The Black Diamond Australian Football league was formed in 2000 from the merger of the Newcastle Australian Football League (founded 1886) and the Central Coast Australian Football League (founded 1976) and ran until the end of the 2018 season. Following the end of the 2018 season, the league was disbanded and a new league under the AFL NSW/ACT banner was formed; AFL HunterCentral Coast (AFLHCC). Teams in the AFLHCC's top division still play for the Black Diamond Cup.
The proposition of an alternate competition started from rumblings during the 1990s that both competitions were dreadfully uneven and it was generally considered the administration, although keen and resolute, was far from what was needed to sustain a viable football league/s.
Visits from AFL executives to both the Newcastle and Central Coast took place during the 1999 season where they addressed meetings of delegates to look at alternatives to their contemporary competitions. It turns out these people were more interested in a proposed regional Club to participate in the Sydney Competition.
This proposal didn't address the concerns of the general situation of the local competitions. As there was no follow-up by the AFL both boards issued invitations to senior officials of all clubs to discuss the options for the future. A meeting was held at Mt Penang, Kariong in October 1999 where it was decided to merge both leagues to create a stronger more balanced competition.
The name "Black Diamond AFL" was derived from the Black Diamond Cup which has been awarded to the Newcastle AFL Premiers since 1888.[1]
League development
The Black Diamond AFL were successful in winning the Southern NSW AFL Championships in 2007, defeating the Riverina Football League.
In 2008 both Woy Woy and Singleton were removed from the First Grade competition and Lake Macquarie Crows were promoted to First Grade, meaning nine clubs competed for the premiership.
In 2011, Singleton returned to first grade, after winning the reserve premierships for 2009 and 2010. Nelson Bay however will only compete in Reserve Grade. Woy Woy, now known as the Peninsula Swans, will compete as a joint venture with the Gosford Tigers, allowing players at both clubs to compete in First Grade, Reserve Grade and Under 18s in 2011.
Gosford left the league in 2012, competing in the Sydney AFL for the next four seasons, before returning to the BDAFL in 2016.
The Maitland Saints also entered a senior side in 2012. From 2012, the competition was restructured to allowed clubs to enter teams across Premier, 1st, 2nd and 3rd divisions. This allowed smaller or newer clubs to field their firsts against the reserves or even third senior side of the stronger clubs.
Further clubs have joined the league in recent years, including Muswellbrook Cats and The Entrance Bateau Bay both entering senior sides 2014. Muswellbrook had competed from 1988 until 1994 in the Newcastle AFL, and then later in the Tamworth AFL until 2013.
A women's competition started in 2015. Wyong Lakes was the first and only Central Coast club to enter the inaugural women's competition, along with Hunter-based clubs Newcastle City, Nelson Bay, Maitland, Warners Bay and Lake Macquarie. Killarney Vale and Gosford fielded their inaugural women's teams the following year. In 2018 the Ladypies, as the team came to be known, became the first and only Central Coast team to make the grand final in the women's competition.
In 2018, junior club Port Stephens fielded a Women's team, their first senior team in the club's history and Wallsend was revived as Wallsend-West Newcastle and fielded a team in the Women's competition and a team in the Black Diamond Plate.
AFL Hunter Central Coast: 2019-
The league was renamed AFL Hunter Central Coast following the conclusion of the 2018 season under the banner of AFL NSW/ACT.
The 2019 season saw Lake Macquarie, with only one senior team, drop down to Black Diamond Plate (Reserves) and Nelson Bay was also reduced to just one senior team but still continued to play in the Black Diamond Cup. Newcastle City also fielded one women's team that same year, as the club had previously fielded two women's teams for two years.
