Nelson Bay thump Blues but face tricky task to qualify for AFL finals

NELSON Bay Marlins AFL men’s team continue to walk a semi-final tightrope in the Hunter Central Coast Seniors Black Diamond Cup competition.

After boosting their top four hopes with a resounding 80 point victory over The Entrance Bateau Bay Blues at Bateau Bay Oval, the Marlins face an uphill task against ladder leaders Terrigal Avoca Panthers and the Warners Bay Bulldogs in the final two preliminary rounds.

The Bulldogs, Panthers and Newcastle City have already cemented berths in the 2025 finals series, leaving Nelson Bay and the Killarney Vale Bombers to battle it out for fourth spot.

Wayde Blackburn’s talented Nelson Bay outfit, who have won six of their 10 matches since earning promotion from the Men’s Black Diamond Plate competition back in May, held a four point advantage over the Bombers going into the final two rounds.

With five victories from 13 fixtures and matches against cellar dwellers Maitland Saints and The Entrance Bateau Bay to be completed, Killarney Vale were in the box seat to leapfrog the Marlins.

Co-captains Louis Dews, Lachlan Blyth, Mitchell Hall, Jason Carey, Jayden Baldwin-Rymer and Zane Grant turned in strong performances for Nelson Bay in the club’s 122-42 victory over The Entrance-Bateau Bay.

The Marlins booted 18 goals and 14 behinds with the inspirational Dews, Hall and Tom Warren nabbing three goals each and Blyth, Billy Barton and Hudson Roche picking up doubles, along with single goal contributions from Alec Clark, Jason Carey and Adam Grant.

Nelson Bay landed five goals in a dominant opening quarter to establish a 33-2 lead before the Blues hit back to trail 56-22 at the halftime interval.

The Marlins stamped their authority during the third term, adding another seven goals and keeping the Blues scoreless to enter the final quarter with an unshakeable 79-point lead.

By Chris KARAS