came close to pulling off one of their greatest triumphs in the Men’s Cup when travelling to Maitland on Saturday. The Roosters, who were already missing goal-kickers Vahid Roser, Cameron White and Jackson Kolatchew, lost key targets Sam Brasington (hamstring), Ethan Kolatchew (ankle) and Daltyn McCartney (knee) by halftime. Yet they claimed the lead twice more in the dying stages of the clash. Sadly, the siren signalled a four-point defeat which brought their winning record back to 2-4.

On the other hand, Warners Bay displayed dominance on a depleted Killarney Vale line-up with a 24-point win to transform their initial 0-3 record to a 3-1-3 tally. The home side has made 17 changes across their two line-ups with Archer Harkness, Zach Symons, Connor Betts and Guy Roast added to this week’s Men’s Cup side.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Joey Harrison (Warners Bay). The talented Sydney Swans academy under-18 ball winner returns for his second senior game.

LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 7, 2022. Warners Bay 15.14 (104) defeated Singleton 1.2 (8) at Feighan Oval.

FINAL PREDICTION: Warners Bay by 1.

Terrigal Avoca vs. Maitland (2pm on Bar TV)

He’s back. Terrigal Avoca full forward Harrison Pitt makes his return to the side for the first time since Round 5 following a hand injury. The key forward was the star of the show the last time these two clubs met by scoring 10 of his side’s 31 goals and asserting his dominance against Maitland’s lockdown defenders through his countless contested marks. The Saints will do what they can to nullify Pitt’s impact and have one less key target to worry about with the absence of Mitchell Price.

After years of one-sided head to head defeats, this isn’t just a winnable match for the Saints – this is a must win for Dustin Spriggs’ men who hold onto fourth spot by a whisker ahead of Terrigal Avoca, Warners Bay and Singleton. Defenders Sam Jordan, Jarrod Inglis and Jack Ellis have continued to impress. Can they inspire the Saints to a historic win at Hylton Moore?

PLAYER TO WATCH: Mark Skuse (Terrigal Avoca). His experience will come in handy against a very young opposition.

LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 11, 2022. Terrigal Avoca 31.8 (194) defeated Maitland 2.1 (13) at Hylton Moore Oval.

FINAL PREDICTION: Terrigal Avoca by 35.

Killarney Vale vs. The Entrance Bateau Bay (2:30pm)

The Bombers only suffered one defeat last year and have already conceded two in the opening seven rounds of 2023. Yet it is important to note the reigning premier was missing 10+ key players in Saturday’s defeat to Warners Bay while their inaccurate 4.15 (39) score line played a factor in their nine-point defeat to Newcastle City. The return of Tom Mumford and Alex Bailey should be enough to see the Bombers climb back into the top two. As for the top spot, the Bombers will then need Nelson Bay to pull off a miracle win against Newcastle City.

Prior to Round 1, many had pencilled this clash as the potential top vs. bottom match-up however the Blues have defied their critics with a convincing win over Nelson Bay, a draw against finals hopeful Warners Bay and two dominant second half performances against Maitland and Singleton.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Dane Amidy (The Entrance Bateau Bay). A great of the game on the Central Coast.

FINAL PREDICTION: Killarney Vale by 12.

AFL BLACK DIAMOND WOMENS CUP

Warners Bay vs. Newcastle City (12pm)

There are promising signs for the Bulldogs in the long-term future of the Women’s Cup competition. Many players from the club’s under-17 side, coached by Aaron Ford, have been selected at representative level for this season’s tournaments. Each one will make a great addition to the women’s line-up in years to come. However the grind will continue for the Bulldogs who will have faced off against grand final hopefuls Newcastle City and Terrigal Avoca twice by the end of this round. We’re hoping for a much closer contest than the season opener.

Many of Newcastle City’s key targets were well matched in the first half against Singleton on Saturday. Thankfully for first year coach Brett Godfrey, he had multiple avenues to goal. Amy Pittman was the star of the day, scoring eight of her side’s 15 goals.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Jaz Hooke (Warners Bay). Remains her side’s leading goal-kicker with five goals.

LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 1, 2023. Warners Bay 0.0 (0) defeated by Newcastle City 15.16 (106) at Feighan Oval.

FINAL PREDICTION: Newcastle City by 80 points.

Cardiff vs. Killarney Vale (1pm)

It is funny how footy works sometimes. The absence of departing stars Sarah Vucovich, Beth Martini and Danika Spamer played a factor in the Cardiff Hawks’ inability to score against the Bombers in Round 1. Fast forward 56 days later and the Hawks are every chance of handing the Bombers their first defeat of season 2023. The Hawks have continued to capitalise from half back in their wins against Warners Bay, Singleton, Terrigal Avoca and Lake Macquarie while their last line of defence has only conceded eight goals in their past five games.

It is still very hard to tip against the Bombers who have won their opening six games of the season by an average margin of 66-points.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Rochelle Davis (Killarney Vale) finished with three goals against Cardiff in Round 1.

LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 1, 2023. Killarney Vale 10.7 (67) defeated Cardiff 0.0 (0) at Adelaide Street Oval.

FINAL PREDICTION: Killarney Vale by 20.

Terrigal Avoca vs. Singleton – Forfeit

Sadly, there will only be two matches in the top tier this Saturday after the Singleton Roosterettes forfeited their Round 8 clash which was to be played against the Panthers. The Roosterettes added Kyah McBride and Niamh Ansboro to their long term injury list which already featured ball winner Chloe Jones and Alix O’Bryan. As

the week went on, continued injuries and illness saw the unavailability of 19 players sidelined to the disappointment of the select few who were available.

This now means that the Panthers’ clash against Lake Macquarie in Round 9 will be the line up’s only match for 42 days. The Roosterettes will return from a 28 day break in Round 10 when they travel to play Newcastle City.

LAST TIME THEY MET: Round 1, 2023. Singleton 2.6 (18) defeated by Terrigal Avoca 9.5 (59) at Rose Point Park.

Remaining clashes:

Mens Plate

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

11am – Cardiff vs. Killarney Vale at Pasterfield Sports Complex

12pm on BarTV – Terrigal Avoca vs. Wyong at Hylton Moore Oval

Womens Plate

10am –Terrigal Avoca vs. Maitland at Hylton Moore Oval

12pm – Port Stephens vs. Gosford Killarney Vale at Ferodale Oval

12:20pm – Muswellbrook vs. Newcastle City at Pasterfield Sports Complex

12:50pm – Killarney Vale vs. The Entrance Bateau Bay at Adelaide Street Oval

Mens Shield

12pm –Singleton vs. Newcastle City at Bateau Bay Oval

12pm – Maitland vs. Gosford at Max McMahon Oval

12pm – Lake Macquarie vs. The Entrance Bateau Bay at Tulkaba Oval

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alex Tigani is the deputy editor of The Hunter River Times newspaper who enters his third 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.