2020 saw the league indefinitely suspended due to the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic. Originally intending to start on April 4, the pandemic prevented football from going ahead in the region until July 18. The league was restructured with two women's divisions, respectively named Black Diamond Cup and Plate Women's, and a third men's competition, the Black Diamond Shield, introduced. The Black Diamond Plate will now consist of Terrigal-Avoca and Newcastle City's reserves sides and clubs with a single men's team with the Black Diamond Shield being the reserves competition for the rest of the clubs. Both Nelson Bay and Port Stephens are fielding a women's team as a joint venture for the 2020 season.
In late June 2021, the AFL Hunter Central Coast announced that all senior competitions, Central Coast and Hunter combined junior competitions and Central Coast-based junior competitions would cease due to the rapidly increasing number of coronavirus cases across the region, as the Central Coast was classed as part of Greater Sydney at the time. Round 10 was the last official round for the senior season with Central Coast and Hunter clubs competing. Although informal senior matches between Hunter-based clubs and Hunter-based junior competitions were able to continue, the uncertainty of the coronavirus outbreak across the Hunter region in early August eventually saw all Hunter community senior and junior competitions ceased for 2021.
Due to coronavirus concerns in the Upper Hunter, Muswellbrook withdrew their men and women's teams after Round 5 for the remainder of the season.
Black Diamond Plate
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Newcastle City
9
1
1
0
920
312
294.87
90
1st Semi Final
Terrigal-Avoca
23
10
148
TEBB
7
3
45
Terrigal-Avoca
8
2
2
0
938
320
293.12
80
2nd Semi Final
Newcastle City
29
11
185
Wallsend-West Newcastle
2
2
14
The Entrance Bateau Bay
4
2
5
0
630
615
102.44
44.44
Grand Final
Newcastle City
7
5
47
Terrigal-Avoca
11
10
76
Wallsend-West Newcastle
3
1
8
0
413
804
51.37
27.27
Lake Macquarie
3
1
8
0
375
945
39.68
27.27
Muswellbrook
1
0
4
0
170
450
37.78
20.00
2021 Ladder (After Round 10)
Black Diamond Plate
Wins
Losses
Draws
Byes
For
Against
%
Pct Won
Terrigal Avoca
8
0
0
1
753
306
246.08%
100.00
Newcastle City
6
2
0
1
807
243
332.10%
75.00
Wyong Lakes
6
2
1
1
749
423
177.07%
72.22
The Entrance Bateau Bay
5
4
0
1
682
440
155.00%
55.56
Cardiff
4
5
0
1
576
601
95.84%
44.44
Wallsend-West Newcastle
2
5
1
1
413
665
62.11%
31.25
Lake Macquarie
2
6
0
2
392
733
53.48%
25.00
Gosford
2
6
0
1
355
922
38.50%
25.00
Muswellbrook
2
7
0
1
435
829
52.47%
22.22
Men's Third Grade (Black Diamond Shield)
2015 Ladder
Black Diamond AFL Div 2
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Newcastle City
14
1
2
0
1429
526
271.67%
60
1st Semi
Lake Macquarie
15
11
101
Terrigal Avoca
6
6
42
The Entrance Bateau Bay
14
1
2
0
1334
656
203.35%
60
2nd Semi
The Entrance Bateau Bay
7
10
52
Newcastle City
7
4
46
Terrigal Avoca
13
1
3
0
1531
544
281.43%
56
Preliminary
Newcastle City
15
13
103
Lake Macquarie
3
4
22
Lake Macquarie
10
1
6
0
1202
777
154.70%
44
Grand
Newcastle City
16
5
101
The Entrance Bateau Bay
9
11
65
Singleton
10
1
6
0
1079
1045
103.25%
44
Muswellbrook
