Round 12 – A Central Coast Derby for the ages, Saints vs Bateau Clash locked up for 2025 and some Brillant Bulldog Football as ANZAC Day tensions ignite

Round 12 – A Central Coast Derby for the ages, Saints vs Bateau Clash locked up for 2025 and some Brillant Bulldog Football as ANZAC Day tensions ignite

Written by Oliver Croft

Round 6, the washout round, turned into one of the most exciting weekends of footy this season. Heavy rain swept through and ripped up the fixture list, forcing a weekend of rescheduled washout matches. What followed was chaos and theatre; as ladder‑climbers surged, desperate underdogs found lifelines, heroes returned and premiership contenders were suddenly staring down do‑or‑die scenarios. With only six rounds left before the Top 4 is finalised, every kick, every tackle, every goal now matters like never before. Finals Footy isn’t just on the horizon it’s thundering toward us, and the entire league is desperate for their clubs to feature!

 

Men’s Cup

Newcastle City stand once again, firmly in the winner’s circle after a triumphant away fixtured thumping of Nelson Bay. The win came after 13 goals and a whopping 21 behinds at Dick Burwell Oval, after 2 weekends of losses to the Warners Bay Bulldogs and Terrigal Avoca Panthers respectively. City Captain Mitchell Crawford had a team of strong footballers ready to lead into battle with a dangerous Marlins force, who also looked like they could be Premiership contenders. Billy Barton with the golden boot kicked 5 goals last week, and featured once more, with his 3 goals topping the Marlin’s scorecard. However, Mitchell Crawford showcased the premiers’ trademark resilience against the Marlins, helping the home side hold onto their Top 4 spot – thanks in part to Warners Bay’s win over Cardiff. This weekend, the Marlins face an elated Maitland Saints side – and they’ll need to bring their best, right alongside the water bottles and mouthguards

It was fitting that Maitland and Bateau Bay closed out their 2025 rivalry with a classic – their fourth and final meeting ending in a season-long deadlock at two wins each. Locked in 7th and 8th all year, neither side gave an inch. Maitland’s defence stood tall to level the head-to-head, leaving both clubs walking off knowing they’d earned every bit of their wins. And when they meet again next year, expect the matchups to bring more fire than an Australian summer. Saints captain Riley Newstead came home with four goals and will be looking to replicate that form against the Marlins. As for the Bay Blues, they face a tough challenge at home against Newcastle City – a side in strong form and eager to build on their previous 54-point win. Bay Blues vs City Blues. The Blues Blockbuster, live from Passage Road at 3:00pm.

Then, we have the repeated fixtures.

Terrigal Avoca vs Killarney Vale and Warners Bay vs Cardiff.

Last week’s Derby was one for the ages. The Bombers stunned the Panthers by 11 points, inspired by GWS Giants star Brandon Lloyd’s return and he delivered in style, booting two majors alongside his brother Daniel Lloyd, with the brothers lifting their side to a narrow win. Now, just seven days later, the rivalry ignites again – a double Derby weekend – and this time it’s on Panther-Land at Hylton Moore Oval. The Panthers have circled this on the calendar, the Bombers are brimming with belief, and another epic chapter in the Central Coast’s fiercest showdown is ready to be written.

Back in Newcastle it’s Warners Bay vs Cardiff.
While the Coast roars, Newcastle brings its own fire. It’s the ANZAC Day Rivalry – The Warners Bay Bulldogs against Cardiff Hawks. They went toe‑to‑toe just last week, and the Bulldogs were ruthless, winning comfortably and jumping into 2nd place, stripping Terrigal of their grip on the spot and proving they’re a genuine threat in the race for the Cup.

Troy Curtis kicked accurately for the maroon and gold gifting the team 3 goals, but their defence line couldn’t contain Zac Munz, who kicked 4 for the Doggies. For Cardiff, now sitting in 6th, the message is simple: it’s time to grab some wins, or risk watching September slip away.

Two rivalries, two regions, and two big statements to be made this weekend.

 

Women’s Cup

It was a wild and uneven weekend in the Women’s Cup. Warners Bay forfeited their clash with Cardiff, while Bateau Bay enjoyed the bye, leaving just two games to be played.

Killarney Vale dominated at home, securing a comprehensive win over Singleton by more than 100 points. Meanwhile, Newcastle City delivered a strong performance of their own, keeping the Panthers scoreless in a tough outing.

The ladder tightens and the rivalries ignite. Singleton sit out with the bye, while the powerhouse of Newcastle City hit the road to face a dangerous, unpredictable Bateau Bay side. In Newcastle, Cardiff and Warners Bay lock horns again, ready to add another fierce chapter to their ANZAC Day rivalry. Down on the Coast, it’s Killarney Vale and Terrigal Avoca in a fiery Central Coast Derby at Panther‑Land, Hylton Moore Oval.

Three huge matchups. This Women’s Cup weekend is set to explode.

While the Cup teams draw the big crowds and excitement, it’s the Reserve Grades – Men’s and Women’s Plate – that showcase the depth of our clubs and the brilliance of emerging talent. They give juniors a taste of senior footy, and offer less experienced players a chance to stay fit, have fun, and enjoy the game with a team and a Sherrin.

The action out of Men’s Plate is big, with news from the league being 3 NEW MEN’S CUP TEAMS are set to join the race in 2026. Confirmation is coming as to who those clubs will be.

In the Men’s Plate, the battle in the middle of the table is heating up – but down the ladder, the picture is a little clearer. Newcastle City, Terrigal Avoca, Wyong Lakes, and Singleton currently make up the Top 4, with the Lake Macquarie Dockers holding 5th and continuing to hover around the finals frame. At the other end, the Muswellbrook Cats have endured a tough return to competition, sitting 13th and in need of a reset to rediscover their bite.

In the Women’s Plate, the Maitland Saints have delivered a remarkable turnaround. After dropping from the Cup last season following a last-place finish, they’ve surged to the top of the ladder, playing confident, polished footy. Newcastle City are close behind, with Cardiff and Nelson Bay jostling for position, both firmly in contention. The Lake Mac Dockers round out the top five, staying within reach of the leaders.

At the other end of the table, the Wyong Magpies and Muswellbrook Cats continue to battle it out, rounding out the bottom two.

Both Plate divisions feature a Top 8 finals system. Cardiff were last year’s Men’s Plate champions, while the joint venture between Lake Macquarie and Wyong Lakes — the “MacPies” – claimed the Women’s title.

How good is AFLHCC? It’s been a pleasure to bring you the stats and stories from the 2025 season so far. The action is only getting hotter across all divisions – and you can read it all right here on On The Mark, the AFLHCC’s exclusive article series.