On the Mark by Oliver Croft

Round 1

Written by Oliver Croft

Well footy fans, it’s that time of year again. Our turf cricket wickets are circled with spray paint, creating the center of the game’s start, boots pulled from under beds, new socks purchased and the tough, leather feel of the Sherrin is felt by hundreds of umpires, coaches and players as pre-season descends.

But footy isn’t always about the ball. It’s about the mateship, it’s the under 15 team managers sitting late at Officeworks, printing the team sheets. It’s the canteen manager, putting the umpire pay in envelopes, and the club president restocking the drinks fridge, ready for another Saturday filled with laughs and footy. It’s the Under 17s, running laps around the oval, bouncing and passing footballs to each other, while their little brothers and sisters there mimicking them. It’s the person packing cords and his camera for the Seniors TV game on Saturday, whilst the commentator calls names in their mirror. These elements, these core memories, made in the cold weather of Saturday and Sunday are what makes the AFL Hunter Central Coast more than a competition. They make it a community.

Welcome to Season 2025 on the AFL Hunter Central Coast!

We hope all our coaches, players and umpires had a healthy and happy off season. This year, the stakes are high. We can’t wait to see what 2025 will bring. Who could forget, the first week of September, when 8 of the best teams clashed in No. 1 Sportsground, to play it out for glory. The Women’s Plate saw the Magpies defeat Cardiff at sunrise. The Men’s Plate followed, with Cardiff edging out Newcastle in a possible Men’s Cup preview. Cardiff’s win was their only trophy of the day. In the Women’s Cup, Killarney Vale claimed the premiership after a 4-year campaign, beating Cardiff. The Men’s Cup wrapped up the day at twilight, with Newcastle defeating Cardiff in the final four quarters of 2024.

And Season 2025 looks as good as last year!

Our Seniors kick off on the 5th of April, and Juniors the 6th, with much anticipation around the coming season.

As the siren looms and the season kicks off, the stage is set for Round 1—new faces, fierce rivalries, and the unknown lurking in every contest. Who will rise, who will stumble, and who will send a message to the competition? Buckle up, footy fans.

Men’s Cup

It all starts with the Men’s Cup at Adeliade Street Oval, where we see Killarney Vale taking on the defeated grand finalists, Cardiff. Both teams have a hunger for redemption, the bombers looking for a place in the Top 4 after 2 wins and 12 losses last season.

Then, we head to Feighan Oval, “The Kennell”, where two powerhouses collide. Reigning premiers Newcastle City and the Warners Bay Bulldogs go head-to-head. Our first look of the reigning premiers promises to be exciting, with the Bulldogs snarling after early finals exit to Terrigal in 2024.

 

Pushing further in-land the last fixture of the Men’s Cup draw enthrals us – it’s the Maitland Saints taking on the Bateau Bay Blues on the carpet-like surface of Max McMahon Oval, with it all on the line for a season kick start, live and exclusive on Bar TV Sports.

Terrigal Avoca have the bye, perfectly timed for them to prepare their own premiership campaign further.

While the Men’s Cup brings the excitement, the Women’s Cup is igniting its own storm—unpredictable, intense, and impossible to ignore.

Women’s Cup

Adelaide Street Oval sees a Round 1 blockbuster: The Grand Final rematch between the Birds and the Bombers. With stars on both sides and no love lost, who will stand tall when the dust settles? This is the game you can’t afford to miss. Cardiff has unfinished business, and Killarney Vale are poised for another fight.

Then, featuring two teams with eager eyes on the Women’s Cup, Feighan Oval sees a reciprocated version of the Men’s Cup, City and Warners Bay, head-to-head once more. The Dogs, with a line-up of stars are looking for a finish in the top four, and Newcastle City are ready for another surge for the cup, losing their 2024 semifinal by three points to Killarney Vale.

The final instalment of the Women’s Cup sees the Singleton Roosters head down the highway to meet the Terrigal Avoca Panthers on their home soil, Hylton Moore Oval. And these two teams have history. The elimination final in 2024 was one the Roosters are keen to forget, eliminated by Terrigal Avoca by 31 points. Their chance of redemption comes as soon as Round 1 and we can’t wait to see the outcome.

The Bateau Bay Blues may have the first bye of the season, but don’t mistake their silence for surrender. Still stinging from a crushing 146-point elimination final defeat, they’ve had time to reflect, rebuild, and reignite the fire. The question is—when they return, will the competition be ready for what’s coming?

Off the field, excitement is also building, with club events, sponsorship announcements, and community engagement all in the works. Whether you’re a player, coach, supporter, or volunteer, now is the time to get behind the team and make this season one to remember.

Round 1 has arrived, and with it comes the chaos, the clashes, and the moments that will shape the season. Unpredictability looms, heavy hits are guaranteed, and every team has something to prove. Who will rise, who will fall, and who will deliver the first statement of the year?

Buckle up—it all starts this Saturday.