8
1
8
0
1229
895
137.32%
36
Warners Bay
7
1
9
0
841
880
95.57%
32
Cardiff
6
1
10
0
757
1186
63.83%
28
Nelson Bay
5
1
11
0
862
1129
76.35%
24
Maitland
5
1
11
0
734
999
73.47%
24
Wyong Lakes
3
1
13
0
607
1826
33.24%
16
Killarney Vale
1
1
15
0
502
1644
30.54%
8
2016 Ladder
Black Diamond AFL Div 2
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Muswellbrook
14
0
0
0
1866
380
491.05%
56
Elimination
Warners Bay
5
5
35
Terrigal Avoca
3
12
30
The Entrance Bateau Bay
12
0
2
0
1286
443
290.29%
48
Qualifying
The Entrance Bateau Bay
9
9
63
Newcastle City
7
4
46
Newcastle City
10
0
4
0
1394
446
312.56%
40
1st Semi
Warners Bay
9
9
63
Newcastle City
6
9
45
Terrigal Avoca
10
0
4
0
1181
636
185.69%
40
2nd Semi
Muswellbrook
8
12
60
The Entrance Bateau Bay
9
5
59
Warners Bay
7
0
7
0
673
1085
62.03%
28
Preliminary
The Entrance Bateau Bay
22
11
143
Warners Bay
3
6
24
Gosford
6
0
8
0
823
1038
79.29%
24
Grand
The Entrance Bateau Bay
7
10
52
Muswellbrook
5
6
36
Maitland
6
0
8
0
650
1213
53.59%
24
Nelson Bay
4
0
10
0
870
1089
79.89%
16
Singleton
3
0
11
0
663
1536
43.16%
12
Killarney Vale
3
0
11
0
488
1341
36.39%
12
Wyong Lakes
2
0
12
0
550
1237
44.46%
8
2017 Ladder
Black Diamond AFL
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Cardiff
13
2
2
0
1850
544
340.07
52
Qualifying
Warners Bay
6
8
44
Killarney Vale
11
9
75
Killarney Vale
13
1
3
0
1482
614
241.37
52
Elimination
Terrigal-Avoca
15
11
101
Nelson Bay
2
1
13
Warners Bay
12
2
3
0
1341
639
209.86
48
1st Semi
Warners Bay
14
8
92
Terrigal-Avoca
9
8
62
Terrigal-Avoca
11
2
4
0
1393
757
184.02
44
2nd Semi
Cardiff
6
3
39
Killarney Vale
12
10
82
Nelson Bay
7
2
8
0
997
865
115.26
28
Preliminary
Cardiff
8
7
55
Warners Bay
4
15
39
Lake Macquarie
7
2
8
0
640
1274
50.24
28
Grand
Killarney Vale
6
10
46
Cardiff
10
10
70
Gosford
6
2
9
0
773
1319
58.61
24
Maitland
5
2
10
0
581
1073
54.15
20
Newcastle City
4
2
11
0
723
1063
68.02
16
Singleton
3
2
12
0
531
1349
39.36
12
Wyong Lakes
2
2
13
0
608
1422
42.76
8
After the 2017 season, the league was changed from having three senior men's grade to two, consisting of the Black Diamond Cup (Premier Division) and Black Diamond Plate (Reserves), onward from the 2018 season. However, a third men's competition was reintroduced in 2020, the Black Diamond Shield, which consists of the reserves sides of every club except Terrigal-Avoca, Newcastle City, Nelson Bay, Muswellbrook, The Entrance Bateau Bay, Lake Macquarie, Wallsend-West Newcastle and Port Stephens, who currently only field a senior women's team.
2020 Ladder
Black Diamond Shield
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Cardiff
11
1
0
0
1206
248
486.29
100.00
1st Semi Final
Cardiff
12
12
84
Gosford
7
5
47
Killarney Vale
8
1
3
0
813
463
175.59
72.73
2nd Semi Final
Killarney Vale
12
9
81
Warners Bay
6
4
40
Warners Bay
7
2
3
0
736
400
184.00
70.00
Grand
Cardiff
11
14
80
Killarney Vale
9
7
61
Gosford
4
2
6
0
751
631
119.02
40.00
Singleton
3
2
7
0
348
838
41.53
30.00
Wyong Lakes
2
2
8
0
298
962
30.98
20.00
Maitland
1
2
9
0
332
942
35.24
10.00
2021 Ladder (After Round 10)
Singleton also had a Reserve Grade side competing in the 2021 Black Diamond Shield, but eventually pulled out of the competition after Round 3 after forfeiting their first two games for the year.
Black Diamond Shield
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Warners Bay
8
1
1
0
917
246
372.76%
88.89
Newcastle City Blues
6
2
2
0
788
225
350.22%
75.00
Killarney Vale
5
2
3
0
576
355
162.25%
62.50
Gosford
2
2
6
0
329
776
42.40%
25.00
Maitland
0
3
7
0
155
923
16.79%
0.00
Black Diamond Women's football competition
2015 Ladder
An open age women's competition commenced in 2015. Initially starting with 6 teams the competition expanded to 10 the following year. The 2017 season saw 2 new teams and the 2018 season saw 16 teams.
Black Diamond AFL
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Nelson Bay
13
0
1
0
761
95
801.05%
52
1st Semi
Warners Bay
11
9
75
Lake Macquarie
1
1
7
Newcastle City
12
0
2
0
703
125
562.40%
48
2nd Semi
Nelson Bay
7
7
49
Newcastle City
4
1
25
Warners Bay
8
0
6
0
480
311
154.34%
32
Preliminary
Newcastle City
5
7
37
Warners Bay
4
6
30
Lake Macquarie
5
0
9
0
352
660
53.33%
20
Grand
Newcastle City
4
5
29
Nelson Bay
1
1
7
Wyong Lakes
3
0
11
0
277
502
55.18%
12
Maitland
1
0
13
0
148
1028
14.40%
4
2016 Ladder
Black Diamond AFL
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Nelson Bay
15
0
0
0
968
141
686.52%
60
1st Semi
Newcastle City
4
10
34
Cardiff
1
6
12
Gosford
12
0
3
0
1079
202
534.16%
48
2nd Semi
Nelson Bay
7
12
54
Gosford
2
0
12
Newcastle City
12
0
3
0
941
197
477.66%
48
Preliminary
Terrigal Avoca
16
11
107
Gosford
1
1
7
Cardiff
11
0
4
0
820
321
255.45%
44
Grand
Nelson Bay
5
2
32
Newcastle City
3
11
29
Wyong Lakes
10
0
5
0
656
465
141.08%
40
Warners Bay
5
0
10
0
569
467
121.84%
20
Maitland
5
0
10
0
608
637
95.45%
20
Killarney Vale
3
0
12
0
352
798
44.11%
12
Lake Macquarie
2
0
13
0
318
969
32.82%
8
Singleton
0
0
15
0
13
2127
0.61%
0
2017 Ladder
Black Diamond AFL
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Newcastle City
16
0
0
0
2167
116
1868.10
64
1st Semi
Maitland
7
5
47
Wyong Lakes
4
1
25
Nelson Bay
14
0
2
0
1211
307
394.46
56
2nd Semi
Gosford
6
7
43
Killarney Vale
2
2
14
Gosford
12
0
4
0
1177
405
290.62
48
Prelim 1
Newcastle City
23
13
151
Maitland
0
1
1
Maitland
12
0
4
0
1069
577
185.27
48
Prelim 2
Nelson Bay
9
7
61
Gosford
0
5
5
Wyong Lakes
9
0
7
0
728
455
160.00
36
Grand
Newcastle City
10
11
71
Nelson Bay
1
6
12
Killarney Vale
9
0
7
0
801
544
147.24
36
Warners Bay
9
0
7
0
642
613
104.73
36
Singleton
6
0
10
0
369
798
46.24
24
Lake Macquarie
4
0
12
0
586
890
65.84
16
Cardiff
3
0
13
0
370
1149
32.20
12
Newcastle Novas
2
0
14
0
272
1589
17.12
8
Muswellbrook
0
0
16
0
16
1965
0.81
0
2018 Ladder
Black Diamond AFL
P
W
L
D
F
A
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Nelson Bay
16
14
2
0
1538
175
878.86
56
1st Semi
Killarney Vale
5
4
34
Singleton
1
1
7
Newcastle City Stars
16
14
2
0
1447
298
485.57
56
2nd Semi
Newcastle City Stars
5
3
32
Maitland
4
4
28
Killarney Vale
16
13
3
0
1082
349
310.03
52
Elimination
Wyong Lakes
6
5
41
Newcastle City Novas
0
1
1
Wyong Lakes
16
12
4
0
1174
237
495.36
48
1st Prelim
Nelson Bay
0
1
1
Wyong Lakes
3
1
19
Newcastle City Novas
16
12
4
0
1284
328
391.46
48
2nd Prelim
Newcastle City Stars
8
6
54
Killarney Vale
4
1
25
Singleton
16
10
6
0
807
359
224.79
40
Grand
Newcastle City Stars
5
10
40
Wyong Lakes
1
1
7
Maitland
16
10
6
0
1205
572
210.66
40
Gosford
16
9
7
0
1192
684
174.27
36
Warners Bay
16
9
7
0
988
605
163.31
36
Cardiff
16
8
8
0
887
644
137.73
32
Terrigal-Avoca
16
6
10
0
762
830
91.81
24
Lake Macquarie
16
4
12
0
580
1164
49.83
16
Muswellbrook
16
3
13
0
314
1383
22.70
12
Port Stephens
16
2
14
0
209
2027
10.31
8
The Entrance-Bateau Bay
16
1
15
0
91
2186
4.16
4
Wallsend-West Newcastle
16
1
15
0
59
1819
3.24
4
2019 Ladder
Black Diamond AFL
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Killarney Vale
15
2
1
0
1796
148
1213.51
93.75
1st Elimination
Newcastle City
9
5
59
Terrigal-Avoca
0
1
1
Maitland
13
2
3
0
1344
182
738.46
81.25
2nd Elimination
Wyong Lakes
3
2
20
Cardiff
0
1
1
Wyong Lakes
13
2
3
0
1355
238
569.33
81.25
1st Semi
Killarney Vale
3
9
27
Newcastle City
5
4
34
Newcastle City
13
2
3
0
1141
239
477.41
81.25
2nd Semi
Maitland
2
9
21
Wyong Lakes
2
6
18
Terrigal-Avoca
12
2
4
0
1237
307
402.93
75.00
Grand
Newcastle City
8
6
54
Maitland
3
0
18
Cardiff
11
2
5
0
1130
390
289.74
68.75
Lake Macquarie
9
2
7
0
766
859
89.17
56.25
Warners Bay
8
2
8
0
1039
499
208.22
50.00
Nelson Bay
6
2
10
0
488
998
48.90
37.50
Singleton
6
2
10
0
538
1144
47.03
37.50
Wallsend-West Newcastle
5
2
10
0
531
1007
52.73
33.33
Port Stephens
3
2
13
0
268
1459
18.37
18.75
Gosford
2
2
14
0
195
1906
10.23
12.50
The Entrance Bateau Bay
2
2
14
0
130
1333
9.75
12.50
Muswellbrook
1
2
14
0
168
1417
11.86
6.67
The 2020 season saw the introduction of a second women's competition. Known as the Black Diamond Plate Women's, it would act as the Second Division of the Black Diamond Cup Women's, which became the First Division women's competition.
2020 Ladders
Women's First Grade (Black Diamond Cup Women)
Black Diamond Cup Women's
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Killarney Vale
12
0
0
0
1329
139
956.12
48
1st Semi Final
Newcastle City
14
8
92
Cardiff
1
3
9
Newcastle City
11
0
1
0
1283
157
817.20
44
2nd Semi Final
Killarney Vale
7
8
50
Wyong Lakes
1
0
6
Cardiff
9
0
3
0
707
337
209.79
36
Grand
Killarney Vale
3
7
25
Newcastle City
6
6
42
Wyong Lakes
5
0
7
0
511
461
110.85
20
Terrigal-Avoca
5
0
7
0
447
501
89.22
20
Warners Bay
4
0
8
0
379
651
58.22
16
Maitland
2
0
10
0
174
1262
13.79
9
Nelson Bay/Port Stephens
12
0
12
0
56
1378
4.06
0
Women's Second Grade (Black Diamond Plate Women)
Due to coronavirus concerns in the Upper Hunter, Muswellbrook withdrew their women's and men's team after Round 5.
Black Diamond Plate Women's
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Final
Team
G
B
Pts
Team
G
B
Pts
Lake Macquarie
11
0
1
0
825
255
323.53%
91.67
1st Semi
Lake Macquarie
9
9
63
The Entrance Bateau Bay
1
6
12
Singleton
9
0
3
0
638
206
309.71%
75.00
2nd Semi
Singleton
6
6
42
Wallsend-West Newcastle
2
3
15
Wallsend-West Newcastle
6
0
6
0
404
475
85.05%
350.00
Grand
Lake Macquarie
0
0
0
Singleton
0
0
0
The Entrance Bateau Bay
5
1
6
0
367
494
74.29%
45.45
Newcastle City
4
2
6
0
391
377
103.71%
40.00
Gosford
1
0
11
0
212
872
24.31%
8.33
Muswellbrook
0
2
3
0
35
193
18.13%
0.00
2021 Ladders
Women's First Grade (Black Diamond Cup Women, after Round 9)
Black Diamond Cup Women's
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Cardiff
9
0
0
0
743
114
651.75%
100.00
Newcastle City
8
0
1
0
665
92
722.83%
88.89
Terrigal-Avoca
4
1
4
0
342
305
112.13%
50.00
Wyong Lakes
4
1
4
0
331
311
106.43%
50.00
Lake Macquarie
4
1
4
0
252
462
54.55%
50.00
Killarney Vale
3
1
5
0
298
274
108.76%
37.50
Maitland
1
1
7
0
109
667
16.10%
12.50
Warners Bay
0
1
8
0
88
593
14.84%
0.00
Women's Second Grade (Black Diamond Plate Women, after Round 10)
Black Diamond Plate Women's
Wins
Byes
Losses
Draws
For
Against
%
Pts
Cardiff
8
1
1
0
456
126
361.90%
88.89
Singleton
7
1
1
0
303
72
420.83%
87.50
Newcastle City
6
1
2
0
264
128
206.25%
75.00
Wallsend-West Newcastle
4
1
4
0
242
249
97.19%
50.00
Terrigal-Avoca
3
1
5
0
222
158
140.51%
37.50
Gosford
3
1
5
0
187
356
52.53%
37.50
Muswellbrook
3
1
6
0
166
185
89.73%
33.33
The Entrance Bateau Bay
2
1
6
0
103
338
30.47%
25.00
Nelson Bay/Port Stephens
1
1
7
0
79
410
19.27%
12.50
Newcastle Central Coast Umpires Association
The Newcastle Central Coast Umpires Association provides umpires to the following competitions:
• AFL Hunter Coast (Senior Football League on the Central Coast, Newcastle and Hunter regions);
• AFL Hunter Coast:
Central Coast Juniors (Junior Football League on the Central Coast)
Hunter Juniors (Junior Football League in the Newcastle and Hunter regions)
The NCCUA not only provides umpires to these competitions but provides training and support to these umpires.
The NCCUA trains at the following locations, starting at 5:30 pm:
Tuesdays – Lisarow Sports Ground, Lisarow
Wednesdays – Tulkaba Park, Teralba
The Newcastle Central Coast Umpires Association is led by president Jake Lowe, treasurer Ashley Borg, secretary, Tomas Steward and a committee of several umpires.
The current umpire's coach is Christine Burrows. She works across Junior and Senior Football umpiring pathways.
There are also several people who assist both Christine in various coaching and mentoring roles.